Chapter Text
-HAKANAJSMSNWJWJSJAJJSJJSSIA
-ADGSKYSJWK?
-AHAHAHAHAHAHA UWOSKNSUI
Unrecognizable noises tormented my ears as I tried not to fix my gaze on those unpleasant shapeless creatures—those things used to be my friends.
But now, to me, they were monsters that disturbed my life, just like everything else around me. All thanks to an accident.
-AJJSNSJSRJAKQJSISIIDJJSNSNSNSN
-JAKUAUAJSKZXZZ
Faced with the unbearable noise, I lowered my gaze to what seemed to be coffee, but to my eyes, it didn’t look like it. That "coffee" had a revolting appearance—an awful red color mixed with some kind of green slime was what was served, with a disgusting smell that could make me vomit at any moment. Shifting my eyes again, I stared at any random point in the deformed cafeteria.
-ABKSMKWKWMWNUJUWKREY?
Upon hearing my name, I looked toward the mass of deformed flesh. It was oozing some kind of green liquid from an opening, which I assumed was its mouth. A horrible stench invaded my nose. Trying to hide my disgust at what I was seeing, I simply smiled faintly.
-What did you ask me, Poe?
-JAKQMWMWKSISKJSKKWLWOSIIWKSM.
(*What do you think about going on a trip next month?*)
The last thing I wanted was to spend more time with these unrecognizable friends of mine. Lowering my gaze, I bit my lower lip, trying to contain the urge to murder those creatures.
Poe... he was the boy I liked. Before my tragic accident, I had confessed to him, but I never got a reply—and believe me, I don’t want one now. He was no longer my Poe; before my eyes, he was a monster.
-I can’t. I’m busy.
-JAKQNKWJW? JAKQNJQIWKWKKSKS
(*Why? You love going to the countryside with us.*)
Rose’s response made my head ache. Digging in my pockets for what seemed to be money, I slammed it hard onto the table as I stood from my seat. I couldn’t spend another minute pretending I was okay.
-Well, maybe I don’t like it anymore. If you’ll excuse me...
-ANJSNJW? AJOSMSNWOWMSNS.
(*Are you okay? We understand that what happened to your parents wasn’t easy, but we can talk.*)
Something slimy touched my hand. Seeing the huge lump of flesh that was Poe, I yanked my arm away in anger.
-DON’T TOUCH ME!
Yelling, I ran out of the cafeteria. I knew it wasn’t their fault—they hadn’t changed. I was the one who was broken. But it was impossible to keep pretending. All of this would be easier... if I didn’t have friends.
Four months ago, I was in a car accident with my parents. They died instantly, and I was found barely alive. A neurological operation was needed to save me. While I recovered, I felt somewhat grateful—despite my parents’ death, I believed everything would be okay. I had my friends.
That’s what I thought... until they removed the bandages that kept me from seeing the hell I was now part of.
Before the bandages came off, I could hear my friends’ voices normally. I could feel their touch, smell them, taste things. But when they were removed, I found myself staring at hell itself.
Sight is truly a powerful sense—so much so that it confused all the others. If everything looked disgusting, then it *must* be disgusting, right?
My immediate reaction was panic. I was sedated almost instantly due to my hysteria and aggression. From that moment, I became aware of several things. First, the operation had caused side effects that clearly affected all of my senses. Second, there was no cure. Third, if anyone noticed abnormalities in my behavior, I’d be locked away forever.
Since that moment, I’ve wished I were completely dead.
Although... sometimes, you can find just a tiny glimmer of hope even in the worst kind of hell, right?
(...)
-Rey...
The black-haired girl was shocked by her friend’s behavior. She had been acting strangely for several months, but today had been particularly rude.
-Ahh... I know this is hard for her, but still...
-Give her time, Finn... what she’s going through isn’t easy. Being completely alone is really hard.
-I know, Rose. But even so, she shouldn’t treat us like this—we’re her friends.
-So what should we do?
-Talk to her, maybe.
-I already tried. It was a total failure.
A saddened Poe played with the coffee in his hands. He had tried several times to talk to Rey, but she seemed to treat him like something disgusting.
-I’m worried about her health... she looks thinner.
At Rose’s words, Poe covered his eyes and let out a deep sigh. Rey seemed so different now. She didn’t seem like the shy little girl she once was.
What could be happening to her?
(...)
-Has there been any progress, Rey?
