Chapter 64: Twisted Laughter

The eerie, distorted laughter sent a shiver down their spines. It wasn’t the kind of laugh one would expect from a human—it was wrong, as if multiple voices were overlapping, creating a ghastly, inhuman sound.

Furina clutched Heizou’s arm, her breathing ragged. "That thing is laughing—why is it laughing?!"

Aether held his breath, his back pressed against the door. He could still hear the faint rattling of chains, the creature lingering just outside.

"We need to get out of here," Heizou muttered, gripping his lantern tighter. "We can’t stay locked in this room forever."

Furina swallowed hard, nodding. "But how? She’s right there—"

Before she could finish her sentence—

Silence.

The laughter had stopped.

Aether’s grip on his lantern tightened. "I don’t like this…"

A beat passed.

Then another.

Then—

The door handle began slowly turning.

Furina stifled a scream, her entire body tensing. Heizou instinctively stepped in front of her, his jaw clenched.

The handle rattled once—

Twice—

And then, nothing.

Another moment of silence stretched between them.

"Maybe… maybe she left?" Heizou whispered, though he didn’t sound convinced.

Aether took a deep breath. "Only one way to find out."

He cautiously reached for the door handle, his fingers trembling slightly. With a quiet inhale, he pushed it open—

The hallway was empty.

There was no sign of the woman in white.

No bloody handprints.

No rattling chains.

Only the dim glow of their lanterns illuminating the eerie corridor.

"Where… did she go?" Furina whispered, peeking over Aether’s shoulder.

Heizou frowned. "She was right here a second ago…"

Aether stepped forward, cautiously scanning their surroundings. "We should regroup with the others before something else happens."

Furina and Heizou quickly nodded in agreement, and together, they made their way back down the hallway.

But just as they turned the corner—

A whisper slithered through the darkness, sending ice down their spines.

"… You can’t run forever…"

Furina froze, her grip tightening on Heizou’s arm. "Tell me you guys heard that…"

Aether’s expression darkened. "We need to move. Now."

Without another word, they quickened their pace, desperate to find the others before it was too late.