The car sped away from the apartment complex.

　　Lin and Cheng sat in the back seat, their silence amplifying the quiet hum of the engine.

　　It wasn't until they reached the highway that Lin finally broke the silence, "Where exactly are you taking me?"

　　"I thought you'd never ask," Cheng quipped.

　　"And if I ask, will you tell me?"

　　"Nope," came the blunt reply.

　　"...You guys are something else," Lin muttered under his breath.

　　Half an hour later, the car pulled up outside a lone villa in the suburbs.

　　Stepping out, Lin surveyed the building.

　　The villa stood isolated, surrounded by nothing but wilderness, an eerie silence hanging in the air.

　　Lush vegetation encroached upon the property, the air thick with the drone of insects.

　　Nan parked the car, and the trio made their way up the path leading to the villa.

　　Lin glanced at his phone. It was one am.

　　The signal here was weak, down to a single bar, probably due to their remote location.

　　Nan, in the lead, reached the front door and pushed it open.

　　Light spilled out from within, illuminating the lavishly furnished interior.

　　Three people were seated in the living room, seemingly engrossed in a discussion - two men and a woman.

　　All eyes turned to Lin as he entered.

　　"Brother Nan," one of the men addressed Nan with deference, "You're back."

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　　Nan offered a curt nod, settling onto a nearby sofa.

　　With a gesture, he indicated for Lin to sit beside him.

　　After a moment's hesitation, Lin complied.

　　"You just came back from behind the door, right?" Nan turned to him, extending his hand. "The note."

　　Lin was taken aback by the man's directness. No explanations, no preamble, just a demand for the note.

　　"Don't you think you owe me an explanation first?" Lin retorted. "You break into my home, drag me out here, and now you want something from me?"

　　"Cheng, explain," Nan instructed.

　　Cheng shrugged, a helpless look on his face. He got up, grabbed his laptop, and after a few keystrokes, handed it to Lin.

　　Confused, Lin accepted the laptop.

　　The screen displayed several open tabs, all news websites. "What's this?"

　　"Take a look," Cheng urged.

　　Lin scrolled through the pages.

　　They were all recent news articles, most reporting on accidental deaths.

　　One headline seemed familiar: "Driver Killed in High-Speed Collision in X City."

　　The surname initial and photo in the article confirmed Lin's suspicions.

　　Every single death reported in these articles was linked to the people he had encountered behind the door.

　　They had all died on the same night, albeit through various means - accidents, suicides, even homicides.

　　"So...if you die behind the door, you die in the real world too?" Lin asked, his voice barely a whisper.

　　Cheng nodded. "We wanted to prepare you for this. Those doors are not a joke, not a dream. Whatever happens behind those doors has real-world consequences."

　　"I understand that, but what are they?"

　　"It's hard to explain scientifically. They defy all logic and reason," Cheng said, glancing at Nan. "You need to give us that note. It's important."

　　"I don't have it on me," Lin replied.

　　"That's fine. What did it say?"

　　Lin hesitated for a moment, then, under the weight of everyone's gaze, he spoke, "Fairchild Bird."

　　"Find it," Nan commanded. The others sprang into action.

　　The urgency in their demeanor was contagious, and Lin felt a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach.

　　"What's going on? I don't understand…"

　　"Have you experienced anything strange lately?" Nan asked, eyes glued to his phone. "Any...omens?"

　　"Omens?"

　　"Yes, omens," Nan clarified. "Seeing things you haven't seen before, minor accidents, or..." He paused, his gaze sharp. "Your pet suddenly avoiding your touch?"

　　"Yes! Yes! Yes! My cat won't let me hold him anymore. Do you think there's a cure for this?"

　　"Nope. Time for a vasectomy," Cheng quipped.

　　"..." Lin was speechless.

　　Nan shot Cheng a warning look, silencing him.

　　"You're going to die," he stated bluntly to Lin.

　　"What? What do you mean?" Lin was stunned.

　　"Exactly what I said." Nan's voice was calm, measured. "But if you can survive the twelve doors, you'll live. You'll be free from their control."

　　"Their control?" Lin felt like his head was spinning.

　　Questions bombarded him, but he hesitated to voice them.

　　Nan didn't strike him as a man overflowing with patience.