Thriller Zone: From the Mental Hospital to the Ghostly World

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"Chen Ji murdered his mother a week ago and spent three days with her corpse until he was arrested."

"He was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and transferred to our hospital for supervision."

The woman held the medical record in her hand and read it aloud gently. The nameplate on her white coat read: Tang Qin - Chief Physician.

"Mother-killing".

She repeated the word softly, rummaged through the pile of papers next to her, and found another document with an official red header—an interrogation record.

[Sixth Interrogation Record]

"During the interrogation, he repeatedly rambled incoherently and his thoughts raced, raising strong suspicions of mental illness. This can be verified by checking the recording."

"I'd really like to know what you said during the interrogation that led to this assessment?"

Tang Qin crossed her fingers, raised her eyebrows, and looked toward the other side of the table.

Across from her sat a dark-haired boy in a hospital gown, looking somewhat dazed.

Chen Ji, 18 years old, has been transferred to the Third Mental Hospital of Tianhai City for supervision.

Tang Qin was his attending physician.

"You can listen to this."

After a long silence, Chen Ji finally spoke.

Tang Qin smiled and turned on the tape recorder on the table, from which came a static sound.

Zi La——Zi La——

The recording was cut off in the middle. The voice at the beginning was young and calm, belonging to Chen Ji.

The other male voice likely belonged to the interrogator.

(Recording begins)

Chen Ji: "I want to ask you a question."

Man: "You say it."

Chen Ji: "Have you ever felt at some point that the people around you are no longer the same people?"

Man: "What do you mean?"

Chen Ji: "Have you ever felt that when you wake up one day, the world looks a little different from yesterday, but you can't quite put your finger on what has changed?"

Man: "I don't understand what you're talking about."

Chen Ji: "Let's take an example. Do you have a wife? Let's say you do. One day, when you wake up and see your wife sleeping soundly next to you, do you suddenly feel a pang of panic, as if she has been replaced by something?"

(Inhale)

Man: "How could that be? She is who she is. We've been together for so many years, how could she be replaced by something else?"

Man: "You mean she's exhibiting some unusual behavior?"

Chen Ji: "No. Let's assume she's exactly the same as before, with the same behavior, personality, and even the most hidden mole on her body."

Man: "So what do you mean?"

Chen Ji: "If I told you that your wife died ten years ago, would you still think the woman lying next to you is her?"

Man: "Of course not!"

(Sound of a chair being pushed or pulled, someone suddenly stands up)

Man: "Besides, are all the people around me idiots? Wouldn't they know if a dead person came back to life?"

(A moment of silence.)

Chen Ji: "You still don't understand."

Chen Ji: "What if the people around you all think all of this is normal?"

Chen Ji: "Even those people you clearly remember attending her funeral unanimously believe that you have a problem, that your wife has been alive all along."

(A moment of silence.)

Man: "I understand. However, I can tell you that this is a materialistic world."

Man: "If such a thing were to happen, I must be crazy..."

When the recording reached this point, Dr. Tang pressed a button on the recorder to pause the conversation.

Her expression was very serious. She looked at the medical record in her hand and said:

“Chen Ji, after this conversation, you claimed that you did not kill your mother, Zhang Sufeng.”

"It's... a ghost."

She looked up, her expression revealing curiosity.

"You also said that your mother died in a car accident with your father ten years ago."

"You also claimed that two weeks ago, a ghost replaced Zhang Sufen and moved into your house."

"That's why you killed your mother, isn't it?"

"Ah."

Chen Ji nodded slightly.

"However, I never said it was a ghost."

"I'm just saying that the thing that replaced my mother wasn't human."

Across from him, Tang Qin sighed helplessly and rubbed her forehead.

“Chen Ji, your mother’s death was never recorded in her household registration.”

"Moreover, your neighbors can testify that Zhang Sufeng has been living in the Sunshine Community, which is your home, for the past eighteen years."

She changed the subject, her voice now tinged with a hint of probing:

"Is it possible that the stories you told during the interrogation affected your mental state?"

"Does this make you think that the same story happened to you?"

Chen Ji stared at Tang Qin for a long while, then let out a soft laugh, as if he had heard some outrageous joke.

He withdrew the corner of his mouth from his lips and said calmly, "I only trust my own memories."

Dr. Tang sighed and continued writing something on the medical record. After a while, he said, "I've added another dose of medicine for you. Remember to take it on time under the supervision of the nurse."

"Also, there's something I want to know. You said Zhang Sufeng moved into your house two weeks ago."

"Then why did you wait a week before taking action?"

Chen Ji raised his head, and a trace of emotion finally appeared in his eyes, which had been as calm as still water.

"because......"

"I miss her."

"So even if it's fake, I want to spend a week with her."

Tang Qin was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting this answer. Her gaze flickered as she looked at Chen Ji, and she was speechless for a moment.

After a long pause, she shook her head and said nothing more.

"Boom, boom, boom."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Tang Qin stood up and gestured for Chen Ji to go out first.

Chen Ji had just stood up when she hesitated for a moment, then suddenly reached out and stopped him.

"and many more."

After a few seconds, Tang Qin said:

"Chen Ji, schizophrenia is often accompanied by symptoms such as visual and auditory hallucinations."

"I'd really like to know, what am I like in your eyes?"

Chen Ji was taken aback, as if he hadn't expected her to ask that, and hesitated for a moment before saying:

"......very beautiful."

"Her eyes are beautiful, her face is small...and very fair."

"Like a fox demon from Journey to the West."

Tang Qin couldn't help but smile, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes. No woman dislikes being complimented on her appearance.

She tidied the documents on the table and said with a soft laugh, "Thank you for saying that."

"Remember to close the door when you leave."

Chen Ji nodded, and when he opened the door, he saw a man in uniform standing outside.

His expression was very serious.

He glanced at Chen Ji scrutinizingly before entering Tang Qin's office.

Chen Ji remained calm as he watched the uniformed man enter the office.

His pupils clearly reflected the formulaic smile on Tang Qin's face.

as well as......

Beside her beautiful right eye was her left eye, which bulged outwards, bloodshot and tilted at an impossible angle like a camera lens.

Her right eye was looking at the man in uniform, while her left eye was fixed on Chen Ji outside the house until he closed the door.

this......

It's simply impossible for a normal person to do that.

The uniformed man acted as if he hadn't seen anything.

Chen Ji did not leave immediately, but leaned against the wall next to the office and looked up at the pale white light strip on the ceiling.

After a while, he heard a very faint sound coming from the office, as if the uniformed man was deliberately speaking in a low voice.

"Dr. Tang, has Chen Ji left the hospital these past few days?"

Tang Qin's voice was surprised: "Of course not. His situation is special, and he has been under strict surveillance. Besides, there are so many security guards here, how could Chen Ji possibly sneak out?"

After a moment of silence, the uniformed man's voice finally rang out.

"His mother's body is missing."

"The surveillance footage shows that she walked out by herself!"