-No, nothing worth mentioning.
Her voice is hard and flat, her words tossed carelessly into the air. It’s as if she’s talking to herself in an empty room.
Even with her psychiatric training, the doctor can clearly feel the thick wall Rey has built between herself and the world.
-Have you experienced nausea, dizziness, or auditory or visual hallucinations?
-No. Nothing.
Although Rey appears to be looking at the doctor, her gaze is actually angled slightly downward and off to the side. She’s only participating superficially in a conversation she has no interest in.
Realizing she can’t continue the session like this, the doctor sets aside her clipboard.
-Rey... the treatment you received at the hospital was the latest in neurosurgery. You know that, right?
-Because it’s a new treatment, we’re still collecting data on it. That means there are risks.
-No doubt.
Rey’s lips twitch into what might be a bitter smile, but it fades before the doctor can catch its meaning.
-Usually, it would be a problem for a doctor to scare their patient like this, but... there have been reports of severe brain disorders following the surgery. We have to continue monitoring your condition carefully.
That’s why she’s been coming in for weekly checkups. Still, Leia wishes her patient would take them a little more seriously.
-How was last week’s MRI?
Rey asks abruptly, as if trying to catch the doctor off guard.
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It allows doctors to see inside the body without using x-rays or other ionizing radiation. MRIs can show tiny details in different tissues. Surprised by Rey’s technical knowledge, Leia remembers her profile.
-Right. You’re a medical student.
-The kind of brain dysfunction you’re worried about would show up on the MRI, right? Were there any abnormalities?
-No.
There was nothing—not even the slightest issue. For a procedure with such a low success rate, the results were miraculous. Still, something bothers Leia.
Relying on what could be called a "medical instinct," Leia senses something is wrong with this patient. She can’t shake the feeling that Rey is hiding something beneath her guarded exterior—some terrible weight on her soul. Fear, or perhaps suffering.
If it’s an inorganic problem, there’s nothing Leia can do while Rey refuses to open up.
-I’m fine, doctor. After all, I’m living outside the hospital with no difficulty. What could possibly be wrong?
-You know, Rey, continuous observation is necessary after such complex surgeries. You need to trust us a little more.
-I suppose you’re right.
After a brief pause, Leia writes “Good progress” on Rey’s chart for the day.
—About next week’s appointment, Rey. How does four o’clo—...
Before she can finish, the older woman looks up to see Rey already heading out the door.
(...)
It looked as if someone had sprayed pig guts on the walls from the ceiling to the floor, but I know this is the hospital hallway.
What color should hospital walls be? White, of course. There’s no way a hospital would paint the walls this color. And as for the rotting meat creatures crawling around me… To them, this hallway probably looks as white as it’s supposed to.
I know the walls are actually white, and the heaps of flesh are actually human beings.
I’m the problem, and because I’ve accepted that, I’m able to live a normal life.
Being a medical student specializing in neurosurgery has helped me understand what happened to me—though it’s hard to believe.
This isn’t a pathological condition. It’s probably an unknown type of cognitive disorder.
The meat beast that was my doctor said that some patients developed brain disorders after receiving the same treatment I did. So I guess I’m just another failure.
That said, I don’t blame the doctors who operated on me. After all, I owe them my life. There was no other way to save me.
My bad luck is what it all boils down to. Nothing more.
The point is, my condition can’t be treated like a regular mental illness.
I have no choice but to live the rest of my life with this disorder. Just like someone adjusts to a hearing aid or a wheelchair, I have to “adapt” to this nauseating scenery.
Of course, it’s hard. It wasn’t easy for me to surrender to this fate.
But now, there’s something more than just despair. Even for me, there’s a single ray of hope.
Keeping my gaze fixed on my feet to see as little of this horrible world as possible, I hurry home.
(...)
After a long trip, I finally arrived home. It was quite far from the university. Obviously, if I took the train, it wouldn’t take more than ten minutes, but due to my current condition, it’s best not to.
Finally, I could be at peace. There was the only person I could truly see.
The only person who looked normal in all this chaos.
When I opened the door to my home, I heard a soft bell followed by a sweet and firm voice saying, “Welcome home.”
Fully stepping inside, I closed the door and was met with the only purpose that keeps me alive.
Standing before me was a rather tall boy, dressed in a very formal suit. To anyone else, he would seem like a normal guy—long nose, big ears hidden under long hair, a charming face.
