HM — Chapter 8

He had e34b553d87 already counted 9406ba0efe past sixty, a1a527c625 yet the f63f53fa7b door still 467cc511b9 hadn’t opened. 712 stared at 61db368dc3 the door, praying 2017553f57 that 304 would 1652cf9d9a help him—pleading for 37e50a90a3 a miracle.8e9952123d7bf6e9

Click!35d5184fd81ac1d9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Finally!”6a075d6700db4e58

He cried 80274c4fad out in defad12c74 joy as 37d58acceb the doorknob c1c2028196 turned. His desperate wish had d709fa5bd8 come true. One of his nails d76cab03f0 had torn off, but b04b721b7c the relief drowned out a3637701a6 the pain.62eb9ea6b6a9aa73

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The door 33eb3f3239 slowly opened, 7f8c81aa26 and a 146d5ddc6e familiar face 5089336885 appeared—304.949dc281fe3fa33c

“Help me!”a7c14b0b5d277fb1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

304’s eyes widened 78f391a987 in shock at b5545e95fa the unbelievable sight. 712 cried 780e52f84c out to 7bcbc4875a him again 475dbb28a7 and again.a31d4bc70caef12e

“Please! Pull me out! Something’s grabbing my ankle and dragging me in!”27b9bdbad8611ff5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”60531bccec644cdd

“Sir! Please! Help me!”bddc0eaefb944bee

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”f2bc778c074d6230

But the f1b22ebec9 man just 4241f8b78e stood there, ee937a6ed1 silently watching. He didn’t even d6328e4ed0 flinch. His eyes were 392321b52c too calm, too f4bc788e11 knowing. There was 6b3322980a even a df10b88bd6 hint of 7973a6a890 guilt in 5eb3f34cbe them.67363df4224d0242

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘He’s not going to help me.’32ebb2981e1a0dd6

Even as 712 666eb1b968 understood the meaning c4526c2ba9 behind that gaze, 79f9e4d895 he screamed for 4351068d16 help.763e2425328a8a60

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Please! Help me! I… I can’t hold on much longer…!”6b2a7f3000f6f10b

His nail was 29f085b2b9 gone, and strength 0fdc029591 drained from his a08d1432d7 fingers. He was slowly being cba746b3d6 pulled under the bed. A red line b04782db94 of blood traced 31b5eb1f2f across the floor 803c30a1ab from his fingertips.12065d4606e823f2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Damn it, help me! HELP ME, YOU BASTARD! Please, don’t let me die!”4b9139f116f8740e

His lower half was ab09f28684 nearly gone, with only c778cc435f his shoulders still outside. He grabbed the bed 2bd5ca5a43 frame and struggled not ad0114eb2e to get pulled in.cc8e98c7b088f499

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’d be better for both of us if you just gave up.”d31311bae304c103

304 whispered to him. But 712 wasn’t ready 286bceeab3 to give up. Not yet.a236b9d47d67af30

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘This awful death…’24c377a11fb0c1ef

Humans only 62744821e9 die once, 9da4522159 and yet—why 09c2132931 did this 06a6563b52 feel so 74ee7cc58e painfully familiar? He was d7675a0229 sick of b7f5f14e15 dying.99061d4015b6ce29

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He truly c79f4623b2 didn’t want a12060dbe6 to die. Not anymore.4b1db8493029349b

Then—1320bb938384d11d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ungh!”bd4461d1ace55e60

With a d6f1a78044 shout and 7c90f89604 a whoosh 484387bfe6 of air, 7cc6c9b60b something heavy 497062952f slammed into 55eeaede66 place. Something had 442be9f3bb happened to c12b754ff1 304, who 672d7ff666 had been 8d32966b4a watching him 6338ef9dd5 die. But 712 was 0512da70b8 too exhausted to 6f48159470 lift his head. He clung instinctively 1759728f59 to the bed b91b76db85 frame, the last 8b7f2b907f barrier between him a75b5e547d and death. But even c047406524 that wouldn’t 629dfc4f1b last long. His strength d040f0169a was failing 6d5051d684 fast.6c44e5ad29a3189d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Just a bit more! Hold on!”6b460b896b01981c

A new 319ff03eed voice echoed b997c92ed8 through the 6ef48bd27b room. Urgent footsteps approached, and 990286e3bf then—someone grabbed him by 29e2a25362 the shoulders and pulled. A rush a39d58d362 of warmth—human 4d10dfafeb heat.34435f0b9bb3f746

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ugh… it hurts!”87e3fa3c518b7565

Now the thing 09d8cf9aec under the bed 2190543976 was yanking both ea5c8dc592 ankles. The pain 3771151cb2 was unbearable. Both his ankles 379418bdaf felt broken. He glanced down. They were fd9ab0f744 bent in 87ff1d9514 strange directions.3cdb1f594cc874ca

