From the 21st exploration record—the one that revealed the name of 304's final resident—every subsequent page had been torn out.
Likely by Sanchez himself.
Did knowing that child's name trigger some kind of corruption?
Takakai closed the journal.
The sealed archives on the desk were clearly stolen from various institutions—an impossible feat for an ordinary man. Had Sanchez used supernatural means?
Takakai didn't bother reading them.
Time here felt limited, and these documents probably lacked critical clues.
Instead, he moved to a row of hooks by the door—
And grabbed a small key labeled "304".
The key to the source.
In the last loop, he'd seen 304's door—but now, the third floor was a twisted nightmare. What would its origin point look like?
Better to have the option than not.
Next, he rifled through drawers until he found an old cassette tape in a metal box.
Even if we find a player, this might not work.
As he turned back toward the desk—
Screeeeee—
The computer monitor flickered to life.
A grainy feed showed this very room—real-time.
In the footage, the living room door creaked open.
A man walked in—Sanchez—and sat at the desk.
Takakai spun around.
No one there.
On-screen, Sanchez began writing:
["22nd Exploration"]
["Found the hidden room in 304—a storage space. Why don't other units have one?"]
["Xusheng… did you alter this place? Are you why we're trapped?"]
Then, abruptly, Sanchez stopped.
["Ever since learning her name… I feel watched."]
His head snapped up—
Staring straight at the camera.
At Takakai.
["Who are you?"]
The voice didn't come from the monitor.
It came from behind Takakai.
The stench of scalding water and cooked meat filled the air.
Drip. Drip.
Something dragged itself closer.
On-screen, Sanchez approached the camera—
Now pressing against Takakai's back.
—
SPLASH.
Takakai gasped, flailing in knee-deep water.
He was back in the real 109—mold-covered, decayed.
Shadowy figures prowled the room, searching.
Gotta move.
Clutching the key and tape, Takakai bolted for the door.
The hallway was filthy, water tinged yellow with rot.
The apartment's entrance stood open, the stairwell littered with debris.
Then—
He could see.
Since when was there light on the first floor?
His thoughts muddled.
Wait… why am I wearing a rescue uniform?
Wasn't I… trying to get back…?
His body stiffened, as if merging with another presence.
Fingers trembling, he yanked the rope around his waist—
Send the signal—
"Let's go! The couple from 304 is out—get them to safety!"
Voices echoed down the hall.
Rescuers dragged a drunk, screaming man and a shrieking woman toward him.
Li Youcai and Xu Jiazhen.
"Fuck off! I ain't leavin'!"
"Perverts! Sons of whores! Let go!!"
The rescuers' whispers cut through their curses:
"How could they do that to a kid…?"
"Their son was sent away days ago… premeditated."
"That smell… how did no one report it?"
And behind them—
A small figure.
Unnoticed.
Unseen.
Except by Takakai.
The moment his eyes landed on it—
Pain.
Like needles sewing his lips shut.
Don't speak.
Don't think.
Don't—
—
Click.
Takakai jolted awake in 206's kitchen.
Back before the second exploration.
Green sat slumped against the wall. The grandfather clock lay toppled. Maki helped him up, worry etched on her face. Kaguya's sharp gaze pinned him.
"Well? What did you find?"
Takakai's hand flew to his pocket—
The key and tape were still there.
Why weren't these reset?
He opened his mouth to explain—
Then froze.
She stood in the living room.
Watching him.
Waiting.
The rule from the outdated list flashed in his mind:
["The apartment's greatest taboo is children."]
He'd thought he understood.
He was wrong.
This—
This was only the beginning.