Mushi to Medama Vol 2 Chapter 5

Final Night: Start of Disinfection

Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.

Those who live by the pen will die by the pen.

All men will die. This was a commonsensical truth recorded in the Bible.

The only immortals were saints and inhumans beings whom we call witches.

In medieval Europe, which was taken over by the viral Witch Hunt movement, mortality was used to separate witches from humans. The accused were placed into boiling cauldrons. Those who died were humans. Those who lived were witches.

Then I must be a witch, Gankyū Eguriko thought as she walked along the hospital corridor.

This body would not die even if she was sank into boiling water or pierced by innumerable swords. She cannot die no matter how much damage was dealt to her. But if I am a witch, then I want a magic that can save humans. If my only power is immortality, then I’m not worthy of this existence.

Death and misfortune always emanated from her person.

She didn’t have any memories of where she was born. She was already living with a foster family when she was old enough to have memories. Those family members were soon all killed by the Mus.h.i.+. Not a single one of them were left.

The Apple holders who traveled with her also left her behind and disappeared.

And now she had also killed her most important person due to her own negligence.

Usagawa Rinne was a girl more gentle than anyone else, and yet so far removed from happiness. Nonetheless, she never hated the world and was never as lost as Guriko. I love Rinne. I love her because she loves others. I could give up my life for Rinne.

That was how it should be.

I should be the only unfortunate one.

I should be the one to die.

“Itsuwara-san?”

Not knowing whom the person was addressing, Guriko momentarily ignored it. This dark hospital was very dimly lit. Somehow, none of the the lights were turned on. The heavens outside were darkening and the sapphire nocturnal sky enveloped the entire world.

“Itsuwara Eguriko-san?”

A young female voice was calling out. Wait, I am Itsuwara. I gave the hospital that name when I came here with Hino. Hino… Although I care about Hino’s condition, I must find Rinne’s killer first. I’ll make that person remember my vengeance.

Although I won’t be able to change anything by doing this, I can’t just walk away without my revenge.

I know that Rinne, ever so gentle, won’t want me to do this.

But I have decided to revert to a monster. I’ll go travel as soon as I exact my vengeance, and I’ll look for a way to resurrect Rinne. It’s too painful to stay in the human world. Moreover, a world without Rinne would be even more painful.

Guriko turned her head and realized a nurse was standing there.

It was a woman wearing a nurse’s uniform, complete with a hat, surrounded by a chilling aura. She was wearing a hospital mask. Perhaps she was having a cold?

She smiled prettily and shook her long hair braid.

“h.e.l.lo.”

“Oh. h.e.l.lo.”

Guriko glared at her, replying casually. The other woman had a strange aura. Or rather, she had no aura. It was as if she was not alive.

Guriko shook her head and spoke, trying to gauge the other’s intention: “How can I help you? I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

“Oh? Haha, you’re in a hurry? Where are you going? Are you really moving forward? Are you not aimlessly, pointlessly wandering lost?”

She muttered something astounding and continued talking as if nothing had happened: “Humans always lose what’s most important to them due to that unsightly habit of hesitation. I hate that kind of ugliness. Hey, why don’t you humans desire to live in perfection?”

“What do you mean?”

Guriko questioned sharply. The nurse smiled and turned her back to Guriko, then smiling again as she half-turned to talk to Guriko over her shoulder: “Do you know that although the doctors tried their best, your mother Itsuwara Hino’s condition suddenly worsened? She would be in danger if this goes on. Her body is no stranger to death. She had been gravely sick ever since she was young, and she only managed to stay alive by living in seclusion at home.”

That –

She heard about that. That was how Hino and Kio met. Hino often took sick leave from school and Kio would visit her at her house. But Hino did say she was just pretending to be sick.

Was she always smiling to hide her pain and anguish so Guriko wouldn’t worry?

“She…”

Guriko still couldn’t consider Hino as her mother till the end.

But she didn’t find those days annoying. There was much more than just pain during the time they spent together. Guriko remembered how Hino and Kio would become so excited around each other. She remembered how absurdly amazed Hino was when she saw the kaleidoscope Guriko casually bought as her birthday gift.

“She decided to keep living on with Kio after they met, and they ended up working for the Sakaki Organisation… they were given the task to be your parents this time. She could not give birth because of her weak body. Therefore, she was determined to love you as her own child – do you know any of this? Did you talk with her seriously for even once? Did you not lock yourself up in your room in such an unsightly way because of how worried you were with yourself, choosing to ignore everything else?”

The terrifying nurse giggled as she kept walking.

“You’d rather not have those eyeb.a.l.l.s, right? Especially when they could not see anything at all. Why are you alive? Your life only serves to bring misfortunate to other people.”

“Who are –”

You? What are you? What do you know about me?

Guriko considered this and quickly gave chase to the nurse.

But she couldn’t reach her. Somehow, she could never reduce this intricate distance between them. As if she was blocked by an invisible wall, this nurse kept walking forward and remained at a position where Guriko could not reach or approach her.

What is this? Is this fear? Am I afraid to approach this nurse?

“Once upon a time there was a foolish woman,” the nurse did not turn around as she spoke in a low voice mixed with a giggle. “She was obsessed with cleanliness. She locked herself up in her room and disinfected everything over and over, went paranoid about hygiene and didn’t allow anyone else into the room. All alone, she starved to death in her pristine white room, thinking that this was the perfect world. Such a fool! However, to die in that perfect whiteness, that perfect cleanliness, that place so perfectly sterilized and disinfected – that was her supreme happiness.”

Who was she talking about?

“She didn’t bring misfortune to anyone. She didn’t trouble anyone. She died alone, locked up in her room. Compared to you, who live in such ugliness and confusion, she wished to die in that most beautiful white – that woman’s name was Saibara Mina.”

The woman stopped before a hospital room and smiled as she turned her head towards Guriko with a smile.

“You locked yourself in your room because of your petty worries, but then also decided to foolishly wander about so you would keep getting hurt. You are such an ugly existence. Would you win, if you’re facing such perfection? Would you be able to overcome Saibara Mina – in every sense of the term?”

The mysterious nurse walked into the room as she kept talking. Cautiously, Guriko followed her. She found Hino in the room, asleep on a hospital bed.

She looked very haggard.

They did not part for long. Guriko called an ambulance after Hino fainted and arrived at the hospital with her, then Guriko heard about Rinne’s death. She had left Hino for no more than three hours.

