Chapter 1

During my internship as a forensic pathologist, I accidentally opened a video file of a 20-year-old murder case in the database.

I watched in horror as a young girl was brutally killed.

Devastated, I frantically dragged the progress bar back to the beginning.

Like a madman, I started sending message after message.

[Please, I beg you, don't open the door! There's a serial killer outside!]

[You're so young. Seeing you like this hurts me more than if I were killed myself.]

[Don't open the door! You'll die, you'll really die!!]

At that moment, the little girl who was about to open the door suddenly stopped.

She turned around and looked up, her shocked gaze meeting mine.

"Who... who are you?"

She could see me?!

The moment our eyes met, I almost dropped my phone in shock.

The girl's sweet childish voice continued to come from my phone.

"What's this? Why did these words suddenly appear?"

"Is someone projecting them?"

I looked back at my phone. In the video, the girl reached out into the air, as if trying to grab something.

Although it seemed unbelievable, I was now certain that the little girl couldn't see me.

But she could see the messages I was sending!

Just then, the aggressive knocking on the door resumed.

"Knock knock knock," each sound more urgent than the last.

The girl turned back, her hand reaching for the doorknob again.

The TV in the living room was on, broadcasting the 2005 New Year's Eve TV gala. A group of beautiful deaf-mute dancers were performing "Thousand-Hand Guanyin," a dance that would later become world-renowned.

(Note: The New Year's Eve TV gala is a major annual event in China, featuring various performances and celebrations.)

Without time to think, I quickly sent another message.

[Lily, I know what I'm about to say sounds strange, but please believe me. I'm from 20 years in the future.]

[I'm a forensic pathology intern named James.]

[I'm watching a real video of you being murdered. There's a serial killer outside the door. No one knows what he looks like, and he hasn't been caught even now.]

[You're currently the last known victim on record.]

[According to the police's current deduction, he kills randomly. As long as you don't open the door, he'll leave, and you'll be safe!]

The girl had beautiful natural curls and big, blinking eyes.

Her expression was surprised: "You know my name?"

I noticed that at this moment, the girl had clearly lowered her voice.

I knew she was starting to believe what I was saying.

Thinking back to the scene of her being brutally murdered that I had just witnessed, I still felt a lump in my throat.

[Yes, I know your name is Lily. Because three hours from now, close to midnight, your mom will come home and cry while holding you, calling your nickname.]

[The video ends completely at midnight.]

The girl fell silent.

She quietly brought over a stool and stood on it to look through the peephole.

I don't know what she saw, but her expression clearly became somewhat fearful.

"What should I do now?"

[Lily, no matter what he does, don't open the door. Try to call the police! Do you have a phone at home?]

The girl nodded.

"Yes, under my mom's pillow."

Out of professional instinct, I thought for a moment and then sent another message.

[Lily, when it's safe, can you describe what the killer looks like to me? Maybe you can help us catch the criminal in the future.]

The girl quietly brought over a stool and stood on it to look through the peephole.

Then she turned back, about to say something to me when suddenly my head started to ache violently, as if it was about to split open.

My ears were also filled with a piercing roar.

"Ah!" I clutched my head and fell to my knees in pain.

The next second, my consciousness was instantly pulled into a thick darkness.