Horror Game Designer

Chapter 50: The Flesh Shrine

The atmosphere in the restaurant grew increasingly surreal and ominous. Its walls appeared to inch closer together, creating an unsettling sense of confinement. The sounds of the doors and frames clashing against each other echoed through the space, evoking the unnerving image of teeth grinding together.

“Everyone harbors a secret yearning, a desire tucked away in the deepest corners of their heart. I possess the power to transform those hidden wishes into tangible realities. Devour the flesh I’ve meticulously prepared for you. Once you do, all your troubles and concerns will vanish into thin air.”

The tantalizing scent of cooked meat filled the air, infiltrating Zhu Miao Miao’s senses and overwhelming her self-control. In a frenzied state, she began to scratch at her own shoulders violently, her fingernails tearing into her skin and drawing blood.

Under the potent influence of the meat’s aroma, Zhu Miao Miao’s mind was flooded with vivid images of her deceased parents, who had tragically died in a fire. She first recalled her childhood, how her parents would joyfully lift her onto their shoulders, guiding and nurturing her as she grew. Then later in life, the roles would be reversed, and it was on her shoulders that her parents came to rely, seeking her support in their older years.

“Your deepest wishes can come true. Meet whoever you long for. Not even the boundaries of life and death can keep you apart. You will forever be united with your loved ones,” the voice whispered enticingly.

The mingling of her blood with the scent of the meat seemed to conjure a spectral illusion of her parents, emerging as if from her very wounds, a surreal and haunting vision.

This eerie occurrence seemed to confirm Granny’s earlier prophecy: Zhu Miao Miao was on the brink of succumbing to her deepest desires, and the terrifying scenes previously seen in Granny’s basin were on the verge of becoming her reality.

“Come back to your senses!” Gao Ming urgently intervened, pressing down on Zhu Miao Miao, attempting to halt the bizarre transformation overtaking her body.

Yet, the intoxicating smell of the meat had already awakened Zhu Miao Miao’s most profound desires. She was now ready to embrace these desires, indifferent to the prospect of transforming into something monstrous, as long as it meant reuniting with her parents.

“The flesh carries our primal instincts; your body will never betray your true desires. It has already chosen your path,” the mysterious man’s voice resonated through the restaurant. “Step forward, join me. I have a special piece of meat prepared just for you. Eat it, and all your suffering will end!”

At this point, Zhu Miao Miao had lost all semblance of rational thought. Should Gao Ming release his grip now, she would unquestionably dash into the kitchen, prepared to forsake her own physical well-being for the sake of her overwhelming desire.

“Bravo, you’ve managed to restrain her!” came an approving voice.

Meanwhile, the restaurant continued its ominous contraction, threatening to crush everyone inside if they lingered any longer.

Determined not to sacrifice Zhu Miao Miao, Gao Ming clutched a menu and jumped towards the kitchen while gripping the chain in his hand.

Once he drew back the thick, opaque curtains that shrouded the kitchen, the aroma of meat was almost suffocating. Yet, the scene inside the kitchen defied Gao Ming’s expectations. There was no typical kitchen setup of stoves or flames. Instead, he saw a burly man dressed as a chef, mechanically chopping meat with a rhythmic precision. He would then toss the chopped pieces into a mysterious pool behind him, the source of the enticing scent that had so profoundly affected them all.

As Gao Ming drew nearer, a chilling realization dawned on him: the chef was unlike any human he had ever seen. The figure had the shape of a human but lacked all facial features – no eyes, ears, mouth, or nose. This eerie resemblance to a human-shaped doll added an unsettling dimension to the scene.

Then, the enigmatic man’s voice echoed once more, not emanating from the chef but rather emerging from the ominous pool. “Have you decided on what you wish to indulge in?” it asked, filling the space with its resonant tone.

Clutching the menu, Gao Ming cast his gaze towards the murky pool. Instead of any monstrous entity, all he saw reflected in the water was his own image.

“I never coerce anyone into making sacrifices. I pride myself on being far more honorable than those deceitful gods. Whatever you offer willingly, you shall receive in return – everything as per your desires, but only if you are willing to pay the necessary price.”

“Lie down, immerse yourself in your deepest yearnings, and let me behold what you truly crave.”

As Gao Ming watched, the pool became increasingly clouded, the chef tirelessly dumping more of the chopped meat into it. The water quickly turned a deep crimson with blood.

This sight brought back memories of Granny’s bronze basin, where the water had also transformed into blood in a disturbingly short span.