But Hino already had a deathly pallor on her face.

Standing beside Hino, who was deep asleep, Guriko’s face was shadowed with misery.

How could she explain this to Kio?

Judging from her looks, Hino was veritably on the verge of death. Guriko understood her life was about to end. Guriko was anxious because of this understanding.

She knew all humans will die. Humans will always die. It was just a matter of time.

Someone close to her was going to die once again.

Rinne’s face appeared before Guriko’s eyes – No, Guriko thought.

“Hino.”

Guriko held Hino’s hand, which dangled outside of the bed, and lifted it beside her own cheek. It was icy cold. She didn’t manage to repay Hino with familial love, not even once.

She is willing to love me even though we are not related. However, I just refused her out of fear, out of not knowing what to do.

And this is the result.

“Hino –“

Guriko didn’t get an answer when she called out Hino’s name. She didn’t expect one. That was the road Guriko chose.

She was so stubborn and refused them just because of fear.

She could do nothing at the end. She just chose to run away.

“Hino, I –” Holding Hino’s hand, Guriko muttered in a moaning tone: “I’m sorry. I couldn’t return your kindness.”

I was so afraid. This fear made me detached, and it hurt you.

Remembering those ordinary days spent with Hino and Kio, when everyday was so mediocre and only the most mundane things ever happened – those were the important things Guriko left behind a thousand years ago. But now, thanks to those two, Guriko knew how to smile again.

It was something more tender than what her real parents and her foster parents ever gave her a millennium ago.

It was happiness; happiness as precious as a hard-won treasure.

“Mom.”

Guriko muttered to herself as tears quietly flew down her cheeks.

“Mom –”

Hino can’t die. I should be the only unfortunate one. I should be the one to die. I shouldn’t have lived for a thousand years. Why am I still alive? Obviously I can only bring misfortune to others. I can only be miserable. I can only make others miserable.

A thought suddenly appeared to her.

“…”

Silently, Guriko held Hino’s hand and stared at her sleeping face. Her hand then sneaked towards Hino’s chest. She had an idea; an idea that couln make Hino escape death and end her own boring and agonizing life at the same time.

“Do you want an Apple?”

Guriko whispered beside Hino’s ear.

This was the last immortal Apple Guriko had. If she gave it to Hino, then the other woman would certainly escape death. She might even live out the rest of her days with Kio. Guriko can then entrust everything to Sakaki and allow herself to disappear.

I've lived for a thousand long years.

It is enough. Although I didn’t end up getting anything out of it, it is enough.

Giving up on herself with more than a touch of uncertainty, Guriko finally made a decision deep in her heart and said: “I will give my Apple to you –”

Hino jumped up.

What?

Itsuwara Hino jumped up as if she was a jack-in-a-box on a spring and yelled loudly as she grabbed the shoulders of Guriko, who was prepared to end everything. “No! This is a trap!”

“Hino?”

Guriko couldn’t understand what was going on. She just let Hino shake her, making sure Hino was still alive. The Apple didn’t change hands, but Hino was alive. What was going on? Guriko looked at Hino as Hino gave out a scream.

Guriko turned to look at the nurse standing in the darkness of the hospital room.

“Yes.”

A cold voice sounded from there.

Calmly, the nurse stood before Hino, who was cowering in fear.

“How annoying. I was hoping to end this on a splendid note, as it was going to end sooner or later. Yes, even you want to hinder me with your ugliness, want to disobey my command, want to stain my perfection. Never mind. I’ll just have to rebuild a different perfection then.”

“Shhhhh.”

“Guriko-chan, run!”

Hino pushed Guriko away with an astonis.h.i.+ng strength. Guriko, surprised, was stunned by this display.

“But this is resistance, no? This is unadulterated betrayal, no? Could you not imagine what would happen – to a doll who disobeyed its creator?”

The nurse muttered as the s.p.a.ce around her began to melt. No, it was a white mist emitting out of her body like steam. Was it the nurse uniform that was melting away? Something like a membrane then momentarily concealed her figure.

The white angel shed her skin and the nightmarish white demon showed herself.

She had a long braid and was wearing a tank top with angel wing prints. She also donned a pair of shorts that ended mid-thigh, wore colorful bracelets and wristbands on her arms, and her mouth was covered by a hard dust mask with a primitive design.

Her pristine white hair danced as the woman p.r.o.nounced her name.

“How stupid. How foolish. There are things in this world that are untouchable and allow no disobedience. I, Sterilization Disinfection, am one of them. You dared to anger me. Fine – those behaviors of yours, so full of familial love, courage, recklessness and foolishness – “

She lifted her spray can towards Hino and smiled like a devil.

“– will be killed, defeated, and annihilated by me.”

At the same time, Sakaki Guryū was plunged into shock and disbelief.

He followed Guriko out of Rinne’s room, but ended up losing her. Casually, Sakaki looked into a room.

He felt strange. He had been feeling rather strange ever since he arrived here.

It was very quiet here. This hospital was silent as death, with absolutely no sound anywhere.

Then –

“Urk.”

The window was wide open, taking in the dark and cold air. The walls were a clean shade of white. Plain beds were placed in the dim unlit room.

This was an ordinary, normal hospital room.

Apart from the casually discarded foot of a child –

“No way…”

Sakaki screamed and moved towards another room. No way. No way. Something terrible is happening. A great malice that Sakaki could not predict was spreading itself.

He went to the room across the corridor. There were no sounds and no scents.

The head of an old man was lying on the ground.

“Urgh!”

A chill ran through Sakaki. Unable to control himself, Sakaki screamed impulsively. There was a dead human head on each of the three beds in the room.

What is this?!

“Ha, ha…”

His breath quickened. His heart beat furiously. Sakaki shook his head and sprang out of the in-patient building, heading towards the administration area in the center of the complex. What is this? What's going on? Is everyone dead? Everyone!? Did anyone survive? He looked for survivors, but couldn’t find any.

He walked towards the offices where the doctors, nurses and other staff should be.

Sakaki despaired when he opened the door.

It was pitch black. The room was pitch black.

There were only body parts left. There were hands, feet, and heads.

He needed no more proofs.

Everyone in this place, apart from himself, had been killed.

Sterilization Disinfection sprayed out despair. Looking at the silver mist emitted from the ordinary spray can, Guriko s.h.i.+vered. However, she was all but slumped on the ground. As she prepared to standing back up –

Hino pushed her out even further.

