Global Ghost Stories: I'm Investigating Ghosts in My Nightmare!

Chapter 91 The Spinning Lullaby
Repressed.

A deathly oppressive atmosphere permeated the air.

After the five rushed out of the hallway filled with funhouse mirrors, they were not greeted with the relief of escaping, but with a suffocating silence.

The theme song that had been playing on a loop throughout the park had quietly stopped. In its place was a strangely melodious carousel tune.

The music sounded like it was coming from an old, nearly broken phonograph, each note carrying a harsh, grating noise and a teeth-grinding quality.

The melody, full of fairytale charm, now sounded like a lullaby for the dead, echoing softly in this abandoned amusement park shrouded in night. Every beat struck precisely at the nerves of everyone who had been stretched to their limit.

The surrounding light also became increasingly dim.

The neon signs that should have been vibrant and colorful were now covered with a thick layer of dust, emitting only a pale and weak light. The light cast long shadows on the ground that looked like menacing ghosts, writhing ominously with each breath.

The cloyingly sweet smell in the air grew even stronger, still mixed with the distinctive metallic odor of corroded rust. The two contrasting scents blended together, creating a strange and unsettling fragrance.

“It seems… we have thoroughly angered the owner of this place.” An Mu’s voice was low, and his sharp, hawk-like eyes warily scanned every shadow that might be hiding danger.

His back was soaked with cold sweat. The feeling of being forced to laugh hysterically in the distorted mirror, watching helplessly as his sanity was stripped away bit by bit, was far more terrifying than a direct physical attack.

"So what?" Mo Fei gently hefted the high-frequency battle axe in his palm, producing a dull, metallic sound.

His sharply defined face was filled with undisguised fighting spirit.

"Perfect! I've been wanting to find that cowardly guy for a long time and see if his face under the paint is as repulsive as his taste!"

His condition was the worst of all. That "laughter performance" had almost completely drained his willpower.

At this moment, although his burly body still stood straight, his slightly trembling knuckles and the undisguised weariness deep in his eyes revealed that he was already at his limit.

"Mo Fei, calm down." Lan Ce pushed up his thick black-rimmed glasses, his eyes behind the lenses gleaming with rationality. "According to the law of conservation of energy, every time you get angry unnecessarily, you are accelerating the depletion of your already limited energy. I suggest you immediately enter a low-power standby mode to conserve all your energy in preparation for any unexpected situations that may arise."

"I..." Mo Fei was about to retort, but a metallic taste welled up uncontrollably in his throat.

He coughed violently a few times, and his face became even paler.

“He’s right.” Bai Yu’s voice rang out slowly. He stepped forward and handed Mo Fei an energy replenishment that emitted a cool aura. “Conserve your strength. The road ahead will only be more difficult than before.”

His expression was equally grim. While the mental impact of the "Void" power had successfully dealt a severe blow to the core of the parade, it had also placed a tremendous burden on him.

An Mu looked at the two exhausted and capable assistants in front of him, and then glanced at Lu Yueqi beside him who was holding on and not dragging him down. A trace of seriousness flashed in his eyes.

They can no longer be passively led by the nose by the other party.

They must find the heart of this park immediately, find that damn clown, and then end this insane game.

"Lan Ce, locate the core area." An Mu's voice left no room for doubt.

"Yes!" Lan Ce immediately unfolded the detector in his hand, and a light blue holographic map immediately appeared in front of everyone.

On the map, five green dots representing their locations are situated on the main road in the center of the entire park. Around them are several red areas radiating intense energy fluctuations.

"Judging from the intensity of the energy fluctuations, the core area of ​​this park should be inside that huge building that looks like a circus tent right in front of us. That's where the energy fluctuations are most intense in the entire park," Lanze analyzed, pointing to the huge red orb at the top of the map that was constantly pulsating like a heart. "However, to get there, we must pass through this 'Fantasy Carousel' area in front of us."

Everyone's eyes turned to the front without prior arrangement.

Under the stark white lights, a huge and ornate double-decker carousel stood silently in the middle of the main road, blocking all their way.

The carousel's design is full of classic European court style. Intricate angels and floral patterns are carved on the golden dome. Hundreds of crystal chandeliers hang below the dome.

However, this fairytale-like and dreamlike scene exudes a chilling and eerie atmosphere.