“People possess two hearts,” the voice elaborated. “One is made of flesh and blood, tangible and visible; the other is elusive, ethereal yet profoundly real, a repository of countless thoughts.”

“I shall fulfill the desires of your physical heart. In exchange, you must offer me your other heart, the intangible one.”

Gao Ming’s sense of reality began to blur, and he couldn’t tell if he was falling into the blood-filled pool or if the pool was rising to meet him. By the time he comprehended what was happening, he was already engulfed in the bloody waters.

The pool was shallow, yet he felt himself sinking, his consciousness and physical form appearing to disconnect.

“Your body is no stranger to pain, possessing strong limbs, a nimble mind, eyes capable of piercing through the murkiest fog, and a heart that has endured death countless times?” The man’s voice showed a trace of surprise for the first time.

“You’ve been here before?!” it inquired, echoing the words Granny had spoken.

In that moment, Gao Ming’s focus wasn’t on these revelations. He tried to climb out of the pool, but skeletal hands, disjointed and eerie, reached out and clutched at him, hindering his escape.

“Reveal your desire to me. Show me your innermost wish!” the voice demanded.

Suddenly, the blood in the pool surged violently, assaulting Gao Ming’s eyes with the force of sharp blades.

He felt an intense pain as his left eye was seemingly extracted, tendrils of blood infiltrating his body, spreading towards his heart and brain.

As the blood stirred his memories, Gao Ming recalled events that had transpired in a traffic tunnel – his remaining eye now saw corpses embedded in the tunnel walls, all fixated on him with their lifeless stares.

A dual scream pierced the air, and a crack formed at the bottom of the blood pool. Gao Ming’s vision was now saturated with a blood-red hue, encapsulating the terror and surrealism of the moment.

In a dramatic turn of events, the chain that connected Gao Ming to Brother Zhao Xi suddenly sprang into action. Acting like a lifeline, it tugged Gao Ming upwards from the blood-filled pool, using Zhao Xi’s body as a solid anchor point.

The intense aroma of meat that had permeated the restaurant quickly faded away, and the establishment seemed to revert to its normal state. However, Gao Ming was visibly affected by the ordeal; he lay collapsed on the ground, his hand covering his left eye.

The mysterious entity that resided within the blood pool had tapped into Gao Ming’s memories through his eye. It had intentions of completing the ritual of the Flesh Immortal but found itself unable to satisfy Gao Ming’s truest desires.

Coming back to her senses, Zhu Miao Miao called out in concern, “Team leader!” Though she hadn’t consumed the meat, the transformation in her body had already begun.

After some time, Gao Ming, with considerable effort, got back on his feet, his left eye remaining shut. “Pick up your axe, don’t be fooled anymore,” he urged, his voice carrying the weight of his ordeal.

Losing his left eye had unlocked forgotten memories for Gao Ming, filling him with an intense, chilling fear. He felt compelled to keep these revelations to himself, clenching his fists in silent acknowledgment of the disturbing truth he had uncovered – the same truth hinted at by both Granny and the voice in the blood pool.

“The desire that lurks deep within my flesh is truly terrifying,” Gao Ming reflected with a sense of dread.

He sat contemplatively at the edge of the pool, surveying his surroundings with his one good eye. The thought crossed his mind: when one cannot identify the villain in their midst, perhaps they themselves are the villain.

To the shock of everyone present, Gao Ming suddenly leaped back into what now seemed like a regular pool of water.

At the bottom of the pool, Gao Ming discovered a peculiar statue. It was an effigy of a multi-armed deity, gripping a bleeding heart. “This is the statue of the Flesh Immortal; the voice we heard must belong to it,” Gong Xi surmised, joining Gao Ming.

Gong Xi pointed out a noticeable crack in the statue’s left eye. But the moment he touched it, the statue shattered entirely. “I didn’t do anything!” Gong Xi exclaimed, his focus quickly shifting to Gao Ming’s condition. “Was your eye taken by the Flesh Immortal?”

Lost in his troubling memories, Gao Ming offered no response.

With the destruction of the statue, the chef, who had been incessantly chopping meat, finally ceased his task. He wandered outside as if drawn by an unseen force.

“I’m fine. Let’s follow the chef and see where he’s going,” Gao Ming declared, his face twisted in pain but his demeanor eerily calm. He was determined to survive, to leave the Sishui Apartment, and to re-enter that mysterious tunnel.

Following the chef through various corridors, they arrived at a rental room located in the middle level of the basement. The room had an aura of reverence about it, dominated by a large red wooden door. The door bore two ominous inscriptions: “Take all life” on the left and “Take all death” on the right.

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