Guriko rolled on the ground towards the door of the room.

“Hino!”

“Guriko-chan –”

For a moment, her gaze crossed with Hino’s.

“Mom –”

She didn’t know if that word reached Hino. She didn’t know if her thoughts reached her, either. Or was even that disconnected?

“---“

Hino soundless moved her lips at the end, as if she wanted to say something to Guriko.

Her body was mercilessly blown apart by the silver mist.

“Ah?!”

They scattered. The remaining fragments of Hino’s body scattered. The cruel silver mist mercilessly took bites out of those fragments.

“Ah….”

She was disappearing. She had completely disappeared.

Hino completely disappeared. She disappeared with her smile, with the laughter of happiness she shared with Guriko and Kio.

“Stop! Don’t go!”

Guriko begged and shouted meaninglessly.

Her shouts echoed ruthlessly. Soon even that sound dispersed and disappeared.

“...”

Silence descended. Guriko stood there, her face emotionless.

What was this? What is going on? What? Guriko couldn’t understand it, and she didn’t want to understand it. Hino was just there a moment ago. Hino was just there. Even at the end, she was looking at Guriko with that same benevolent face, looking at the messy and unkempt Guriko.

That woman was suddenly blown apart.

The only things remaining were Hino’s right hand with its slender wrist, almost otherworldly in this situation.

Her body, enveloped by the silver mist, was carved out together with one corner of her hospital bed. Only a smooth cross-section was left there. Carved out – the entire s.p.a.ce was carved out?

What was going on?

Rather, where did Hino end up?

“Ahhh, a failure. That was barely a pa.s.s.”

“Shhhh.”

Sterilization Disinfection looked towards Guriko as she shook the spray can. Her true intentions were ungaugeable on her winsome face, making her spine-chilling terrifying. Her slightly revealing clothes only served to concentrate her aura of terror. Turning her neck with a snapping sound, she said coldly: “I have erased Itsuwara Hino. She will not return. She cannot be resurrected. That is a fact.”

Guriko was s.h.i.+vering. My head hurts. Ahh – my head hurts. I should have lost the sensation of pain. My mind hurts. My soul hurts. My heart hurts.

Hino, she…

She…

She died protecting me.

“Ahhhh…”

Guriko opened her mouth and glared as she stumbled to stand up again.

“Ahhh, you! You, you dared to – !”

She took a spoon out of her pocket and threw it towards Sterilization Disinfection, who had an emerging smile on her face. It was a familiar move for Guriko, a killing blow. It was a strike she put her entire strength behind, something that had taken lives more than just once.

“So tiresome.”

Sterilization Disinfection didn’t move. Her right hand, which did not hold a spray can, simply twirled.

Her right hand caught the flying spoon.

She caught it?

Impossible. This had never happened in a thousand years.

In front of Guriko, who was gaping in surprise, Sterilization Disinfection giggled.

“Spoons? You plan to combat me, Sterilization Disinfection, using these things barely considered as weapons, these mere cutleries? Listen – did you know that mercy can only be granted by the strong to the weak? How can a mere human hope to use all his strength to fight an angel or a demon?”

Suddenly –

A lethal silver light pierced Guriko’s right eye.

“Ahhhh!!”

Guriko tumbled backwards and moaned as her right eye burned with a searing pain. Feeling with her hand, she realized a spoon was sticking out of her eye socket. Her spoon was thrown back – it was the first time this had happened. She could not see. She was no match for this woman.

“Hey, Gankyū Eguriko, how does it feel to have your own eyeball dug out?”

Sterilization Disinfection smiled merrily and walked towards Guriko. No. I can’t win. I can’t think of a strategy to defeat her and I don’t even have the stamina needed.

Her body shook. What is this creature?

It was an alien existence that far exceeded the definition of a monster.

“Hey, is this the end? You’re not going to fight anymore? You made me so upset, but you won’t let me play any longer? Then –”

She smiled only a few steps away from Guriko, who sat slumped on the ground. “– Allow me to help you get your fighting spirit back. I killed Usagawa Rinne.”

“I have to praise her. It’s rare for me to genuinely praise someone! But Usagawa Rinne did not yield even at the end. No matter how I tortured her, how I made her endure a living h.e.l.l, she did not reveal anything about you at all.”

She…

She made Rinne…

Guriko felt a chill swelling up her chest. This woman killed Rinne. This woman killed Hino. However, she looked as if she was not affected by it at all. She was someone Guriko must risk her own life to defeat. Guriko no longer cared about the disparity between their strengths nor the woman’s terrifying abilities.

Kill! Kill! Kill

Her mind was dominated by one thought only.

“Yes,” Sterilization Disinfection smiled with satisfaction, “keep on struggling, little worm.”

Guriko stood up and took out two spoons, her face completely expressionless. Hino and Kio were the ones who bought her these sparkling silver spoons. Her heart no longer felt sorrow or even hatred. There was only emptiness – she had reverted to who she was before she met Rinne and Sakaki. Her empty eyes, like gun barrels, only stared at the face of the enemy she must defeat.

Therefore, Gankyū Eguriko –

Did not even notice that tears were flowing down her cheeks.

“Die!”

She threw out two spoons almost simultaneously.

“Spoons again?”

Sterilization Disinfection furrowed her brows with some surprise. This time, however, the spoons did not attack directly. One shot up towards the ceiling, and the other towards the floor.

“A mistake? No, it can’t be.” Sterilization Disinfection muttered to herself as she stood composed at the same spot. Carelessly, she did not move and tried to catch the spoons again. That arrogance was her weakness.

They bounced off.

The spoons glided along the roof and floor along the curvature of the scoop and changed directions, striking towards Sterilization Disinfection.

“Using reflection to attack from more than one angle – you did think this through. Pity it still won’t be enough.”

Her fingertips stretched towards the spoons approaching towards her.

Something was pulled out.

At that moment, Guriko pulled out the spoon that was embedded in her own right eye socket and threw it towards Sterilization Disinfection with a speed incomparable to that of the other two spoons.

This spoon touched the other two mid-air.

With a crisp sound, the three all scattered.

“Tch.”

Facing the unpredictable and irregular angles, Sterilization Disinfection gave up on trying catching them all and hurriedly dodged by eyesight alone. One of the spoons sc.r.a.ped by her cheek and left a shallow wound, dripping with blood.

She even dodged that? What a monster.

Guriko kept her eyes guardedly on the other woman as she thought this.