He was the only being who kept me from losing my mind.
I could be at eternal peace just by looking into his dark eyes, so unnaturally dark, so deep and so intense.
—Rey, my beloved. I missed you so much.
It was as if he knew the exact words I needed to hear. Smiling happily, I embraced his body and let out a soft sigh.
—I missed you more, my beloved Ben.
Sinking into his warm scent, I felt my knees tremble. Noticing my weakness, he carried me in his arms like a prince.
—The living room is almost ready. But I had enough time to make you some food. I watched a bunch of cooking shows to make you something tasty.
Ben did everything he could to make me feel comfortable. He always made the effort to cook for me, even though he knew everything would taste awful to me. But my Ben insisted I had to eat to stay healthy.
Laying me down on the sofa, I looked around the living room with a small smile.
The disgusting reddish shapes had disappeared thanks to the paint.
Ben and I decided to paint the whole house to get rid of the awful red that invaded my sight. Now the only thing that surrounded my vision was a calming green. The smell of paint was far less unpleasant than the outside world.
—Bon appétit~.
Ben placed something unpleasant on my lap. Trying to suppress the disgust caused by the smell, I grabbed the utensils and started eating quickly.
I could never reject food made by my beloved Ben.
—T-Thank you, Ben~
—I know my food is disgusting, but I need to keep you healthy.
His eyes lit up when he said those words. I could see little fangs peeking from his lips as he looked at me.
—Everything you make will taste good to me, because you made it with love\~.
—Let’s take a bath, Rey.
—Yes~.
(...)
I would always try to please him; after all, he makes my life less miserable.
I wouldn't know what I could do without him by my side.
A soft moan escaped my lips as I felt Ben's thrusts grow stronger and stronger.
I couldn't understand how someone could have such intense sexual energy; in a way, he even seemed superhuman. Even though Ben lacked any aspects that would make him human, I didn't mind; after all, he's by my side.
—Ben... my beloved Ben...
Is this really what you want? Ben has told me he can read my feelings. Is he doing this to try to satiate my shattered soul? Or just to satisfy his own desire?
Why go so far? What am I that you can give yourself to me body and soul?
Or is it simply sympathy? Do you feel pity for me? For my exile from society? Is that enough to give so much to me?
That downward glance with a charming smile and those dark eyes that shone with the pleasure my body gave him—only the sweet flames of ecstasy exist.
His sculpted body and his beautiful carnal grunts seem impossible in a dream, and I can't help but wonder if even the pleasure that burns my body from head to toe is more than an illusion of my poor brain.
His experienced hands caressed my trembling body, from my prominent collarbones to my narrow waist. Feeling his nails digging into that area, I simply moaned in pain.
—That's right... moan more~
His bright eyes were simply hypnotic; I could see a row of sharp teeth poking through his playful smile. Watching him approach my neck, I felt his teeth sink in brutally as he sucked my blood, my sacred life force, my pain, my sorrows.
Ben is always with me, but I can only be sure of that in this moment. Only when I'm united with him can I believe.
No matter what cruel fate may await me, Ben, there's nothing I fear more than losing you.
His thrusts gradually became much more aggressive, and I felt him let out a deep moan as his thick semen filled my entrance once more. Letting out a sharp moan, I hugged his large body tightly. Feeling his large fangs bite into my shoulder, I prepare to moan softly. He always did that no matter the situation. The chances of Ben being completely human diminished the more I got to know him, though that doesn't matter much to me, since Ben is the only normal person in this messed-up world.
Feeling his body crush me with strength, I wrap my fragile arms around him. The sensation of his soft skin soaked in sweat and the warmth radiating from his body soothe me, letting me know he's still here.
—I don’t understand, but... I’m getting more and more lost. Soon, I won’t be able to live without you.
I hold Ben tighter in my arms, praying that our bodies melt into one and we’ll never be separated again.
—Please tell me... how can I keep you by my side? What can I do? How can I thank you?
—Keep holding me... keep giving me your blood.
Ben whispers affectionately into my chest.
—I want you to love me. I want to stay like this forever. I won’t leave you, Rey.
—Why...? Why me?
—Because you’re completely alone, of course.
Feeling him draw a small smile on my chest, a sense of relief floods my body.
—And... because I was alone too.
—You’re all I have as well. In this whole world. Only you will embrace me... my precious Rey.