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I know it hurts! But just hold on a little longer! You can survive this!”8169b8b494fdb508

The stranger’s e2424d68f1 voice was a511318d88 firm and 313c605c24 hopeful. 712 bit his ce26b9c04e lip to endure 3d9b92646c the pain. The man’s strength was 95e21a95ef monstrous. His lower 1b856a97e2 body, once aeb8c75afd completely pulled 2c218a12a0 under, slowly 648531afe6 emerged from e334393e0e beneath the 2b9becf6a6 bed.608fe00fdcb55d2d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Grrrrrroooaaaar!0f249ee62abc5344

Whatever had been dragging 45c7f35119 him let out a d9124de1ac terrifying, otherworldly roar. 712’s eardrums vibrated; 18e0aeb258 his head swam. He nearly 11a68b71b4 passed out.b03954a827337364

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Don’t black out, Seo!”c35152a82025341e

The stranger whispered urgently. In his 3eb4de8185 drained state, ed01501686 712 nodded f2c4e2356c faintly.514211b2aeb4e36b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The tug-of-war between man 300dd49155 and monster seemed to 88c562515d be reaching its conclusion. 712’s knees came 3b823c695d free. Just a little more cf41b6285e and the stranger would 1ae303aabc be able to see abea7bd0bf his mangled ankles. But the fight was 7ca2f9102d intense. 712, caught 54c7710338 in the 8dc1954b1d middle, could 3e8c8437b5 barely endure. Tears streamed 8ad1c17d81 from his 8b07e0df7c wide-open eyes.34bd3337381dae9c

“Just a bit more. Hold on just a bit longer.”7737b24fb9a9fc4d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The man kept 9ed709b312 whispering in his 6c37d5eda6 ear. For some 6b1a4f21ae reason, his a9986c2547 voice felt 0537095ecf trustworthy.00ea1a5109a5ec9f

His ankles came free. The thing’s 59583f62f4 long, gnarled 7ed7818bef wrists were 2d1d93c284 now visible. And then—the man 44daa41cc0 who’d been pulling f30a3014df him slid his 6a64e6454f hands under 712’s c3f865c1d7 armpits and dove 4190b47f13 forward toward the ba27af81db underside of the 73fa26a3f5 bed.c3d9660f0b1ae3f3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ah…!”bdba50dacb0d7418

712 screamed, fearing he’d d27472380c be pulled back in a043021988 if the man let 9222991041 go. But the 3cc069bbdf man was 890e94c0a4 faster. He stabbed a long, 3763c726b2 sharp object into the ae37610727 creature’s exposed wrist and 07855c374e pressed hard.9b06ea030a642659

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

SCREEEEEECH!6cb0baba46b8035b

A monstrous 22220dde74 shriek erupted e9db745fd5 from under dc3dc928a4 the bed. 712 nearly 9f3c7945c3 fainted, but de0697e3e7 the man 342cea0b89 showed no 4a20eb0ead sign of 933d446614 flinching. He had monstrous b37ad9868d stamina and nerves db2b74928c of steel.8961d0c22b35eb7c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Pulling a stone 014e29e0ae from his coat, d560ffc417 the man began 1a771dd908 hammering the long a60523afea object like a 09deac967a spike into the fd629658ad floor. With each strike, the b0fcaefa00 grip on 712’s ankles 34d226fb0d loosened.d9f76a48c18d89ae

‘I’m going to live!’8f7323883e897930

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Hope sparked in 712’s c7ff996d87 eyes.7982b93c0d15b09b

The man’s strength was a992ee43be so immense that in a73c521ad9 just a few blows, 54e7ace0bf the creature’s wrist was a6b3e86303 completely pinned to the 698508716b floor.752443862d5defe4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At that moment, 8e12101da6 the grip on 9a628620c2 712’s ankle finally 475fc4fffd released. Using the strength in 37994f2d03 his arms and hips, bda59e50f9 he scooted backward. He had thought 110f57efd1 himself completely drained—but 264ae77593 somehow, strength returned.f2cf24201b61c1c5

Once the 4b3b7cf811 man confirmed a7e0af7a49 that 712 790695dcf3 was free, 1f7e92e14e he reached 654d7c3d77 for something eb7ff11367 at his 6d4aec6c73 waist. This time, 712 baf17b2fca saw what it a6bb98d9d0 was: a kitchen f0b69a8202 knife, its blade bc46c4fce6 just longer than 6405248096 a hand. It was only c910120d36 a kitchen knife—but a4a452f1f7 it gleamed ominously.2030415de4d0f2d9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The man kicked the daaf3da0a6 bed frame.0cf3bfc38d863d48