“Ah.” Stretching her hand towards her cut cheek, Sterilization Disinfection said with a perplexed look on her face. “Ah, blood, it’s blood – I am wounded.”

“If you can bleed, then you can be killed.”

Guriko replied in a low voice. Sterilization Disinfection only looked towards her foe with lifeless eyes. It seemed she had not been wounded for a long time and was having trouble comprehending her present injury.

Guriko nodded and pulled out another spoon.

“You can be killed. You are no G.o.d or angel. You are a living creature, and therefore you can be killed.”

“Yes.”

The cut on her cheek regenerated instantly. Was she an Apple holder too? Guriko could not compare to her in terms of power and it was already difficult enough to wound her. If she also possessed an Apple – then how can Guriko fight against a foe like her?

The calm composure disappeared from Sterilization Disinfection’s countenance. She smiled coolly, ominously. “That is enough. You seem to be a pathogen.”

“You will have to be sterilized and disinfected,” she whispered.

No matter what, he should meet up with Guriko first.

Sakaki made his decision and started to run along the hospital corridors after he ensured his breathing and heart rate finally returned to normal. Which direction did Guriko head off in? Unfortunately, Sakaki had no idea. He only knew something malevolent was happening in this hospital. If that was the case –

“Hold on.”

Rinne’s body might also be in danger. Although she was dead, her body still remained. Even though he didn’t know the true form of his enemy – it was a powerful existence that had the ability to completely destroy human flesh. He had to protect Rinne. If he lost her body as well, then all his hope would surely be lost.

Sakaki made up his mind and turned around, running back the way he came and headed towards Rinne’s room.

He ran. He galloped. The hallway was very long. Sakaki remembered how he felt when Guriko attacked Rinne two months ago. He felt just like this. An ominous feeling crept up his chest as he all but sprinted along this endless corridor.

Two month later, he still could not protect Rinne. Was he to lose everything after all?

Sakaki ran as he endured his burning anxiety.

Why am I so powerless? I am born with the blessings of G.o.d.

He couldn’t even protect one girl, couldn’t even protect the person most important to him.

He soon arrived at Rinne’s room, having left for about ten or fifteen minutes. However, during that time, an alien being had casually invaded the room as if it belonged here.

It was a lump of meat.

It was a humanoid lump of meat.

That monster, which looked like a conglomerate of countless earthworms entwined together, nodded slightly after s.h.i.+fting its giant single eye towards Sakaki. The nightmare was not over yet. After he made sure Rinne was still lying unharmed on the bed, Sakaki felt somewhat relieved. He then drew his pistol and pointed towards the Meat Doll. “Stand down! I’ll kill you without hesitation if you dare to harm even one hair on milady’s head!”

The Meat Doll blinked its giant eye and stood up from the iron chair it was sitting on, and said in a low voice: “Long time no see, Guryū-san.”

That voice…

Sakaki recalled it. He was trained to have a photographic memory towards faces and voices, able to recall them even if he had only encountered the person once. But he could not comprehend this.

This voice belonged to…

“Itsuwara Kio.”

Sakaki murmured as he gazed at the Meat Doll.

The silent hospital was suddenly enveloped in an explosive cacophony.

Gouge, gouge, gouge, gouge gouge gouge gouge.

Gouge up, throw away.

Blood, vitreous fluid, capillary vessels, eyeb.a.l.l.s, tears.

A roar.

Vengeance immeasurable.

The hospital had been turned into h.e.l.l.

Guriko turned and dashed out of the room when she sensed the silver mist Sterilization Disinfection sprayed, only to discover the entire hallway was occupied by lumps of meat. Meat, red with a taint of black, twirled into a whirling pile. No, these were dolls made of meat. These dolls attacked Guriko without fear or hesitation, whether according to their own will or controlled by Sterilization Disinfection.

“Get out of my face!”

Guriko scattered them with ease and pressed forward.

A single, throbbing giant eyeball was located on their head. Guriko pressed her spoon against it and gouged it out with all her strength. The eyeball bounced up and rolled away as the Meat Doll howled in pain.

As soon as she defeated one, another would appear, and another and another. Like a Shura of legends, Guriko gouged out the eyeb.a.l.l.s of the Meat Dolls that appeared one after another.

Gouge gouge gouge gouge.

The repulsive vitreous liquid and blood flew everywhere.

Guriko’s face was dirtied by the splattering blood. The pristine corridor gradually became soaked in crimson blood.

“Yes.”

A sound came from right above Guriko.

Guriko s.h.i.+vered and looked up out of reflex.

“The Meat Dolls alone can’t stop you? I did prepare a lot of them, after all. Oh well, the night is long, feel free to enjoy yourself, monster, Eyeball Gouger!”

Sterilization Disinfection was standing upside down on the ceiling.

As if she was walking on level ground, she moved easily, her long braid falling downwards with gravity. She stretched her right hand towards Guriko.

Her hand held the spray can.

That terrifying existence which killed and erased Hino.

“TYPE-A, Annihilation Mist. Come, can you handle this? This skill completely annihilated human civilization in ancient times and only spared Noah’s Ark. That incident almost used up all of my power. However, only a few shards would be enough to annihilate your entire existence!”

Sterilization Disinfection shook the spray can.

Shuuuuuuu.

Guriko prepared for battle and squarely caught the fist of the Meat Doll attacking her.

Saibara Mina’s voice sounded above her. “Die!”

Guriko grappled the Meat Doll and threw it towards the silver mist that was sprayed out. Seeing with her own eyes that the Meat Doll was totally destroyed, Guriko rolled on the ground to avoid the mist, thinking she would have no ways of stopping this attack.

A circle was dug out from the ground and the floor below could be clearly seen. Annihilation Mist, which consumed everything, cannot be defended against. It wouldn’t be just a matter of dodging out of it.

Guriko thought this as she looked at the Meat Dolls that swarmed out around the corners of the hallway. It would be impossible to handle those things and pay attention to Sterilization Disinfection at the same time. On top of her invincible abilities, she was also physically stronger than Guriko. Facing such a powerful foe and being attacked by multiple enemies meant even Guriko may not come out as the victor.

– What should she do?

Sterilization Disinfection, who was walking along the ceiling, gazed calmly at Guriko, who was raking her brains.