Now I know. No matter how horrible the world becomes for me. All I need is Ben.
My precious Ben.
(...)
Poe was in the classroom, eagerly waiting to see Rey. After all, it was nearly impossible to see her during the day — she would just vanish without warning. He hoped to see her today, saving a seat beside him, waiting with anticipation.
After waiting ten minutes, Poe cast a furtive glance around the classroom.
There she was. Rey must have entered without him noticing, because she was sitting alone, in the back corner of the room.
Did she not notice Poe when she came in? No, that’s impossible. No serious student would willingly sit in such an inconvenient spot.
Feeling stupid, Poe slid his bag back over his legs.
Rey exited the classroom just as it ended, and Poe barely managed to catch up with her before she disappeared down the hallway.
—Rey...!
At the sound of her name, Rey stiffened as if she’d heard a roar.
—What is it, Poe...?
She turned toward him and replied, although she seemed reluctant to do so.
Now that they were face to face, Poe was painfully aware of how much weight Rey had lost. Her sunken eyes and protruding cheekbones were far from the features he was used to. He wondered if she was under a lot of stress, or maybe not eating properly — maybe both.
She looked more tense than she should have, as if she were irritated, or even afraid or something. Her eyes constantly darted from one point to another, refusing to meet Poe’s gaze.
She looked so fragile and defenseless that a wave of protectiveness rose in his chest. What could have changed her so much?
—Are you okay?
Rey seemed puzzled by the sudden question, which to her had no apparent meaning.
—Yes...
—We’re worried... especially me. Can we talk in private?
—Yes...
The courtyard was empty and quiet; no one was willing to sit on a bench and chat in the cold November air.
—Rey... I needed to talk to you. It’s about what you told me that time, before your accident.
—I wanted to give you my answer later, but with everything that happened after the accident, I preferred to give you space. I think now is the best time to give you my answer. I’d really love to help you. I love you, Rey.
—You look so different... you could move in with me. I know it’s hard living alone, especially in your situation. Are you eating properly?
—In times like these, it’s important to have someone close. After all, Finn and Rose are willing to help you.
—Especially me.
—ENOUGH!
Rey’s expression was terrible enough to make Poe step back a little.
The look in her eyes wasn’t anger or any other emotion. It was hatred — cold, bloody hatred.
—Oh, right. I just remembered I hadn’t answered what you just said. Actually, the accident made me realize a lot of things. It’s like it illuminated my mind.
—My feelings for you were always fake, I was just confused. Rose always told me you and I would make a wonderful couple. Since she started dating Finn, she wanted me to be with you. I guess the pressure made me think I had feelings for you.
—Rey...
—You always disgusted me, but I had to get along with you so our group wouldn’t fall apart, because you all were everything to me. But things have changed. I never want to see any of you again — especially not you. Poe, I hate you. I don’t even want to look at you.
“Calm down Poe, don’t explode. And definitely don’t cry,” Poe told himself, trying to stop the tears welling up in his eyes.
—I guess it’s too much to hope never to see you again. We go to the same school. So... would you mind never talking to me again? I’m sick of you.
—How can you be so...
Poe tried to calm his tone of voice, not realizing Rey twisted her lips into a terribly cruel smile.
—You should calm down. I know you pity me after the accident. You can pretend to be in love all you want, but leave me out of it.
Even after shedding tears in front of her, he stubbornly refused to let her hear him cry. Any misery would be better than breaking down in front of someone so cruel.
—Rey... damn it.
And so he ran, fleeing from such humiliation, with Rey coldly smiling behind him.
(...)
—What? Damn it...
Finn stared in shock at what had just happened — Poe running while Rey kept that blank expression.
—It must’ve been terrible, what Rey said. Poe is such a strong guy... to end up like that.
—We need to talk to both of them. Something is definitely wrong with Rey.
—I know, Finn... but at this point, Rey scares me...
The girl lowered her gaze while nervously playing with her fingers. Rey had suddenly stopped being that cheerful, fun girl — now this Rey was completely expressionless.
—Rose...
—She’s changed. She’s not the same anymore...
—If we talk to her, maybe we could find out what’s going on and help her.
—I don’t know, Finn... I’m scared. Let’s talk to Poe instead. He’ll explain what happened.
(...)
I feel horrible, miserable, but also relieved. I've finally crossed the line.
I knew I was going to break down sooner or later. Having become someone incapable of feeling anything but contempt for others, there was no way I could hope to maintain the relationships I had before the accident.
