With his scalp numb, Chen Ge did not dare turn around. His mind was spinning, and he was afraid that he would say something taboo and be silenced by the man.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about."
"Twenty years ago, there was a door that was about to be pushed open at Jiang Yuan Apartments. No one knew its location; they only knew that it was inside this residential area. Later, the residential area was rebuilt, but the door was still open. Negative emotions leaked out from the door, attracting the ghosts and spirits that passed by. The poor 'people' that you ran into earlier were gathered here because of that door, and it was also because of that door that I was lucky enough to become a Red Specter. "
"If that's what you're saying, then that door might really be related to me." Chen Ge carefully answered, "I've forgotten many things, so there are many things that I can't confirm. If you can give me some more hints, perhaps I might be able to remember something."
"It was a door that was half-pushed open. This was the first time I've seen a door like that. It was like when a person was about to push open the door in despair, they suddenly found salvation." The thin hand slowly tightened its grip, and the Red Specter's voice echoed in Chen Ge's ears. "Only when a person is in the deepest despair will they be able to push open the door. Despair that can be saved is not the deepest despair."
Chen Ge memorized every single word that the Red Specter said. He might not understand these things now, but as he investigated deeper, perhaps he would eventually understand the deeper meaning behind them.
"I really can't remember anything. Have you been through that door before? What's inside the door? " Chen Ge started to ask questions. Perhaps because he had met too many Red Specters, the fear in his heart soon disappeared, and in its place was a feeling of conversing with someone he knew.
"You want to know what's inside the door?" The thin hand pressed on Chen Ge's neck. "Haven't you already seen it?"
"Me? Seen it? "Chen Ge's eyes widened." The fourteenth floor? Is the gate my former home? "
"That's right. It used to be your home, but now it's my home." The skinny fingers were like knives, sinking into Chen Ge's neck. "I helped you open the door, but I couldn't become the door pusher. I thought about it for a long time before I realized that perhaps it was because the real door pusher was still alive. Only by killing the door pusher could I truly control the door."
"Calm down first. I just thought about it. I actually have nothing to do with that door. Really! How could a cheerful and easy-going person like me, who loves life so much, be so desperate to open the door? "
"But when you appeared, the door opened on its own, and a voice that I have never heard before came from behind the door." The red specter's grip tightened.
"Fine, I can't deny the connection between me and that door, but I really wasn't the one who opened that door. If you want to find the door-pusher, I can help you." Chen Ge pointed at the edge of the building. "You should have seen it for yourself. The boy who was pushed down the stairs is the real door-pusher. I'm also looking for him."
"You can't lie to me. The scenario behind the door is weaved from the door-pusher's memory. The voice that you heard on the fourteenth floor and the scene that you saw on the rooftop are all things from the deepest part of your memory. They are all your own memories, and that is why you are so deeply immersed in them." The red specter's careless words enlightened Chen Ge.
A flash of light appeared in his mind. "Memory?"
Things that should have been forgotten had been accidentally preserved through the door. Even though those scenes were despairing, they were indeed memories.
"I think I understand something now." Chen Ge's pupils slowly narrowed. "The blood red city contains many scenarios, and each scenario was pushed open by the door-pusher. These scenarios are weaved from the door-pusher's despairing memory. Earlier, when I was young, I said this — Memories appear because of people, but people have forgotten them. Will the memories be angry? Human, ghost, memory, lingering spirit … "
"Have you finished your last words?"
"Wait a minute!" Hearing the red specter's voice, Chen Ge was like a cat that had its feet stepped on. "You saw the scenario earlier. Memory cannot be faked. The real door-pusher was pushed down from the rooftop by the doctor. He's already dead. The reason you haven't become the door-pusher is probably because his lingering spirit hasn't completely dissipated. "
Chen Ge had a point, but it was hard to convince the red specter. "I know it's pointless no matter what I say, and I won't make any empty promises. I just hope that you can give me a few days, and I will help you find the real door-pusher."
The red specter behind him did not say anything, so Chen Ge quickly added, "If you think a few days is too long, how about we make it twenty-four hours? I need to go home to confirm some things. If you are still worried, you can come with me. You can stand in my shadow and keep an eye on me. My life is in your hands. "
The pain on his neck weakened slightly. The red specter seemed to be tempted, but he did not say anything.
After several minutes of silence, Chen Ge appeared to have given up. He raised his hand silently. "Fine, looks like you are not willing to let me go. Then, can I make one last small request?"
"Speak."
"Give me a few minutes. I want to make a call to the police. I promised the girl in the stairwell that I would help her find the killer. Now, I can't do that, but at least I need to give her hope and not let her suffer alone in the cold. "Chen Ge slowly took out his phone, but the red specter behind him did not say anything.
After a long time, the hand on his neck loosened. "Three days. Three days later, at 2 am, I will wait for you on the fourteenth floor."
The pressure slowly disappeared. The iron door that led to the rooftop was slammed shut, and everything returned to normal.
Plop!
Chen Ge did not move from where he was. The white cat on his shoulder was the first to give in.
Probably because it had been in the same position for too long, the white cat jumped unnaturally to the ground. Its body was frozen, and it limped as it walked. It took some time before it returned to normal.
Seeing that the white cat dared to move, Chen Ge sighed in relief. He leaned against the wall and sat on the ground.
"You're such a coward! The Specter is already crawling on my shoulder. At least give me a nudge to remind me! "
"Meow!"
When the white cat saw Chen Ge, it was also angered. It circled around him and meowed like it was saying, "Why don't you try walking shoulder to shoulder with a Red Specter?"
The man and the cat played for a while, and Chen Ge had recovered some energy. He put on his jacket again and hugged the white cat as he curled up in the corner of the rooftop.
It was impossible to go back the way they came, and taking the elevator would leave a psychological scar, so Chen Ge decided to wait for the sun to come down.
"I've been so scared tonight. After the sun rises, I need to go to the futuristic theme park to relax …"
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