Chapter 17: 17

Every time he exited the game, Han Fei would have a renewed appreciation of life. He did not rest for too long. Soon he switched on his bedside lamp and turned to study the wall covered with crime scene photos. “Why would the seven victims from the human jigsaw case appear in that form? Are they trapped inside that house?” A haunted house, at least in Chinese culture, referred to any estate which had a history of tenant(s) who perished in unnatural death. The house that Han Fei had in the game appeared to feature seven deaths in total, that was the most ‘crowded’ haunted house he had ever encountered in his life. “Now that Wei Youfu and Ah Mei are somewhat back to normal, I need to help the other victims regain their sanity.”

Han Fei knew the biggest unfulfilled wish these victims would have to be apprehending their killer but he was just a D-list comedy actor, what could he do? If he really located the killer, he’d might end up as the 9th victim. “I need to take this slow, after all, this is not the gaming world. I only have one life to lose.” Han Fei took out his phone to jot down the notes, “The apartment building that I inhabit inside the game is very dangerous. Currently, it appears like each floor has 4 units in total. I live on the 4th floor. Based on the reaction of my 6th floor neighbour, he seemed to understand I was staying inside a haunted house. He did not dare to venture in too carelessly. If viewed from this perspective, the monster inside my house should be considered quite dangerous or at least most of the tenants seem to fear it.

“As they say, the most dangerous place can be the safest place. As long as I do not provoke the monster, the haunted house can provide me with protection from the other neighbours. The other noteworthy detail is the child from the 3rd floor. Even with the Frankenstein monster, my place was not littered with talismans. The house on the 3rd floor will prove to be a big trouble. The child trapped inside that house might be as dangerous as the monster in my house.” Once that detail crossed his mind, Han Fei’s head ached. “Who the hell would tear off the talismans from the door? Based on my earlier experience, I’ll log in at the location that I logged out. If the child guarded the door next time I log in, wouldn’t I walk directly into my death?”

Of course, Han Fei wished he could have found himself a safer place to quit but he did not have that luxury of choice. If he had reacted a second slower, the child would be hanging on his body already. “He moved too fast for me to even escape.” Han Fei was now worried that he’d be dragged into the child’s house when he started the game next. “If there’s a chance in the future, I should invite him over to my house.”

At 4 am, Han Fei switched on the computer, held his phone and started to compare the crime scene photos on the wall. He worked on the clues and relationships between the cases.

…

The sun shone on his face. Han Fei had no idea when he fell asleep. He woke up blurrily. When he saw the clock on the wall, he jumped out of bed immediately. “Jesus, it’s already 9 am. Director Jiang will have my head.” After a quick shower, Han Fei left his home and headed towards Northern Street. As expected, he was late. When he arrived, the shoot already started. “I’m sorry for being late.” Han Fei apologized but his apology was brushed off easily, “The first scene will be between the antagonist and the first victim. The actor playing the antagonist is not even here yet, so you’re not technically late.”

The floor manager who was scared witless by Han Fei last time sauntered over. He handed a cup of coffee to Han Fei. “You better get used to this. This is not the first time that our great antagonist is late to the set.” Han Fei heard the message between the lines. “I’m sorry but do you mind telling me who the actor playing the antagonist is?” Han Fei played the second victim and this actor played the killer, they would be in plenty of scenes together so it was normal for Han Fei to ask such questions.

“You probably have heard of him before; his name is Zhan Yueyue. He has appeared in many variety shows but he has not nabbed any signature role in his career. I suppose one would consider him a B-list celebrity. This time, his agency wants to use our movie to help him branch into acting.” The floor manager explained to Han Fei.

“He hasn’t acted in anything before?” Han Fei put down the coffee. “But the antagonist can often break or make a movie.”

“Well, Zhan Yueyue himself is a character of interest  these days and the fact that this will be his first antagonist role will be a great selling point. Furthermore, he graduated from a famous acting academy, so he should have the basics down.” The floor manager said as commotion came from outside the building. It was followed by a series of footsteps.

