Chapter 8

Chapter 8

I finally endured until the end of class and rushed straight to the restroom.

I should probably drink less water next time.

After taking care of business, a voice drifted out from one of the stalls while I was washing my hands: “Hey, classmate, do you have any spare toilet paper?”

[Do not speak to anyone inside the stalls of the school restrooms.]

I ignored it and prepared to leave.

Then, the voice spoke again: “Is there any point in following the rules? Perhaps the one who wants you dead is the rule-maker. Blindly obeying the rule-maker only leads to a dead end. Those who follow the rules die, and those who don’t die too; it’s just a matter of time!”

I paused for a moment, but the voice didn’t speak again.

Follow the rules… and die anyway?

Suddenly, a rule flashed through my mind.

[Do not trust others easily.]

Who does “others” refer to here?

If everyone besides me is an “other,” then the rule-maker is also an “other.”

Each rule is a guiding light, but whether that path leads to heaven or hell remains unknown.

But was the guy in the restroom stall telling the truth?

For a moment, I felt as if I were standing in a thick fog.

What happens if you talk to someone in the restroom stalls?

I was curious, but I was also afraid that curiosity would kill the cat.

There wasn’t enough time today. Maybe I could go to the Study Room tomorrow and ask around; someone there might know.

I finished dinner in a daze and headed back to the dormitory.

On the way, I saw someone feeding a cat.

To avoid becoming a Dog-Seer, they chose to feed a cat.

I didn’t dare look closely, only casting a cursory glance before leaving.

That white cat let out a strange “jie-jie” sound and then ate the person’s legs.

That person wouldn’t live much longer.

Vultures appeared out of nowhere, circling overhead, waiting to feast once the person drew their last breath.

After entering the main door of the dormitory building, I had just climbed to the fifth floor and stepped into the hallway when I saw the back of a man wearing a long black trench coat.

The man was terrifyingly tall, his gait was eerie, and most importantly-he was wearing a red top hat!!!

Damn, my luck is terrible today!

Clearly, all my good luck was used up this morning.

[If you see a Person in a Red Top Hat in the dormitory hallway, immediately seek help from the Dorm Supervisor. Do not look back during this time.]

I scrambled and crawled back downstairs, pounding on the Dorm Supervisor’s window.

“Help! Help me, Dorm Supervisor! I saw the Person in the Red Top Hat!”

As I said this, I could clearly feel my tongue tripping over itself.

I had a feeling that the Person in the Red Top Hat was terrifying.

I even felt he was more frightening than the Student Council.

I was afraid he would haunt me.

“Don’t go back to your room tonight. Sleep in my duty room.”

“A-alone?”

“Would you like me to find a few ghosts to keep you company?”

“No thanks!” I hurriedly refused.

“The duty room is not within the scope of the dormitory check, but don’t open the door for no reason. You can’t be sure if the Person in the Red Top Hat is standing right outside, waiting for you to open it. When you sleep tonight, remember: the duty room is absolutely safe. Do not leave the duty room under any circumstances. If you see ‘them,’ tell yourself they are just hallucinations.”

What did the Dorm Supervisor mean by “them”?

I had a premonition that tonight was destined to be an ordeal.

Once the lights went out, I would be all alone in this cramped, pitch-black duty room, and the Person in the Red Top Hat might be standing just outside the door…

The thought made my legs go weak with fear.