The Grand Piano and the Elusive Circles

I observed the door that had pulled Dorothy inside, pressing my ear against its surface. Faint, minute sounds stirred within, though I couldn’t discern their exact nature.

This door was distinctly different from the others in the dormitory, and the room it led to appeared significantly larger. My spare key, unfortunately, proved useless against it.

If you were to ask my current mood, it would be difficult to articulate. With Yu Tianman and Dorothy now out of the picture, I was left alone, which, in a way, made things considerably simpler.

It was almost time for this to end.

Following the room numbers, I finally arrived at our initial destination: Dorm 317. Under normal circumstances, one might expect to first rescue Dorothy and Yu Tianman. However, I doubted their elaborate setup would be so straightforward.

For me, moving alone was far more convenient.

Turning the key in the lock, I entered the starting point of this peculiar adventure. I glanced around the room. It appeared to be a single dormitory, every piece of furniture draped in white sheets.

These sheets, in turn, were covered in layers of dust and cobwebs. A large, conspicuous object stood by the window in the living area, drawing my eye. I stepped further inside, intent on unraveling the dormitory’s secrets.

In my exploration, I accidentally bumped into a table corner. A broom leaning nearby toppled, its wooden handle striking the large, conspicuous object.

With a tug, it pulled away the white sheet covering it. Before my eyes, a perfectly preserved grand piano was revealed.

Raising my flashlight, I stepped closer to examine it. On the music stand, instead of sheet music, lay a single slip of paper.

[An ancient evil has long plagued this place, summoned and sustained by a group of malevolent cultists. Countless innocents have fallen victim to its grasp. If you wish to save your friends, you must destroy the four magic circles on the third floor, sending the malevolent entity back to its original world. Beware, the cultists will stop at nothing to thwart you.]

The words written upon it stirred a strange sense of déjà vu.

I placed the note back precisely where I found it. My task was now clear: evade the cultists’ pursuit, locate the magic circles, and destroy them. Time was of the essence, and I immediately began my search for the four formations.

The moment I stepped out, a tall figure burst from the shadows, charging towards me in an instant. I bolted.

The third-floor corridor was sparsely furnished, remarkably open, which allowed me, alone as I was, to run at full speed. I managed to shake them off by utilizing several sharp turns.

At this point, I decided to switch off my flashlight. Navigating the darkness, I moved stealthily, beginning my exploration of the various rooms on the third floor.

With a stroke of luck, I discovered the first magic circle on the floor of one of the dormitories. It was composed of two concentric circles, painted in crimson, with a figure-eight symbol at its center.

In the dim light, the circle pulsed faintly with a red glow, seemingly brimming with an ominous energy.

‘Hold on,’ I thought. ‘The note didn’t specify how to destroy it. Would simply scuffing the pattern with my foot suffice?’

As my foot scraped at the pattern, a monstrous wail echoed from the floor below. Its cry was a grotesque symphony of a dozen voices, varying in gender and age, reverberating eerily throughout the entire level. I hadn’t truly expected it to work.

Having dealt with the first circle, I heard movement from the corridor outside. Peeking out, I saw a cultist advancing from each side. I immediately retreated into the room with the magic circle and locked the door from within.

They began pounding on the door, as if sheer force could open it. Trapped, I knew I couldn’t stay. I pushed open the French window of the dormitory, discovering that the balconies of the two adjacent rooms were connected.

Once I reached the other dormitory, I steeled myself, pushed open the door, and sprinted away without a backward glance. By the time the two cultists reacted, I had already put a significant distance between us.

Thus, I continued my search, weaving through rooms and ducking into hiding spots. After some time, I found a corner of another magic circle beneath a table in a storage room.

I lifted and moved the table aside, then proceeded to scuff away a portion of the circle with my foot.

Another wail erupted from downstairs. I swiftly exited the room, reaching a new hiding place before the cultists could encircle me.

Things were no longer progressing smoothly. The third magic circle remained elusive. I was certain I had meticulously searched every openable room on the third floor, even evading the cultists’ patrols to re-examine them. Still, I found nothing. Too much time had already been spent.

Ah, I had overlooked one spot, I suddenly realized. I made my way to the stairwell between the third and fourth floors, and indeed, the third magic circle was there. Another wail followed, then another chase, and I was beginning to feel quite weary.

But where could the final magic circle be? I was certain I had checked the entire third floor.

Just as I found myself at a loss, a piano melody drifted into my ears. It conveyed a gentle sorrow, interwoven with an ethereal beauty.

The piece captivated not only my attention but also my heart. I knew this song: Ludovico Einaudi’s ‘Nuvole Bianche.’ But who could be playing it?

The piano music emanated from Dorm 317—the only room that housed a piano. With the emergence of the melody, the cultists seemed to have vanished, leaving the path back to 317 completely clear.

I eventually reached a peculiar room. Perhaps due to the night’s strenuous exertions and my waning stamina, a sudden headache assaulted me, and my vision blurred for a moment.