“I was at a variety set late into the night. This business is taxing on one’s health.” A young man about 20 entered the set with his manager. One could easily pick up the scent of cologne and the alcohol that it was trying to mask.

“Just get to make-up.” Director Jiang uttered without even raising his head. After all the crew members were in place, Zhan Yueyue finally arrived.

“You have very little lines, and your first scene will be inside the stairwell. The killer you play has targeted Ah Mei. You’ll tail her into the stairwell. I need you to create the impression that you’re an unshakeable, scary shadow of hers.”

“Okay, understood.” Zhan Yueyue nodded confidently. The actor playing Ah Mei was young and thus inexperienced so she was not a helpful scene partner. The killer played by Zhan Yueyue gave no tension. If anything, from the camera, it did not look like the girl was tailed by a crazed murderer but a drunkard. Even Han Fei could not accept this level of acting, much less Director Jiang. Just a simple scene had to be shot over several times. Zhan Yueyue was required to climb the stairs up and down. It took a toll on the young man and he eventually collapsed on the stairs and refused to move. “Director, you have to understand that I have my own style and I wish to infuse it into this role that I play.”

“If the style that you wish to accentuate in this role is frivolity and frippery, then bloody job well done.” Director Jiang said acerbically, “You have the acting chops but if you want to take on an antagonistic character, then you have to act like one. You are a serial killer with at least 7 known victims. There’s a veritable hell hidden inside your heart and mind!”

“But Director, this is just the first scene. I am helping you pace the story. When the time comes, you’ll see that I’ve been working towards building the scary climax!” Zhan Yueyue countered.

“Alright, show me that then. We’ll just shoot a close up of that scene now.” Once Director Jiang said that, everyone turned their eyes towards Zhan Yueyue. The young actor was silent for a long time before he suddenly waved the prop knife around and squealed like a rubber chicken.

“Cut! Cut! Cut!” Director Jiang sighed and said, “Just ask anyone here, did your acting scare any of them? Did they feel any scary vibes from you?” Director Jiang turned to the floor manager and asked with Zhan Yueyue standing right there, “Well, did you feel even a smidge of fear from his performance?”

“Not really.”

“What about you?”

“It’s quite funny actually.”

A few more people were asked. Most felt nothing.

“Every twitch of the muscle, every shot of the gaze is part of acting. The actor who played one of the victims yesterday managed to scare our floor manager but the killer that you played is more like a drunk ruffian. Did you even read the script before you came?”

That appeared to be the source of Zhan Yueyue’s problem but the man naturally would not admit it. “Director Jiang, there’s no need to resort to exaggeration just to pick on my acting. How could an actor in the role of a victim possibly scare a professional crew member?”

For some reason, the argument circled around to Han Fei. Director Jiang had Han Fei walk over to him. “You’ve read all the parts, right?”

“I did.”

“Okay, you rehearse this scene for him.”

“Me?” To be fair, Han Fei had been putting himself in the mind of the murderer but he wasn’t doing that for the sake of acting but he wanted to figure out more clues to solve the case. “But I’m just a comedy actor.”

“Stop it with that nonsense. Come, show him how it’s done.” Director Jiang had great confidence in Han Fei. The latter actually wanted to keep a low profile but since he was named, there was nothing he could do.

He lowered his head and his initial encounter with his 6th floor neighbour appeared in his mind. The man was holding a sharp knife and poked his head out from the staircase banister. He stood at the dark corner, waiting for his prey to walk into his trap. The desire for blood and flesh was clear on his face. He worked hard to suppress his urge to destroy and ruin. He could not wait to plunge the sharp instrument into his prey’s fleshy body. An oppressive breathing, a wicked gaze. His prey finally entered the dim stairwell. Now was his chance to strike. No one was able to stop him now.

He slowly raised his head. Han Fei stared at Zhan Yueyue’s neck and a smile slowly bloomed on his cracked lips.