“Yes, as you surmised, TYPE-A Annihilation Mist is not a quick attack. It should be possible to dodge out of it. After all, it is an ability designed for slaughter, unsuited to manage a fast single insect. Moreover, that incident with Noah almost spent all my power, making it impossible to spray continuously or over a large area.”

Guriko nodded when she heard this. It seemed that weapon was truly an insecticide, and there was not much left. That was why she had to shake the can before she used Annihilation Mist.

That would be the only way for Guriko to win.

If she can’t fire continuously, then there should be something I can do after I avoid an attack. But I can’t win against her physical abilities. If her body breaks even with mine, then at least I can –

This monster arose from the legend of the Flood, the Flood that almost annihilated all of humanity in its fallen state in a long bygone era.

Would spoons be enough to defeat such an existence?

“You don’t have the time to worry!”

The crowd of Meat Dolls approached slowly. Guriko looked at Sterilization Disinfection, who was above her, and froze momentarily.

“TYPE-B Fixation Mist. ”

Holding a spray can in each hand, Sterilization Disinfection lifted them up proudly and said, as if to herself: “This is an ability that is only effective against individuals. There is plenty left, since there were not many chances to use it.”

Then she turned the spray nozzle towards Guriko and smiled cheerfully.

“Let me tell you something. The ability of TYPE-B Fixation Mist is fixation. It solidifies anything it touches. That is all. It’s not scary, right?”

It was indeed a mild ability compared to the imminently lethal Annihilation Mist. However, Sterilization Disinfection would not simply take this weapon out for fun. She must have some cunning plans in mind.

But both her hands are occupied with that. She won’t be able to block my attack right now.

“You’re careless, Sterilization Disinfection.”

Guriko swiftly pulled out a spoon and threw it towards Sterilization Disinfection’s face. Right at that moment –

Sterilization Disinfection was undisturbed as she spread her arms as if in a dance. Her right hand, which held Annihilation Mist, moved downwards while her left hand, holding Fixation Mist, moved sideways.

Annihilation Mist and Fixation Mist.

Small amounts of Annihilation Mist was sprayed out without needing to shake the can, and destroyed the spoon mid-air. At the same time, the liquid-like, dense mist of Fixation Mist pounced onto the Meat Dolls that were turning the next corner along the corridor and fixated them. The Meat Dolls were instantly frozen.

The endless row of Meat Dolls strode across their stiff brethren and approached her.

They were all bathed under the merciless mist of Fixation Mist.

“d.a.m.n it!”

Guriko realized what her enemy was planning. She wanted to run through the layer of Meat Dolls before the rest of the corridor was completely sealed off, but she didn’t have the time. She had to stop before the wall of Meat Dolls.

“This is how to corner and eradicate a small prey”.

Sterilization Disinfection’s cold voice sounded by Guriko’s ears. It was an impa.s.sive sound that held no emotions whatsoever.

“Cats seem to hunt in this manner, or they launched surprised attacks. As for dogs, they only know how to keep chasing or to surround a pray via strength in numbers. That’s not important. That’s really not important at all. However –”

Guriko hurried to use her fists to hit the wall of Meat Dolls. However, the wall of meat solidified by Fixation Mist did not so much as s.h.i.+ver. These fragile pieces of meat were not damaged at all. Indeed, the entire s.p.a.ce around them seemed to have been fixated. Even worse, Guriko’s fist was stuck onto the meat wall, and she tore off a layer of skin when she finally pulled her hand back.

Blood dripped down from her hand that had its skin forcibly torn off.

If she ran the other way – no, Sterilization Disinfection was waiting there. It was a long way to the next corner of the hallway. She will definitely be hunted down as she ran.

There was nowhere to go.

What should I do? I need to think! I need to live – no, I need to avenge Rinne and Hino.

Even if I am to die, I have to accomplish that first. That is my resolve.

But –

“Will you be a nice gift for the Underworld already?”

Both mists were sprayed ruthlessly towards Guriko. The only way Guriko could see herself coming out of this would be to dodge Annihilation Mist by a hair’s width, allowing it to dig a hole on the wall behind her. However, her enemy might already have antic.i.p.ated this.

Guriko swallowed. She hadn’t felt death to be so close to her for a long time.

Her Annihilation Mist will certainly destroy my entire existence, even the Apple that kept me alive. In that case, I will really be gone from this world. This millennium – such a long life! I did not leave much behind. I did not have much happiness.

But meeting Rinne and Sasaki gave me a purpose to life.

I do not fear death. I long for it.

But death is after I killed this woman, after I found a way to resurrect Rinne. I can’t die yet, not yet.

With a snap, Guriko felt something broke out of her back.

Before she realized what it was…

“Then, good night.”

Murmuring, Sterilization Disinfection shook her spray cans with a rustling sound – then her abdomen and legs burst open with blood.

Sterilization Disinfection’s eyes flew wide open and she fell to the ground after turning shakily around. She seemed to have fixated her feet to the ceiling with Fixation Mist and used her willpower to remove the effect. She fell onto the ground and moaned as her hand moved to cover her fresh injuries.

“Mmmm, urghhhhh!”

She still had the sensation of pain left? No, she probably deliberately retained pain. It was very empty to feel nothing at all. Life would no longer seem real. That would be a despair even more maiming to the heart than mere pain.

Blood seeped out between her fingertips as she pressed her hands against the injuries. s.n.a.t.c.hing up the opportunity, Guriko swiftly pulled out a spoon and threw it viciously towards Sterilization Disinfection, who was kneeling on the ground.

“Urrgh, urggghhh!”

Even though Sterilization Disinfection jumped away quickly and avoided the lethal blow, the spoon still sank into her shoulder. With blood dripping down from her many wounds, this woman turned to look behind her with a savage expression on her face.

“This is a private hospital owned by the Sakaki Organization.”

Sakaki Guryū was standing behind her. A faint tendril of gunpowder smoke was still wafting out of the pistol in his hands.

“I ask you, what are you doing in my private property!?”

“Sakaki!”

Guriko called out to him. Though he did just save her, it had the benefit of a surprise attack. If he were to attack Sterilization Disinfection head on, Sakaki would have no chances of victory. Guriko must protect him. He was the man Rinne loved, and someone important to Guriko.

Sakaki –

Leaving Sterilization Disinfection alone to moan in pain, Guriko ran towards Sakaki. Her right eye was damaged in the previous battle, but it had regenerated enough to offer her a little of its sight back.

Therefore she saw it. A Meat Doll was standing behind Sakaki. Moreover, unbelievably, that Meat Doll was holding Rinne’s body in its hands.

