MLCD Chapter 6.4

When morning came, for some reason Shavonne wasn’t thrown out. He was just dragged off somewhere. What is it? What’s going on? He asked in confusion, but none of the people dragging Shavonne answered. They didn’t even twitch an eyebrow, as if they couldn’t hear Shavonne’s voice.

The place Shavonne was thrown into was a dark basement of the penitentiary. Before he could even process what happened, the door slammed shut in front of him. He tried to open it, but it wouldn’t budge. Given that it didn’t move even when he pushed and kicked it, it seemed to be locked from the outside.

He thought they might be planning to starve him to death, but that wasn’t it either. When the hands of his watch pointed to noon, a glass of water and a shriveled piece of bread came through the door slot. ‘What are you guys trying to do with me?’ He shouted at the door slot, but there was no answer.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

He thought they might be planning to freeze him to death, but that wasn’t it either. When the hands of his watch pointed to six in the evening, a blanket came through the door slot. This time, instead of asking what they were trying to do, he reached through the door slot and grabbed the man’s ankle. ‘Open the door, please open it!’ He cried desperately, but all he got in return was a cold kick shaking off Shavonne’s hand.

And so, he was confined. On the first day of confinement, Shavonne vomited twice and dry heaved eighteen times. Some weird stench covering the penitentiary basement provoked it. It was a smell so disgusting that even Shavonne, with his strong stomach, found it unbearable.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It smelled like rotting meat, or like spoiled milk. He couldn’t tell exactly what it was, but it was definitely a smell that made him nauseous involuntarily. He thought it might subside with time, but he was mistaken. The smell got worse day by day. The number of times Shavonne vomited or dry heaved increased accordingly.

If they don’t intend to starve me to death or freeze me to death, could they perhaps be planning to suffocate me to death? At first he thought it was a ridiculous delusion of his, but after suffering from the nauseating stench for three days, he began to think his guess might be on point.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Shavonne discovered the identity of the stench on the fourth day of his confinement. There were people in the four large coffins placed in the penitentiary basement. More precisely, dead people slowly but inevitably decomposing due to the cold. That was it. The smell that had made Shavonne nauseous for four days was the smell of corpses, the smell of death.

He ended up having to pay a high price for his pity. It was too heavy a price to pay for someone who had no family, friend, lover, nor anything.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

***

On the seventh day of confinement, he left the basement.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

The same people who had taken Shavonne to the basement last time now took him to the third floor of the annex. ‘Where are we going now? Huh? What are you trying to do to me?’ He asked, terrified, but none of the people escorting Shavonne answered. They didn’t even twitch an eyebrow, as if they couldn’t hear Shavonne’s voice.

Everything was the same as last time. Except for one thing – the place he was thrown into was not a dark basement, but a bright living room.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“You’re Shavonne, right?”

A voice was heard. Someone was sitting on the sofa, looking up at Shavonne. He was wearing a uniform, but unlike the ones ordinary guards wore, it had several emblems on the chest. As soon as he saw the emblems, Shavonne realized that he was the warden of Lute Penitentiary.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A private meeting with the warden. It was surprising, but come to think of it, maybe it wasn’t so surprising. Shavonne had already spent ‘special’ time with the vice warden for five hours. There was no reason the warden couldn’t do the same.

Shavonne didn’t answer. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say he couldn’t answer. Whenever someone sought out Shavonne, terrible things always happened. Being cursed at by guards, beaten by the vice warden, confined in the penitentiary basement with five rotting corpses… He couldn’t even imagine how terrible things would be this time.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Sit down.”

The warden nodded towards the opposite side of the sofa. It was a warm gaze that could open anyone’s heart, but Shavonne didn’t let his guard down. That warmth could be a lie. He didn’t know that at first, but now, after spending just over a month here, he knew. Painfully well.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Why? What are you trying to do to me now?”

Being confined in a basement with corpses for a week was enough. No, it was more than enough. He didn’t want to suffer anymore.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Don’t be afraid. I’m just here to make a proposal.”

Don’t be afraid, he says. After beating Shavonne to a pulp for five hours and confining him in a basement with corpses for a week, how could he say ‘don’t be afraid’? As Shavonne struggled to swallow the rising anger, the warden continued. It was a somewhat abrupt statement, cut off at both ends.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Have you ever raised a dog that doesn’t obey?”