Resisting the discomfort, I followed the music to the door, where I saw a male student, dressed in our school uniform, seated at the grand piano, playing.

Just as I was about to speak, the door abruptly swung shut on its own. By the time I retrieved my key and opened it again, the male student had vanished without a trace.

Stepping inside, eager to investigate, I noticed a bloodstain on the white sheet covering the floor. As I stared, a single drop of blood spatter precisely landed upon it, seeping into the fabric and deepening the existing stain.

Slowly, I lifted my gaze. A crimson blood-magic circle was emblazoned across the ceiling.

Finally, I had found it—the last one.

I crouched down, retrieving the broom that had fallen earlier. Using its head, I smeared the magic circle on the ceiling. With this, the final circle was destroyed, and the crisis should have been resolved.

Yet, I heard no sound. The customary monster’s wail was absent. Had I not smeared the circle sufficiently, or was I supposed to use a specific item?

“Congratulations on completing the challenge!”

Suddenly, the lights flickered on. From behind me, a chorus of uneven voices erupted, accompanied by a flurry of applause and the piercing shriek of party whistles.

Turning around, I saw a group of unfamiliar faces, all beaming with smiles, their applause rising and falling in waves.

I wasn’t sure if I had ever mentioned it.

I disliked surprises.

****

Before me lay two sheets of paper: a haunted house experience survey, and a non-disclosure agreement. These weren’t options for me to choose from; I was expected to fill out both.

I sat in the room that had previously been inaccessible. Across from me sat an upperclassman, who smiled politely and kindly instructed me on how to fill out the survey.

The sudden brightness of the surrounding lights made my eyes struggle to adjust.

“Would you like a cup of tea to refresh yourself?” the upperclassman asked.

“No, thank you.”

I picked up the pen, preparing to fill out the survey. The first question read: [Which horror element left the deepest impression on you?]

Truthfully, I wanted to write that nothing had made much of an impression, but that would have been impolite. After a moment of thought, I filled in my answer.

“The mannequin, then?” the upperclassman inquired. “Could you tell me why?”

“The sight of Dorothy dismantling it was quite striking, I admit.”

The upperclassman let out a hearty laugh. “Hahaha! The original plan was to place it at the stairwell entrance once you reached the upper floor, but you all managed to break it before we could.

“We didn’t even have time to put it back together. It seems we’ll need to prepare a spare.”

I shrugged, then looked at the next question: [Which part of the experience were you most disappointed with?] For this, I already had an answer in mind.

“The guidance on the third floor was rather poor. For a while, I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing. The whole ‘find the magic circles’ design felt repetitive and boring, dragging on for too long.”

“Indeed. We hadn’t quite finalized the gameplay for the third-floor section. We put together that test version temporarily to welcome your arrival.”

“Your script was also a bit odd. Wasn’t it supposed to be a haunted house? It ended up feeling more like a Cthulhu tabletop RPG.”

“Cthulhu?” The upperclassman seemed unfamiliar with the term. “The overall plot and narrative structure were designed by members of our board game club. Do you feel it didn’t quite fit the theme?”

“Somewhat,” I replied, not wanting to be too blunt.

“Alright, we’ll definitely adjust that aspect. Now, for the next question…”

The room door opened, and three girls entered, all of whom I recognized.

“Still not done filling it out?” Yu Tianman asked, now clad in a tracksuit.

As the instigator of this entire affair, she was smiling quite happily. Dorothy followed behind, silent. The presence of the third person, Mei Ruolan, however, came as a slight surprise.

“I’ve only just started.”

“Then we’ll wait for you here,” she said.

The upperclassman glanced at the three girls beside him, then at me, a smile of ambiguous meaning playing on his lips.

“Let’s continue, then,” he said. “Were you satisfied with the design of the hairy monster on the second floor and its role in the plot?”

“The second floor was well-executed throughout; I have no complaints,” I mused. “Though, speaking of which, that monster’s costume was incredibly realistic. How did you manage that?”

“Ah, that was a collaboration between our Entertainment Department and the Chemistry Experiment Club. We sourced the raw materials, they handled the latex production, and then we cut and processed it to create that full-body suit.

“It looked quite tall, didn’t it? That’s because it was padded with sponges to create a more imposing presence. The actual space inside for the wearer is normal-sized.”

Our school’s student council and clubs seemed remarkably capable.

“Very well done,” I genuinely praised.

“But Yi Chang, you weren’t even scared,” Yu Tianman interjected. “Dot was practically scared out of her wits.”

Dorothy shot her a glare.

“Alright, Tianman, don’t interrupt the upperclassman’s questions,” Mei Ruolan reminded her.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. There’s only one question left,” he said, jotting down my previous answer on a note. “Once the haunted house officially opens, would you be willing to experience it again?”

Normally, once I know the plot and development of a game or movie, I lose interest in re-experiencing it. After all, you already know what’s going to happen.

I glanced at the three girls beside me. For some reason, they were all watching me, as if anticipating my answer and reaction.