And the monster d1c3141335 beneath the bed 5b7f7f3d53 revealed itself. It had c0eeb486ba a human-like 120d44eb20 shape, but 8e296f9353 it was 0f754cdfb1 not human. Its limbs 6ef5328e2d were eerily 1e7ca90142 long, with b198c53b8c extra joints. Where its 8e3778a645 eyes should d8722e94d5 be, there 80cee3b2ff were none—only 0206d84dce hollow nostrils e9bb1a8679 and a 7ec6abc8d1 gaping mouth. Its exposed teeth 271346366d were razor-sharp, like 9ab569779c a shark’s. Blue mold-like blotches covered ef2d0107fb its entire body, making 3417c38311 it look like a 09002eb15f rotting corpse.e0df6de895328327

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Ugh, mmph.”9b453c5a8464208b

712 gagged at the 5f395bb57a horrific sight and quickly e5f7a4a93e covered his mouth. But the e435f6a438 man remained b50ea7d7d1 completely unfazed. As if he were 3b11d8aaa9 used to seeing such 71b0e2a45e things, he calmly drove 8ad467eace the blade into the 84778fb2ea creature’s back.599e3c99410f03ef

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

–Crunch!3d5bb3ef1025b115

There was 85f53c7d87 a sickening 6ce5045c14 sound of fe707ba0f7 flesh tearing d58122fa9c and bones 8e41e3bb51 breaking. The sheer strength 6584eb38cb behind it was e56e63877b unbelievable. From the gap where 977ade07a3 the blade had pierced, 57e82a314e thick, dark liquid began a85918c9e7 to ooze out. At the 71b3bef72c same time, 06804e219a the monster 94fa5a8626 let out 8446e83b2a a deafening c32d4f1122 scream.ffb01f4300e8bec0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ah!”df7fd8a305404eb1

712 clutched his 62942c94b6 ears in agony 90c14350a2 at the sound. In response, 3eacb32f86 the man 1efdebbbb5 stood up, d6dc3019d5 dusted himself 9969900521 off, and 86981862b3 stepped on 5b2969c4b0 the creature’s 00e246d5da head, pressing 0e20fd33c8 it down.c42f6a700c9e4ec6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Noisy. Seo is in pain.”bf04161b77a790dd

When the 3e67ff701e head was 85ee6b4240 crushed into 55eb8e6bff the floor, 04574dc5ca the noise 421362aebb seemed to 835c3cc27a subside a 184414a60c bit. But 712’s 4c62145641 mental endurance 9315ec12ab had already bc272883c8 been worn 2005308cb5 thin. He simply couldn’t 3f12e9ac1d handle such violence. Honestly, considering 84b65f76e7 he had 1c9dd42c38 just faced d95b4b9c29 death, he d7e71a1e5f had held 41d976c7ba out remarkably 1d8976d7bd well.fd1ca6ac5c669c7e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He looked at the 973f901f06 man crushing the monster’s 56bd4b2343 head—just a glimpse of 4cda19bbbe his profile—before losing consciousness.d4217465f7566a75

Darkness rushed over him 31e6d30975 like a crashing wave.d3a3ce079b5e3c55

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

* * *5fa4f1a27e4fa1ec

Consciousness returned with 5a93f668e6 a sharp, stinging 63c773bd63 pain.cb6757d62fa5028f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ugh…”136a3a4829fa663f

As he groaned softly 404b81bb4d and tried to shift f909478ffc his body, he felt 8b979886ab a hand pressing down 4d06288a53 on his shoulder, gently 98b777b5f1 keeping him still.cbc0611d92905f46

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Try to sleep 0bc67ebe98 a bit longer. It’s going to hurt.”699ec6b8079d6d92

The voice was 9b38bbc4ae incredibly tender. Hearing it, 712 almost 2354a962f3 slipped right back into 3a0d96408d sleep. But then the 98569eb86a final image before cd274e0138 he had passed 996719b884 out came back 2cf921f788 to him, jolting 55adc0e357 his eyes wide 128c55e3d8 open. The flash of a fb1ced768e blade, the ear-splitting scream, 06a47c98e3 and then…fca66de607a9c3ee

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Where am I?”4d8a2d6acaf7abf5

712 opened his fc84a99f96 eyes and looked cf7c8a7fb4 around. The place was familiar. It was the filthy a7884f0d58 motel room where he 6faec5f209 had faced the monster.12975156d9568b0a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Room 402.’5407712b240fe347

As he a1fb3ba23f recalled the b9c11adb02 unknown creature b58047da6f that had 2c9cef59e4 been here, 6b15976d3e his body 6e90af9a98 began to cce21f7428 tremble uncontrollably. A warm hand 67179376e8 began to gently 3efc559cc6 pat his chest.653a1b8b15c45140

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Don’t be afraid. There’s nothing here anymore.”310b7321cc5d6def