Meat Doll?

Guriko pulled out a spoon and moved to attack it without hesitation.

“Move! Sakaki, that’s –”

“Stop!”

Sakaki spread out his arms and blocked Guriko. Not understanding him, Guriko looked up at his tall figure and roared threateningly: “Why? That’s an enemy! It’s her – Sterilization Disinfection’s servant! Why did you give Rinne to it? Answer me, Sakaki!”

“…”

For some reason, the Meat Doll lowered its head as if saddened by something.

Something Guriko said had wounded it.

But why? For a brief moment, Guriko definitely felt her heart throb in anguish.

“I don’t have the time to explain.”

Sakaki still held his pistol evenly and stared at Sterilization Disinfection with a severe expression on his face. The twin spray cans housing Annihilation Mist and Fixation Mist were scattered near his feet.

“This doll told me the entire story. Is she the Sterilization Disinfection who murdered milady?”

Facing Sterilization Disinfection, who was getting up shakily while pressing down on her abdomen, Sakaki put on a fierce expression that even scared Guriko. “You killed my beloved, killed milady! This sin – there is no repentance from this sin. I will kill you a million times over and over, while you lament your misfortune of having me as your opponent!”

“Hah, hah, haha, hahaha!”

Laughing softly, Sterilization Disinfection stood up straight as her knees shook. Her hand was on her abdomen, her head lowered, her feet standing apart, and she laughed in a low voiced in this strange pose.

“Hehehe, hihihi! Hahaha, ha – the world is so much fun! Honestly, how can it be so much fun? There are three kinds of existences in this world: works of art, rubbish, and things not belonging to either – the likes of you. Alright. I, Sterilization Disinfection, will acknowledge you as artistic entertainment.”

She dug out the bullets buried in her body with her bare fingers, grind them into dust and discarding them instantly. Her head was still lowered. It was impossible to read her expressions, covered as her face was by the surgical mask. Guriko felt a chilling horror.

Sterilization Disinfection maintained her pose with her arms hanging by her sides and opened her hands. The two spray can jumped up automatically and were sucked into her palms as if they were magnetic.

Drip drop. Her dripping blood dirtied the stained hallway even further.

“Hehe – hehehe, hehehehe…”

“What’s so funny?!”

Guriko couldn’t help but roar at Sterilization Disinfection. She felt an ominous premonition. The situation did not improve with Sakaki’s arrival. Their abilities were still vastly inferior to that of Sterilization Disinfection. But that was not all. It was an unease magnitudes greater.

“You don’t seem to fully understand how to use the Fragments.”

“Fragments?”

Backed by the disgusting wall of meat, Sterilization Disinfection lifted her head.

It was a joyful, happy, and extremely mischievous and evil expression.

“Alright. It’s a fun fact, so I’ll tell you after all. As the word would suggest, the Fragments are the Fragments of G.o.d, the millions and zillions of scattered Fragments of G.o.d. You are merely in possession of one of them. Right, I seemed to recall you referring to them as Apples?”

The Apple.

The Forbidden Fruit.

Those are Fragments of G.o.d? Now she did recall the Snake saying it was the fruit made of half of G.o.d’s soul, a forbidden fruit born from G.o.d’s obstinate desire towards immortality.

“Apples? Hmm, the shape is somewhat similar. It’s annoying that G.o.d Mus.h.i.+ Emperor allowed such a mocking name to be spread. Anyways, names do not matter. Apples or not, it is funny that you have misunderstood its nature.”

Sterilization Disinfection smiled as she looked towards them.

A forlorn expression suddenly surfaced on her face, as if seeking help. Why?

“A long time ago, a loooooong time ago, long before the most primeval of humans were ever born – this planet was home to a powerful existence. That existence, which deserved the t.i.tle of G.o.d, was broken and scattered to the four corners of the Earth for some unknown reason.”

Her words sounded similar to what the Snake said, but intriguingly also sounded like the exact opposite. In fact, the Snake’s knowledge was probably pa.s.sed down from its ancestors just like that of humans, full of imaginations and stories. It did not truly know the true nature of the Mus.h.i.+ and the Apples.”

The tone with which Sterilization Disinfection spoke was full of conviction. It was concrete.

This must be the truth. The truth that had been concealed since the beginning of time. The truth regarding G.o.d, Mus.h.i.+, and the Apples.

“The shattered G.o.d was broken into seven Greater Fragments and countless Lesser Fragments. I am one of the Greater Fragments. Yes, the creatures you call Mus.h.i.+ are also one of the Greater Fragments. However, it seems they had split up again in order to gather the Fragments.”

Split up? What did that mean?

However, Sterilization Disinfection did not seem to want to explain that in detail. With a smile, she continued talking. “Do you want to know why we gather the Fragments? I’ll tell you even if you don’t want to know – we want to once again revert to G.o.d’s original form. Our current bodies are but shattered Fragments, and we want to return to a complete being. It was an instinctive desire. Once upon a time, we had successfully collected all the scattered, innumerable Fragments.”

She looked at their direction with a pair of bottomless, emotionless black irises.

“But an accident happened. Do you know about Adam and Eve? Yes, your ancestors. The ancestors who committed the Original Sin. Those two, those two slave dolls made from mud by our complete ent.i.ty “G.o.d”, ate vast amounts of the Fragments under the Snake’s temptation. How could that have happened? Impossible! Just thinking about it still makes me upset. That was the real Original Sin. We were sleeping in exhaustion, tired from our long journey to recover all the Fragments. We never expected the guardians of Eden, Adam and Eve, given the task of safekeeping and merging the Fragments, would betray us during that time.”

I understand. It is an ancient, angry light in her eyes. These are the eyes that endured eons of rage and madness. Guriko felt a chill and took a few steps backwards.

“When we woke up we discovered that, ridiculously, humans have multiplied to fill the entire Earth. We were anxious to regain the Fragments, but they were hidden in the realm of the human mind, which we cannot touch – therefore, we had to make do with the current state, attacking humans with Fragments that we happen to run into and recover them one by one. But that was not enough to regain all of them. Moreover, Tear Song and The Weakest betrayed us. Catastrophe disappeared, and we don’t know if Single Room is still alive… how demoralizing. There are only three Greater Fragments left while we’ve only collected a handful of lesser Fragments. I don’t know how many tens of thousands of years it would take for us to recollect them all.”