In that sense, I was no different. I, too, looked forward to seeing their reactions when we came to the haunted house again.

“Hmm, if it’s even better next time, I’ll come.”

“That’s wonderful!” the upperclassman beamed. “Alright, thank you for your experience today. Be careful on your way home, and it’s best to take a taxi. The student council can reimburse your fare.”

“No need, I’ve had my chauffeur drive over,” Dorothy interjected. “They’ll ride back with me.”

“That’s even better,” the upperclassman nodded. “Oh, don’t forget to fill out the non-disclosure agreement,” he reminded us.

****

We left the room. I could see Yu Tianman practically buzzing, clearly expecting me to ask her something. However, I had already figured out most of it halfway through.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t you have fun today?” Tianman misinterpreted the look in my eyes.

“It was alright,” I replied.

“I, for one, am not happy at all,” Dorothy grumbled, her face dark. “So many people saw such an embarrassing side of me…”

“It’s fine, Dot!” Yu Tianman chirped, embracing her from behind and burying her face in Dorothy’s tied-up curly hair. “You were so cute! Your performance today was practically that of a horror movie protagonist.”

“Are you implying that I was rescued the entire time?”

Their bickering would likely continue for a while, meaning I probably wasn’t needed. I turned my head to look at Mei Ruolan, who was standing to the side.

“Were you also called here by Tianman?” I asked her.

“Mm, you could say I was indirectly called,” she replied, a helpless expression on her face. “Tianman approached the student council, arranged this event, and then the student council contacted the Disciplinary Committee. For an event like this held at night, someone needs to ensure safety.”

“How exactly do you protect us?”

“If I believe an incident is about to occur, I have the authority to immediately halt the activity.”

Our school’s Disciplinary Committee members were quite formidable.

Descending the staircase, Dorothy and Yu Tianman had finished their argument. As we passed through the lobby, we saw student council members in the process of removing their makeup. One of the girls approached us to greet us.

“You’ve worked hard, students,” she said, seeming genuinely delighted to see us, as if we were movie stars. “Your performance was truly outstanding.”

I simply nodded, then observed the group removing their makeup. The cultists weren’t actually that tall; their entire bodies had been enveloped in cloaks, and what I had seen were merely prop heads, which explained their imposing height.

The actor who played the hairy monster was also there. He had just emerged from his suit, wearing a vest, while others fanned him and offered water. It must have been exhausting to run around in that stifling costume during the summer, but he seemed to be enjoying himself.

As we walked past, student council members along the way greeted us. Perhaps they, too, had enjoyed the event, as they were exceptionally friendly.

After surveying everyone, not a single person matched the silhouette of the one playing the piano.

“Who played the piano piece at the end?” I asked the girl walking behind us.

“That piano piece?” she pondered. “I don’t know. It wasn’t in the script. Perhaps it was a last-minute addition.”

‘Is that so?’

I decided to accept it as such. A part of me felt it was better not to delve too deeply.

****

Back in my own home, I still felt a slight disorientation after escaping the night’s madness. The overwhelming sense of safety, paradoxically, created a feeling of anticlimax.

After a shower, I washed away all lingering traces of the old school building, returning to my usual state before climbing into bed.

I turned on my phone, noticing a prominent crack across the screen, though I paid it no mind. Checking the time, it was already past midnight. Thankfully, I had finished my homework before heading out.

Setting the phone aside, I pulled up the covers, ready for sleep.

Five minutes after lying down, sleep began to creep in.

Then, my phone rang.

I let out the heaviest sigh of my life and answered the call.

“Hello?” I said, my voice devoid of energy.

“Yi Chang, are you asleep?”

Through my grogginess, I could vaguely discern Dorothy’s voice, low and hoarse, speaking almost like a whisper of exhaled breath.

“I was almost asleep.”

“So, you’re not asleep yet, then.”

She was, unfortunately, correct. “So, what’s wrong?” My eyelids were fighting a losing battle against sleep.

“Nothing really…”

Despite saying ‘nothing really,’ she showed no intention of hanging up. Instead, I could hear the rustle of bedding on her end, suggesting she had also gotten into bed. Why wasn’t she sleeping?

“Can’t sleep?”

“Of course not,” she retorted. “I just can’t fall asleep.”

But I desperately wanted to.

“Yi Chang?”

“I’m here.”

“Did you get your phone back?”

“If I hadn’t gotten it back, what would I be using to call you?” The moment I entered the room, the upperclassman had handed my phone back, saying, “Thank you for specifically going to retrieve it for me.”

“…You’re welcome.”

I pushed myself up, splashed some water on my face, and took a sip from the glass on my nightstand.

“Yi Chang?”

“Mm, mm, I’m here.”

“Tuck me in.”

“One sheep, two sheep…”

“Not that kind.”

She was quite particular. “Then what kind?”

“Tell me about yourself.”

“It’s quite boring, you know.”

“That’ll make it easier for me to sleep, then.”

She had a point.

“Let me think,” I mused, wondering what I could possibly share with someone. “When I first started middle school…”