Today's incident will no doubt reach Finn and Rose, and everyone will become convinced that Rey has undergone a major change in character. Honestly, it no longer matters. At least I probably won’t be thrown into a mental institution over it. I just have to avoid acting any stranger than I already have.
If this distances me from others, so much the better. Just thinking about the stress I’ve lifted from my shoulders… I’m sick of people poking around in my life. It’s like they don’t care that their very presence twists my insides.
I’ve been terrified of them up until now, but today *I* inspired fear in one of them. In a way, that thought is comforting… but I can’t say I feel completely remorseful about it either.
The person I scared off with the verbal equivalent of a nuclear bomb used to be my friend Poe. Even if my senses don’t believe it, my mind accepts that I didn’t hold any special grudge against Poe, and I didn’t want to hurt him.
In hindsight, maybe I should’ve just refused to talk to him.
Poe was a rather attractive man—certainly, I didn’t think badly of him. However, it annoyed me quite a bit when Rose tried to manipulate me into dating Poe, just like Finn used to pester him in the same way. Poe seemed to see everything as a stupid joke and constantly teased me about it, making me feel confused.
That said, I knew none of them meant harm. Back then, I had no reason to hurt others just to get my way. If having a casual relationship with Poe could keep our friend group together, I was willing to do it—after all, Poe wasn’t a bad option.
Now, however, there’s no space in my heart for the tolerance required to play along.
If just talking to someone is an unbearable ordeal, how can I be expected to show kindness?
These reflections have left me exhausted. I want to go home to Ben as soon as possible, but just thinking about the packed trains and crowded streets that separate me from home drains my will.
Seeing a nearby bench, I sit down and close my eyes to the horrors of the world. I can’t do anything about the smell or the noise, but at least I can calm my nerves enough to rest.
When I regained consciousness in the hospital room, the world was as dark as it is now.
I hadn’t regained my sight, even though my eyes and optic nerves were fine.
It must’ve been an aftereffect of the accident.
The blindness was a shock, but looking back now, my suffering back then was nothing. After all, my senses of hearing, touch, taste, and smell were still fine at the time.
The real tragedy began when I regained my vision.
The only good thing was that I learned about the terrible accident and my neurosurgery while I was still blind.
I panicked when I first saw the nightmare hospital and the eerie shapes of the doctors and nurses, but I soon guessed the cause.
It gives me chills to think what might’ve happened if I had regained my sight at the same time as my consciousness. After suddenly waking in what could only be described as hell, I no doubt would have lost my mind instantly.
Soon, my disorder spread to my senses of touch, taste, and smell. In human sensory structure, sight is far more powerful than any of the other senses.
The taste of my food, the feel of my sheets, the fragrance of my flowers—everything became as unbearably disgusting as my eyes told me it should be.
Eventually, when even the voices of the doctors became unrecognizable as human voices, I decided to take my own life. I didn’t believe for a second that I could ever come to terms with this new world.
At least, not until I met Ben.
One night, while I was trying to think of a painless way to die, I succumbed to sleep.
Drifting between the nightmares of my dreams and the nightmare of reality, I didn’t realize when he entered my room.
Suddenly, beside my bed, there was a face watching me with curiosity and amusement.
The face wasn’t covered in pus or viscera or anything like that. It had soft pale cheeks, dark eyes, a long broad nose, plump lips… all those things I never expected to see again. It was, without a doubt, the face of a man radiating beauty.
—Ah...
I sighed in admiration, savoring the first pleasant moment since I’d regained my sight.
Looking at the clock, I saw it was exactly three in the morning—not the right hour for a man to be wandering through a hospital. Even someone with little imagination might have thought he was a ghost.
Still, I didn’t care if he was a ghost, because either way, he was a gift from heaven.
—Who… are you? Why are you here…?
—I’m Ben. I like to wander around late at night.
His voice was so intoxicating. It made me think hospital security must be terrible for not noticing some strange guy walking in at this hour.
—Hmm~… goodbye.
—Wait!
I shouted desperately to stop him from leaving. It was only after he turned back that I realized I hadn’t thought about what to do next.
—What can I do for you, miss?
His eyes pulled me into their depths, healing my soul to the core. Through the haze in my mind, I struggled to form a coherent sentence.
Formality aside, I let the words flow from my mouth.
—Could you… let me touch your hand?