The wooden horses, painted with bright colors, are deformed monsters that seem to be undergoing some kind of torture.

Some of the wooden horses were covered with countless eyes, each one reflecting a deathly light in the stark white light.

Some of the wooden horses had their mouths stretched into an unnatural, huge arc, revealing sharp fangs like daggers inside.

Some Trojan horses are even made up of countless white bones, which looks shocking.

What's even more chilling is that on each of those strangely shaped wooden horses sits a "doll" dressed as an ordinary tourist.

The "dolls" were all in different poses. Some waved their arms innocently like children; some snuggled together sweetly like lovers; and some closed their eyes peacefully like old people.

But without exception, they all wore the same stiff, eerie smiles that they had seen in the central square before.

They were like a group of revelers whose lives had been abruptly paused, frozen forever on this rotating stage filled with false "happiness." The distorted, hypnotic lullaby emanated from within this giant carousel.

"Are these... are these also victims from before?" Lu Yueqi's voice trembled slightly.

No one answered her.

But everyone already knew the cruel answer in their hearts.

"Don't we have any other way to go?" Mo Fei's voice was a little hoarse.

“No.” Lance shook his head, pointing to the red area on the holographic map that represented the carousel. “This is the only path to the core area. The other areas are completely blocked by an unanalyzable ‘rule barrier.’ We must get through here.”

“Then let’s go.” An Mu’s voice was icy. “What new tricks is that damn clown up to now?”

The five of them started walking again.

The moment their feet stepped into the area illuminated by the carousel lights, the strange thing happened without warning!
The lullaby that had been playing on repeat suddenly stopped!

Immediately afterwards, the entire giant carousel slowly began to turn after a series of metallic scraping sounds!

The bodies of those "smiling dolls" that were fixed in place actually began to move slowly in an extremely stiff posture as the carousel turned!
They all turned their faces toward these uninvited "intruders"!
Those stiff mouths slowly opened, emitting bursts of cheers that sounded like babbling in a dream!
"Welcome...welcome..."

"A new... friend..."

"Come...play...with us..."

"To stay here forever...to be happy forever..."

Along with their "invitation," a childlike yet cold and emotionless electronic synthesized voice suddenly rang out above everyone's heads.

"Dear visitors, welcome to the 'Fantasy Carousel' area."

To ensure a smooth gaming experience, please be sure to follow the game rules:

"Rule 1: When the music starts, please enjoy this never-ending spinning party to the fullest."

"Rule Two: When the music stops, all 'friends' who are not sitting on the carousel will be considered 'bad kids who don't fit in'."

"Rule Three: We will impose the most severe punishment on 'bad kids'."

"Well then, have a pleasant trip."

The moment the words fell, that distorted lullaby started playing again!

Moreover, this time, its pace was twice as fast as before!
"Oh no!" Lan Ce's expression changed drastically. "This is a death game! It's forcing us to make a choice! Either ride those damned wooden horses, or... endure unknown 'punishment'!"

"What will happen if we ride the rocking horse?" An Mu asked in a deep voice.

“I don’t know!” A hint of anxiety flashed in Lan Ce’s eyes. “But based on my speculation, once we sit on them, there is a very high chance that we will be completely assimilated and turned into ‘smiling dolls’ just like them!”

"So, no matter what we choose, we're doomed?!" A hint of despair flashed in Mo Fei's eyes.

"No," Bai Yu's voice rang out.

His eyes calmly swept over the giant wooden horse that was spinning rapidly, and the "smiling puppets" on it that were extending a silent invitation to them.

“Every rule has loopholes.” His voice was calm, but reassuring. “It only says that those not sitting on the rocking horse when the music stops will be punished. But it doesn’t say that we have to sit on those ‘empty’ rocking horses.”

A flash of understanding crossed An Mu's eyes.

"what do you mean……"

“Yes.” Bai Yu nodded. “Since it’s so enthusiastically inviting us to ‘join’ this party, why shouldn’t we be polite to it?”

"Why don't we just ask those 'friends' who have already taken the seats to step down?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the lullaby that had been accelerating came to an abrupt halt once again!

An immense and unimaginably terrifying pressure descended from the sky, pressing down heavily on the five of them!

The "punishment" has begun!

(End of this chapter)