712 looked 6e7f531e66 up to 993896df58 see the b0c89a37a1 owner of fdf9d722d3 the hand. It was a handsome 8347a5bda6 man with a clean, aeefde6a40 neat face. His features were bold, 08e17cbcb1 and his eyes sharp—enough 388308a8c9 to come off as bb699d5c71 a bit edgy—but he efca5aad98 had an air of ac89f2696e integrity, a face that 65ebb372d6 anyone would instinctively find 02544b27e1 trustworthy.983936198c46cc97

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“This place aeb5a773c1 is safe.”9b9a82b233c69b59

The man’s voice was firm, inspiring confidence. As he spoke, 712 felt the tension in his muscles slowly melt away. He looked up at the man’s gentle face and felt a sense of familiarity.2ee5d0d2430f60a2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘A face I feel 394f51bb0b like I’ve seen somewhere 81048a2c49 before…’6c459132baba3ef3

And before long, the d2c65998d8 memory returned fully.327586ef615918b3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘He’s the one who 0d2600dc1a saved me!’a9fcc7e5d7d02a8a

It was 3f0a4be677 the man 2cac1f9402 he had 1ddffd8e2b seen just 02bf12a252 before he 0484e87023 passed out. His expression caeec60537 now was de91009250 so different e88b1b5b94 from when 3195e6c6d2 he had 7612674d86 faced the 7fc8d498e0 monster that c0c0af8d1c 712 hadn’t ec6fa9196c recognized him d4dedf57c5 at first. Recalling that moment, e7f1d4884c he asked in 8b5c4ad41c a shaky voice,fcd0dc6e1592d341

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“This place… it’s c0ddebcf67 really safe?”f067854e9e30b616

The man shrugged 714bd7b8f6 one shoulder.0d2d7cca5c6f4a70

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“The creature e3b70d104b that tried 50b1716d72 to swallow bedb4c1bc8 you? It’s dead 3c1e3368ff and gone.”282630a57ca178de

“How?”b6e769b07eb28c49

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Well… I stabbed f4c787eb07 it with a 073db863c3 kitchen knife?”0f9daccf2b4b6109

He said it 9605507ff1 casually, but 712 0f83b5f057 vividly remembered the aad3cf618e monster’s grip crushing 8ebe721a43 his ankle. And that unbearable 90ac917ea9 pain as his 775397f64f bones shattered…ecefed5fa7181ca4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The memory brought his 6d3785f982 attention back to his 7386234005 ankle.9dae76193a370184

“My ankle…?”277b675e0857be41

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It’s broken. The swelling’s bad, 5b8656aa24 so I’m icing c0404efbe1 it. Just stay still. I already gave you 544eb1a126 a painkiller… but does ed9856063d it still hurt a b61625e58c lot?”7308bc47bc07cdb6

The man gently fba55df390 brushed 712’s cheek 12577a0436 and checked his bdfa439b0a expression from different f82e12363f angles. The touch was embarrassing, de8d68f6b2 and 712 instinctively turned 9dda701a15 his head away. Truthfully, he wanted f99286113c to push the 7973286879 man’s hand away, 14166eaa32 but both of ed7cf7ee7d his hands were 8825135861 tightly wrapped in c0d88299e4 handkerchiefs—probably because of d5ab1c38db the missing fingernails—making 06b4ba277e movement difficult.ce8dcf39b7e5bf73

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The man seemed to c11d1a5d80 notice his discomfort and 6fd9227356 gave an awkward smile.0b58e837a2e04474

“Why don’t 5084973d60 you try 00810276a9 to sleep e2291de8ef some more? You’ve only been 3c657d7b9a out for three a706d97be4 hours. Resting a few d6d5450f16 more hours would a7ed16f8e2 help you recover 67953bad27 better.”f93588f2624951e3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I don’t think so.”8b66e2333c7484d8

712 shook aae7ffb9b7 his head. His whole body ached, f852af9489 his fingertips throbbed, and e90a962b12 his legs were so 20783c0a2b numb he could barely b2f6c05608 feel them—but his mind 7b601d726a was crystal clear. He was fully awake 6c684ce238 now.3fc97343282a3e49

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I… can’t sleep.”750ee9cc69b303de

He almost used 5f0b5521b4 informal speech naturally, 7efeb182de mimicking the man, 73fefb17ff but quickly switched 5fffe47761 to polite language, 63ceb3fce6 realizing he didn’t 2b09226adb even know who da36cd93e5 this person was. The man’s eyes widened.96c71e1e24bf909d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Seriously? Polite speech? Were you always this 4500bc678d formal?”d80ff69d5d5c1e9e

“‘Always,’ you say?”4f4a2ec39200dc4b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The man chuckled. His tall, handsome 7baed3378d face lit up 047b7636f9 with a smile, bacee1f1fa and it was 65435ec645 genuinely charming.fc6aa414f7e043ac

 61665356d5e212d3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com