At first Ben looked confused, but then he smiled as if he’d just found a new toy. His smile was like the sun.
Very carefully, as if I were trying to catch snowflakes, I placed my hand against his.
I could feel his human warmth and the softness of his delicate fingers. He was there, beyond the palm of my hand.
Thinking about the joyful tears I shed then, I know that was the moment I was saved from my fate.
—This is the first time in a month and a half I’ve touched someone and… felt that they were human.
—Really?
His tone was so teasing, but I didn’t care.
—I can’t touch anyone else. I was in an accident, and as a side effect… I can’t see people as human beings.
—Hmm… you really are strange… You’re interesting.
He said, gently wrapping his fingers around mine.
—Can I come again tomorrow night?
—Yes, of course. But… doesn’t it bother you?
—Of course not, the night is made for me. Besides, I’d love to keep seeing a beautiful girl like you.
And so our midnight dates began.
Ben came to my room every night at 3 A.M., skillfully taking advantage of the usual nurse shift change.
I was surprised to learn he wasn’t a med student or the son of a doctor. After all, he entered the facility so easily.
—I’m just a curious and clever guy. I like being here to study each patient’s behavior.
It was pretty strange for a young man to be doing such things—and even more so when he told me he used to scare patients for fun.
But such unimportant things didn’t matter to me. For me, Ben was the only human being in a deranged world. His existence meant far more to me than the rules of society.
—Isn’t it dangerous? Have you ever thought you might get caught?
—No, never. Humans are pretty stupid—they wouldn’t be able to catch me. Besides, I get really good food here. Hospital food isn’t as bad as people say.
There was a hint of malice in his eyes as he licked his lips with noticeable hunger.
-Revised through the patient lists and found those with mental issues.
Ben smiled mischievously.
-Sometimes I sneak into their rooms late at night and scare them. Even if they make a huge fuss, no one believes what mental patients say. It’s a good way to have fun—after all, it’s not all about studying and eating.
He always enjoyed telling me how he scared the patients. His confession reminded me that the hospital was famous for its monster stories.
Who would’ve imagined that it was actually a mischievous boy wandering through these halls?
-So that’s why you came to my room in the first place?
-Something like that... but you’ll find out later. Are you mad?\~
It wasn’t something praiseworthy—after all, he was doing illegal things. But I didn’t dare scold him, for the very reason that had brought us together.
-You shouldn’t do it anymore. Will you come talk to me at night instead?
-Of course, studying you is much more fun than scaring idiots.
With extreme care, I managed to hide my sensory disorder.
It was clear the doctors had no way of curing me, and the fact that I had just undergone a new treatment that was clearly still in trial-and-error made me even more cautious.
For the sake of my dignity, I wasn’t willing to become a pathetic lab rat.
So I hid my discomfort and daily aversion behind a mask of normality, convincing the doctors that any sign of stress was nothing more than a result of hospitalization.
Ben was my support. Waiting for his nightly visits was the only thing that gave me strength to endure my daily torture.
Having hope can make a huge difference in a patient’s progress. With the help of my secret nurse, I recovered at a rate that left the doctors stunned.
On the last night before my release, I gathered courage and asked:
-Are you going to... stay in this hospital forever?
-Maybe, I tend to travel quite often. But I like this place... maybe because of you.
In other words, he had no reason to stay either.
I decided to take the step, asking shyly:
--Would you like to stay at my house?\~
-Hmm?
-My family is gone, so I have enough rooms. You won’t have to be alone, and it’s not a bad place to live.
-Do you really want me to be with you?
Those eyes sparkled even more, with that glint of malice that drove me insane.
-Yes! You could study my behavior, and you could still go out at night to keep doing your nighttime hobbies.
Unable to control myself, I finally spoke the truth.
-I don’t want to be apart from you.
He didn’t seem surprised by my words—he even seemed amused by my desperation. But I didn’t care.
-We’ll see. I need time to think.
Saying that, he left my room with a mocking smile.
On the day I was discharged, I managed to smile while accepting the horrible, foul-smelling celebration bouquet.
The flesh beasts who called themselves Poe, Rose, and Fin came to pick me up. They had visited me several times during my stay, but it was never easy to see my old friends so terribly changed.
My sudden tears of despair raised suspicion, but I managed to explain them away as tears of joy.
