Chapter 12 Let's chop her up
The aroma which lingered in the air was so delightful, it took me back to my childhood. I recalled the memories of my grandmother. She used to cook food that smelled similar to this. Cinnamon, star anise, and white grass fruit simmered in boiling water, exuding a rich and fragrant scent in the kitchen. I listened carefully while my grandmother explained about the ingredients which created a delicious base.
However, the nice memories faded away from my mind when I recalled the happenings from earlier.
I frowned before I opened my eyes groggily, but all I could see was a pitch-black ceiling with interesting steel pipes with rust speckling their surfaces. I turned my head to discover my surroundings, and I saw a lean figure standing at a pot. He stirred the content of it, showing his back to me.
"Is it ready yet? I can't wait any longer." A rough, short man stepped inside the room after pushing the door open. I looked toward the sound, and I watched him approach. He was grinning at me with disgusting yellow stains on his teeth. When he stood next to me and leaned closer, I could smell his breath. The breath he exhaled straight on my face was so foul, I felt like gagging.
"This woman is awake. Tsk tsk, not the right timing, Miss." He chuckled, but his face went serious when he looked at the other. "It'll be such a hassle when we have to chop her up later."
A horrible feeling hit me. I felt so frightened; I started to tremble. What was he talking about? Chop me up?
I looked at his malicious smile that appeared on his face again, and I struggled to sit up. I just felt how weak my body was. Like stones covered it, not allowing me to move. I tried to scream, but no sound came out of my mouth, like I was mute. I was only able to move my eyes.
The lean figure at the pot turned around, and my eyes widened in disbelief when I saw his snake-like face, with brown-yellow eyes and Diamond shaped pupils glowering at me. "Don't worry, she can't move."
The rough man couldn't contain himself, and he leaned closer once more to smell my body. Satisfaction filled his eyes, and he smiled like I was the most delicious treat he ever smelled in his life.
"It is so fragrant. Truly a rare Cake that comes once in a hundred years. If I eat this whole thing, I'll rejuvenate and live for hundreds of years."
He sighed, and he stuck out his tongue to lick my face. I cried out in terror as his sticky tongue touched my skin and he let out a long moan. It was so horrifying. Where I was? What was happening?
Even if I couldn't move, I keenly felt that I wasn't in a nightmare. I was able to cry, but my limbs felt so weak and numb. Realising that I wasn't able to save myself made me feel terrified enough, but the sweet scent of the boiling water and the repulsive man exuded a sense of horror in every way.
The lean man checked the pot and decided it was ready. Ready for what? The question echoed inside my mind.
"Go chop her up. She is ready to be cooked."
I glanced at the burly man and my whole body started to shake while I was watching him grabbing a sharp cleaver from the side, like he couldn't wait for the moment.
I tried to struggle in horror, desperate to escape. My throat was hoarse as I croaked. "No... Please..." But my mosquito-like voice was barely audible, drowned out by the boiling pot and unable to attract the attention of the two men. I saw the man approaching with the knife, ready to strip me, however, the lean man stopped him.
"Don't strip her. It is a waste of time. Cut her limbs off first."
The burly man looked at him, and he agreed. He grabbed one of my arms, swinging the cleaver down.
I saw my life flash before my eyes. "No!!!" I yelled without sound at first, then I could hear my voice inside my head while everything went dark for a moment, then when I opened my eyes again, the view changed.
I was still screaming while I sat up, realising I was able to move again. I was drenching in sweat, and I needed a few seconds to realise I wasn't in the dim, rusty room. I was in the White Rose Manor, in the room that was prepared for me by the butler.
I was still trembling in fear. The painful sensation felt too real. Recalling what they were about to do to me, I frantically checked my hands, finding them intact, and my limbs were unharmed. Was it just a nightmare? I frowned while I was still sitting there in confusion.
"Having a nightmare?" A deep, familiar voice made me lift my head up in panic while I looked towards the window to see Mr. William sitting there, flipping through a book, slowly raising his eyes to look at me.
I was hesitating, but then realising I was in bed, I quickly pulled the quilt up to cover myself.
"How... How did you get here?" I stuttered. Wasn't I on leave from the company? What had happened? Why was I lying here at home, in the same room with him? These questions filled my mind, waiting to be answered.
Mr. William sat the book aside and stood up. He walked over to me. His gaze roamed over my body, which made me feel embarrassed and uneasy, not daring to look at his excessively handsome face. I only lowered my head, and I wrapped myself tighter in the blanket.
"I just returned from a trip, and the butler said you have been ill and unconscious for a few days. Miley is away, so I came to check on you."
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His gaze was cool, and I couldn't discern anything wrong. He seemed to be just genuinely concerned about his wife's friend. But was it okay for a married man to sit next to a single woman's bed like this? These thoughts disturbed me, but I told myself I was just overthinking the situation. Perhaps Miley was worried a lot, and he just wanted her to rest. Maybe he was worried about me as well. "How many days have I been asleep?" I asked after a little hesitation.
He raised his wrist to check his watch. "Until now, it's been two days, seven hours, and twenty-eight minutes."
I felt puzzled. "Then why didn't you take me to the hospital?"
If I have been unconscious for so long, why wasn't I in a hospital? That didn't make sense.
Mr. William narrowed his eyes slightly and replied coolly.
"The manor has a full set of medical equipment, and the butler is a licensed physician. It is enough for your treatment. You don't need to be in a hospital to get better."
The butler's capabilities truly took me aback.
"So... What exactly happened to me? Why can't I remember anything?"