Sterilization Disinfection put her hand on her chest and continued with a genuine expression.

“Even so, I still want to recover to my original form. That is all – come, masters of the Original Sin, you should now have realized which side was the one that did wrong?”

“…”

Next to Guriko, who sank into a profound silence, Sakaki spoke haughtily: “I see. I get it. Fool, you were talking about breaking apart, being taken away, some raucous mess, then breaking again and taken away again. Are you done? Then I’ll kill you. According to the laws of Sakaki Guryū, you shall be executed for killing milady. Thank you for your bulls.h.i.+t. They meant nothing whatsoever. Shut up.”

Right. Sakaki’s basic law of existence was that ‘Usagawa Rinne is the centre of the universe’. No other rules or laws apply to him. Guriko felt ridiculous, and yet somewhat comforted at the same time.

Yes, I have nothing to do with what happened in the past.

Let’s make this simple. I must kill her to avenge Rinne. That is all.

“Aha, you’re even more foolish –”, Sterilization Disinfection gave out a beautiful smile, “than I had thought.”

A killing intent, barely concealed, was mixed in her voice. At the same time, that voice contained a cruel will that wanted to plunge everyone into despair.

“Then, at this last moment, let me tell you the power of a Fragment.”

For some reason, she was not looking at Sakaki or Guriko, but at the Meat Doll standing behind them and Rinne’s body in its arms.

“I said Fragments, right? It would be easier to comprehend if you imagine it to be a liquid. It is the shattered soul of G.o.d – a so-called soul is the life force, a force that living beings must have in order to move in the form of a living being. It is just like fuel for a car, batteries for a torch. A creature would just be a lump of flesh without the soul. The soul is present in all living beings, and we absorb more of the soul by consuming others. As the soul would be gradually spent as we live, all living beings must consume other animals or plants in order to continue living.”

In this train of thought, everything was a living organism – be it vegetables or meat. So humans were absorbing the souls of other living organisms little by little to repair the parts the soul had spent? Is that why humans would die if they do not eat?

“As the soul has a liquid nature, it can easily be absorbed by the flesh. The soul absorbed and incorporated into the body is usually stored in the heart, which plays a role as a sensory organ when it comes to the soul. Hmm, let me tell you a piece of good news. Since the soul resides in the heart, removing the heart of any human would kill them, even if the human is an Apple holder, and even if that Apple holder is me.”

Guriko couldn’t help but take in a sharp breath – Removing the heart would permanently kill.

Was that how she killed Rinne? All of the soul – the fuel of life – taken away at once. At the end, it seems even if you do not consent to give your soul to another, it can still be taken away so easily with force.

Now that I think about it, I have never lost my heart. I did have a close call with decapitation – and that was thanks to Sakaki. I have never lost my heart, which contains my soul. That's probably just a piece of good luck.

Snake did not know anything about this. In order to know such things in such intimate detail – Sterilization Disinfection must be the kind of existence she claims to be.

One of the seven Greater Fragments.

Sterilization Disinfection.

Can we win against such an enemy?

“The fragments of G.o.d’s soul that you call ‘Apples’ are life force crystallizations of a potency that human souls cannot ever hope to match. Did you understand that? The soul will be spent more and more with aging. Soon, demand will exceed supply. Alternatively, sickness and injuries can also use up all of the soul, resulting in death of the organism. On the other hand, the organism will not die as long as the soul exists. It can expend some of its soul to recover from injuries. A large soul can even manage to do away with needing to consume food to obtain more of the soul. The feelings of pain, heat, and cold can all be dimmed by spending the power of the soul. At the same time, it can cause danger signals such as pain and other sensations to gradually disappear. What do you think? Did you understand it? That is the power of the Fragments. They are just huge spiritual ent.i.ties, crystallizations of an enormous life force.”

That was it, Guriko thought.

The parts she did not understand were all clear now. That was the power of the Apple. Neither Guriko nor the Snake knew the truth of the Forbidden Fruit.

There was only one thought left in her.

Sterilization Disinfection will die if her heart was removed.

That was the only thing of importance. Everything else can come after that.

“There is also something else that’s very funny.” With an innocent air, Sterilization Disinfection continued: “You have seen these Meat Dolls, correct? Indeed, you have one behind you, and I have some behind me. Let me tell you how to make a Meat Doll.”

The most terrible truth was revealed.

“It’s simple. You just have to insert a Fragment into a flesh that had lost its heart. That would be enough to make the corpse into a Meat Doll, completely obedient to whoever gave it the Fragment, becoming a flesh puppet that has no will of its own. Although the life force is enough to make its limbs move like a living human, no trace of the person’s previous personality would be left in the body. A body without its sensory organ, a body without a sense of self, it could only writhe and twitch like the spasms of a freshly killed man. However, because the Fragments retain a little bit of the person whom contacted it before, the dead body will become a doll – the doll of the previous master of the Fragment. Hehehe, you need a bit of skill to make the doll move on its own!”

Insert a Fragment – an Apple – into a dead body.

“Ah!” Guriko understood.

I can’t turn my head back. I will be overwhelmed with despair if I look behind me. I understand. Not because of her words, but I understand it instinctively –

She accidentally looked back.

She barely thought about the action.

She turned her head only to confirm what she already understood.

“It takes about twenty minutes for the Fragment’s power to circulate through the body.” Sterilization Disinfection’s voice sounded so distant. “I don’t know when you gave her the Fragment, but it seems about time for her to move.”

Right before Gankyū Eguriko’s eyes –

Usagawa Rinne stood up with the Meat Doll’s support.

“Haha, ahaha! Ahahaha, ahahahaha!”

Sterilization Disinfection’s sharp laughter echoed in the corridor stained with blood and meat.

“This is the sentimental reunion, no? You did this without knowing the consequences. How foolish of you, Gankyū Eguriko! Are you happy? Your friend will never betray you now! She will die without hesitation if you tell her to die! How’s that? How does it feel to make your friend your slave?!”

Usagawa Rinne’s expression was empty and hollow.

She was just like a doll.

“Rinne…” Guriko muttered. Rinne twitched in response.

“Rinne.”

Then she spoke and repeated her own name over and over.

“Rinne. Rinne. Rinne. Rinne.”

Guriko instantly slumped on the ground. She couldn’t believe this. This was a nightmare. Sakaki’s face also paled. How could something so cruel have happened?!

In order to preserve Rinne’s body, they gambled and placed an Apple within her.