As we walked through the hallways, the lobby, and the parking lot toward Poe’s car, I desperately turned my eyes away from the grotesque world and searched for Ben. But he was nowhere to be seen.
I kept looking out the car window at the hospital fading in the distance, praying for one last ray of hope.
But Ben never appeared.
After Poe and the others dropped me off in front of the house where I had grown up, I took another look around.
I had never moved—I had lived in this house all my life. There had never been another place I called home, but now, everything had changed cruelly.
As I walked from the entrance to the front door, I looked at the garden and the trees. I had many childhood memories there, and I could feel how they were being tainted by the purulent and twisted shapes in front of me.
There was nothing familiar left in the house, nothing that evoked affectionate memories. What I had once called home was now a totally different world.
-I have no home...
I whispered with a self-pitying smile. Climbing up to the second floor, I found my room completely unrecognizable.
And sitting on the bed, with a dark aura, was Ben. While I stood in shock, he looked at me mockingly and said in a loud voice:
-Do you really want me here?
I answered by running into his arms, hugging him tightly so he wouldn’t escape. Ben didn’t resist.
(...)
I took a chance and tried to catch the train, but the rush hour crowd was so bad I had to get off halfway and walk.
It’s very late. I wonder if Ben’s busy. I just hope he’s not angry.
Opening the door, before I could announce my arrival, I saw an annoyed Ben behind the door. His frown softened slightly when he saw me.
-Where were you?
Thanks! I’m fine too. I thought that as I closed the door behind me, feeling completely tiny as I dropped my bag onto the sticky floor.
-I’m sorry, I got held up talking with a classmate from university. I also tried to catch the train, but I felt so overwhelmed... I’m sorry.
A small smile appeared on his pale face as he caught my delicate body in his arms.
-So that was all? My little one, you should just stay home. That way you’ll be less tired and able to give me enough attention.
-I have to keep up this façade, Ben...
-For how much longer? Look at you—you’re skin and bones. But to me, you look beautiful like that.
Was Ben right? I must look like a walking corpse, but food is so repulsive now.
-I made you dinner.
-N-No... I don’t want to.
-I know I usually let you skip meals sometimes, but this will be your little punishment for making me wait so long.
It was so cruel and unfair that I felt I deserved all of it.
-Okay, Ben...
-Don’t worry, you’ll get your reward too. That scent of misery you always give off is so irresistible.
With Ben, I feel like I’m starting to regain the joy of living, little by little.
Ben will guide me. With him, I can live.
(...)
Scary Stories.
Real Ones: Hospital Edition.
Chapter 4: The Monster in the University Hospital.
The research student from the university hospital, Alice, recounts her shocking experiences. Will you believe her or not?
Strange things began to happen in our hospital at the end of the first semester.
Many times, patients would wake up in the middle of the night screaming about nightmares. All of them said they had seen something absolutely terrifying in their dreams, and all described the same monster. A creature with huge claws, thick black fur, and glowing eyes full of uncontrollable rage. Many had to be sedated before they could sleep again. Some patients even transferred to other hospitals because of it. Though many rumored they continued having the same nightmare even after being transferred.
Many patients talked about a man who stared at them and spoke to them. Obviously, they couldn’t understand what he said because he spoke in a strange dialect. They described him as a shadowy figure.
But the really strange things began to happen afterward.
There used to be a bunch of dogs roaming around the school, searching for food from the students. One day, the dogs stopped coming, replaced by a bunch of cats or even crows.
Over time, some things began to disappear in the hospital.
Organs, to be precise.
Organs that had already been collected for transplants kept disappearing from where they were stored. And it wasn’t just two or three times that it happened.
People started spreading rumors that there was something living in the hospital.
The cleaning staff would often find strange messes—hair that didn’t look human at all, or even claw marks.
Many of the night shift nurses talked about strange noises on the very same days patients ended up screaming about their nightmares.
There is one last story, one that can never be mentioned inside the hospital.
One day, the obstetrics department went completely crazy.
They said a newborn had disappeared during the night.
If it were true, the police would have come and it would have made all the news. But they say the big shots managed to calm everything down. It’s just a rumor, of course.
These strange incidents suddenly stopped toward the end of summer.
Now there are no more patients complaining about nightmares, and the dogs started coming back to campus.
They say those anecdotes we lived through in the university hospital also happened in several other hospitals—and that suddenly, they all stopped.
What was that creature? Even now, just thinking about it gives me chills.
(...)