By the time Lin Xia counted the seventh corpse, the cold light above the autopsy table began to flicker, casting an eerie glow reminiscent of a scene from an old horror film. The sputtering hum of unstable voltage sent chills down his spine.

  "Ear canals all contain coral-like growths," Forensic Doctor Wang Zhentao's voice echoed through the empty autopsy room. His rubber gloves were smeared with fluorescent mucus, making them appear even more sinister under the flickering lights. "The deaths occurred during the high tide around the summer solstice."

  Lin Xia rubbed his arms, the chill from the air conditioning raising goosebumps on his skin. He felt the autopsy room was colder than a morgue.

  Wang Zhentao extended a pair of tweezers toward Lin Qiu’s ear and continued, “Your sister is the sixth case. According to the pattern, there should be a seventh...” He paused, picking up a small growth with the tweezers. “Judging by the growth stage, the seventh... has likely already appeared.”

  A lump formed in Lin Xia’s throat, making it hard to breathe. The number seven felt like a sharp knife stabbing into his heart. Suppressing his emotions, he asked, “Brother Wang, what can you tell about these growths? How are they different from ordinary drowning?”

  Wang Zhentao placed the growth on a specimen tray and said without looking up, “There’s a huge difference. Ordinary drowning doesn’t produce this stuff. This looks like something from the sea, but nothing in the ocean grows like this. And did you notice? It glows. Isn’t that strange?”

  Lin Xia stared at the glowing growth, feeling a chill run from his feet to his scalp. Memories of childhood sea monster legends made his hair stand on end.

  “Brother Wang, do you think... could it be some kind of mutated creature?” Lin Xia’s voice trembled slightly.

  Wang Zhentao removed his gloves and washed his hands with disinfectant, glancing at Lin Xia. “Mutated creature? You’ve been watching too many horror movies. But... this is indeed bizarre. I’ll take this for a detailed analysis and see what we can find out.”

  He added, “Be careful lately, especially stay away from the coast. This thing... it’s really spooky.”

  Lin Xia nodded, his mind racing. Stay away from the coast? His sister disappeared near the shore... Could it be some kind of curse? The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became, yet he couldn’t help but feel drawn to the sea, hoping to find some clues.

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  Seeing Lin Xia’s distraught look, Wang Zhentao patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry too much. Contact me anytime if anything happens; my phone is always on.”

  Lin Xia forced a smile. “Thanks, Brother Wang.”

  Wang Zhentao waved his hand. “No need to thank me. Your sister’s case is my case. Just don’t play hero; this case... it’s deep waters!” He emphasized his warning with a stern look.

  Lin Xia shivered, knowing Wang Zhentao meant well. But his sister’s death felt like a thorn in his heart, one he couldn’t remove until he found answers.

  Suddenly, the door to the autopsy room slammed open with a loud bang, reverberating through the empty space and numbing their eardrums. Lin Xia nearly jumped out of his chair, while Wang Zhentao, startled, dropped the tweezers with a clatter onto the stainless steel tray.

  A salty sea breeze instantly filled the room, as if trying to drag them into the icy depths. A young officer stumbled in, his face pale, his uniform soaked, looking as if he had just emerged from the sea. He gasped for breath, his words trembling, “Another... another body... found... at Dock Three!”

  Lin Xia’s heart sank, a sense of foreboding enveloping him. He stared intently at the officer, hoping against hope that he wasn’t about to hear what he feared most.

  Wang Zhentao frowned, setting aside his tools, and demanded, “What happened? Speak clearly!”

  The officer took several deep breaths, still struggling to catch his breath. “The victim... female... pearl earring on her left earlobe!”

  Lin Xia’s head buzzed, his vision darkening momentarily. Pearl earring! That was his sister Lin Qiu’s favorite accessory, one she wore almost every day!

  He shot up, knocking over his chair with a screech. Grabbing the officer’s arm, his voice quavered uncontrollably, “What did you say? Pearl earring? Are you sure?!”

  The officer, startled by Lin Xia’s reaction, stammered, “Y-yes, I saw it myself... it’s definitely a pearl earring...”

  Lin Xia swayed, nearly collapsing. His world felt like it was crumbling, all hope vanishing in an instant.

  Wang Zhentao quickly stepped forward to steady Lin Xia and instructed the officer, “Go back and secure the scene. I’ll be right there!”

  The officer hurried out, visibly relieved.

  Looking at Lin Xia’s devastated state, Wang Zhentao sighed heavily. “Lin Xia, calm down! There might still be a way out...”

  “A way out? What way out?” Lin Xia’s voice was hoarse and desperate. He shook off Wang Zhentao’s hand. “Pearl earring... it’s Xiao Qiu’s... it must be her...”

  “Don’t jump to conclusions!” Wang Zhentao raised his voice. “We haven’t confirmed the identity yet. Let’s go to the scene!”

  He pulled Lin Xia along, who moved like a lifeless puppet. His mind was blank, haunted only by the officer’s raspy voice and the cold gleam of the pearl earring.

  He remembered Wang Zhentao’s earlier words: “The seventh... has likely already appeared.”

  Could it truly be an inescapable curse? Lin Xia dared not think further, hoping desperately that this was all just a nightmare that would vanish upon waking.