However, when she woke up, she was no longer Usagawa Rinne.

“Greet them, Meat Doll.”

Sterilization Disinfection moved to stand next to Rinne, grabbed her head, and tried to force Rinne to bow: “Hurry up and say ‘a pleasure to meet you. I am Gankyū Eguriko-san’s servant’!”

Rinne did not resist this humiliating treatment at all.

She only looked at Guriko with confusion.

“Ah, Ah – ahhhh!”

Guriko’s anger made it impossible to think. Her mind was completely blank as she grasped a spoon and stabbed it towards Sterilization Disinfection.

I’ll find a way out if I can kill her. No… that’s impossible. But I won’t find peace if I don’t let out my hatred and despair on this woman.

“Sterilization Disinfection!”

“Why must you always make me angry?” Smiling satisfactorily, the older woman shoved Rinne aside. “If you wish for someone to die in your hatred, why don’t you kill yourself first? However, before that…”

Sterilization Disinfection turned and kicked out with the force of an iron axe.

“I will first kill you.”

Guriko’s right arm was shattered together with the spoon she was holding. Her blood splattered everywhere as her bones broke into pieces. However, Guriko continued to attack her enemy regardless of herself, an enemy next to her best friend who had been turned into a Meat Doll.

“Squelch.”

There was a sound of flesh being shredded.

“Squelch.”

No, she can’t suppress it. Her hatred eroded away her self-control. The final fragment of Guriko’s consciousness, grasping on to what was left of her humanity, reminded her that those attempts were useless.

There was a cold dark road in front of her.

It was a road that had been split in half. Two roads that were completely separate and will never cross each other.

At that time, there was a choice before Gankyū Eguriko –

Would she live as a human, or a monster?

She could only see the cruel choice the man with those lupine eyes told her.

“Ah, ah – ahhhhh –”

Instinctively, Gankyū Eguriko realized she would not be able to defeat this enemy, who murdered her best friend, without making a choice. Perhaps sensing the oddness with Guriko, Sterilization Disinfection made a leap and put some distance between them. Facing this woman, Guriko made up her mind and made the choice.

It felt like she was going to the guillotine.

If this is the only feasible way, then I will become a monster without hesitation. I have made up my mind since a long time ago anyways, even if this choice was only a form of escape.

To live like a monster.

To become a monster that can defeat the enemy in front of me.

That would be the final choice.

“Rip rip.”

Her skin tore apart and her flesh rippled as the skin on her back was ripped to pieces. As if excited, the bonds within her blood were released. This was the demon that rampaged under Guriko’s thin human skin, the monster that vanquished Snake a month before. She originally thought she could only transform when in possession of a ripe and ancient Apple, but that did not seem like the case.

It must have been her soul that changed, and not the Apple.

My body is no longer the body of a human.

If so, then it would be impossible to live as a human.

But I am still lonely. I stuck around with Rinne and Sakaki for more than two months. That was enough – enough for this eyeball gouging monster – all that was left to do was to live and die as a monster.

When everything had ended, I will return to being a monster.

I should be the only unfortunate one.

“Oh, what’s this?”

The calm smile that was on Sterilization Disinfection’s countenance gradually disappeared as her eyes widened. Guriko’s appearance was already changing before Sterilization Disinfection’s eyes. Her limbs became elongated, her hair gleamed with a reddish light along her back, and her carapaced skin was no longer human. Long, sanguineous threads grew out from her back and wove into shapes, forming a pair of ominous, scarlet wings.

“---”

Guriko could no longer hear what Sakaki was yelling.

She was incredibly calm. There was no fear, no joy, no despair.

Sterilization Disinfection readied herself for battle and aimed her spray cans towards Guriko. “I didn’t know this, I didn’t know this. What is this? A mere human… no, just how long have you had an Apple for? A few hundred years? A few thousands? Is it because you continued to harbor such a great power within yourself that your body had to grow in order to endure it – no – this is not growth. This is evolution! How wonderful! You’re no longer a human, but something like us –”

“Silent.”

That was no longer Guriko’s voice.

However, Guriko still spread her arms as if protecting Sakaki and Rinne.

“Monsters should not imitate human speech. That would make people misunderstand! Monsters should just slaughter each other on the other side of the world. You and I are both such creatures, so we no longer need speech. You’re being loud and annoying!”

“…”

A sigh could be heard from behind the mask. Sterilization Disinfection looked at Guriko with a severe stare.

“Shhhhhh.”

“As for that, you have to let me see what choices you made, what you decided to discard, and what you obtained in return. Perhaps you are what I have always been searching for –”

“Shut up!”

Guriko snapped and rushed towards her enemy as she flapped the wings woven from intertwining threads of meat. Her body was unbelievably light and full of strength. She lifted her elbow powerfully backwards – and delivered a punch just like that.

Sterilization Disinfection’s slender body flew violently out of the corridor, punching a hole in the wall of the hospital in the process. Under the starlit night sky outside, she fell as her body dripped with blood and other unidentifiable body fluids.

“Sakaki.” Guriko did not dare to look at Rinne and Sakaki out of fear. “Please take care of Rinne. I… there was no other way… I’m sorry.”

She apologized, barely able to say those words. She ignored Sakaki’s cry and walked towards the battlefield, fleeing from this pain. She could not protect Rinne. She made Rinne into a Meat Doll. She was afraid of carrying such responsibilities. She was ashamed of herself whenever she contemplated what Sakaki must be feeling, and she could only flee.

She was afraid.

She was afraid. The world of humans was so frightful.

It was better to live in the darkness all alone. Although there was nothing in the darkness, she would not feel pain, she would not need to think.

Therefore…

I’m sorry, Rinne, Sakaki.

– I will at least defeat her.

She descended like an angel and attacked like a devil.

The hospital gardens had verdant paths for patients to stroll in, but the blossoms in the flowerbeds were shut in the darkness. The surroundings were completely silent, and the trees were decorations only to make the dark night even more inky black. This place, illuminated only by the light of the moon and the stars, felt extremely forlorn.

Sterilization Disinfection stilled her body with Fixation Mist and reduced the speed she was falling with. She seemed able to remove Fixation Mist according to her will, and landed softly on the ground.

There was a hole through her abdomen.

This hole was about the size of a baseball. The flesh was completely taken away, and one could see through it. She moaned as her body wobbled, and she laughed softly for no apparent reason.

“Cackle, cackle cackle.&rd