Shavonne didn’t answer. Partly because he wasn’t sure if the dog the warden was talking about was a real dog or not, but mostly because he didn’t want to say anything to him. However, the warden spoke as if he didn’t care whether Shavonne answered or not, leaning back comfortably against the sofa.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“As you know, such dogs are dangerous. They can attack people. To prevent them from attacking innocent people, training is essential. That’s why there are professional trainers who specialize in training disobedient dogs.”

“…”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“The problem is, unlike those dogs, there was no one suitable to train the ‘dog’ in this penitentiary.”

The warden placed his clasped hands on his knee. The shape his hands formed was a rounded triangle.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Until you appeared, that is.”

An ominous premonition flashed through his mind. No way. Surely not. As if to mock his desperate denial of the premonition, the warden went to the point in the next moment. He was so blunt that his statement left no room for doubt.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Do you understand? I’m proposing that you become the trainer of the ‘dog’.”

“Training? What kind of training do I have to do?” His insides were burning. Words poured out without thinking. “Sit? Stand? Hand? You want me to teach that kind of stuff? He understands everything. If you all just stop tormenting him, he can…”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“No.”

The warden cut him off. With a resolute smile on his lips.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m not asking you to teach ‘that kind of stuff’.”

The smile was cold. As if it had just brushed past him, a chill went through Shavonne’s spine.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What you need to teach is what the dog itself is.”

He said he had to teach him that he was a dog. He said he had to teach him that he existed only to obey his master’s orders. He said he had to teach him that he was nothing else besides that.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Words wouldn’t come out. Open, close, close, open, open again, close again. He could do nothing but silently move his mouth.

Tell Lewellyn that he’s a dog?

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Tell him that he exists only to obey his master’s orders?

Tell Lewellyn, to whom Shavonne personally read books, taught letters, and gave a name, that he’s nothing without obedience?

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

…How?

“You can do it. The dog would believe he was a ghost if you told him so…”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“So what you’re saying is,” Shavonne cut him off. “You want me to use his trust in me? Use it to make him docilely follow your orders?”

The warden stared at Shavonne intently. His pitch-black eyes made it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“You don’t want to?”

“Of course I don’t…”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“I can give you everything you want.”

Flinch. Shavonne’s body stiffened.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Family, friends, a lover. And enough money to live your whole life without lifting a finger.”

“…”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“You still don’t want to?”

“…”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“Is that dog worth giving up everything you wanted?”

Is mere pity, not affection for family, friendship for friends, or love for a lover, really worth that much?

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Either betray your conscience for a moment to enjoy a wonderful life, or keep your conscience for a moment to live a miserable life forever. The former made more sense. Just once. If he chose to close his eyes just this once, Shavonne would have everything he wanted. Family, friends, a lover, and enough money to live comfortably for life.

Okay, let’s say he keeps his conscience. Then what does Shavonne gain? Looking back on 20 years of experience, all Shavonne got for keeping his conscience was being excluded, violence, and all kinds of troubles. There was no guarantee it wouldn’t be the same this time.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Maybe he could live a happy life. No, he would. With family, friends, a lover, and enough money to live comfortably for life, how could he be unhappy?

He might live a life where he looked forward to each day. A life without worrying about what might happen, what to eat, what to wear. A life where he looked forward to tomorrow before going to bed, and looked forward to today after waking up.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

If only he would use the person who trusted and followed him in this moment.

But…

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”

Those golden eyes came to his mind. He remembered the nose that bumped when they kissed, and the dry lips. He remembered the gaze that looked at Shavonne while pointing to the ‘O:)’ doodle, and the voice that kept calling Shavonne’s name endlessly, ‘Shavonne, Shavonne, Shavonne,’ without any purpose.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Could he really live forgetting all that?

Could he enjoy a ‘wonderful life’ with family, friends and a lover, pushing all those memories to the back of his mind?

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

…He wasn’t confident. He even doubted the expression ‘wonderful life.’ How could a life where he betrayed the only person on his side in the world be called a ‘wonderful life’?

‘But…’

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

But, but, but. Countless “buts” floated around in his head. He didn’t know what would happen if he chose to betray his conscience, and he didn’t know what would happen if he chose to keep it. The only thing he could be sure of was that he would regret whichever he chose.

He didn’t want to choose. He didn’t want to regret, he didn’t want to suffer, he didn’t want to be tormented.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

He wanted to run away. He wanted to escape from this terrifying crossroads where he would regret whatever he chose.

“Give me a week… Give me time.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His throat burned at the barely uttered words. It was hot as if someone had grabbed the end and seared it with fire.

“I’ll give you an answer in a week.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Avoid it. That was the best decision twenty year old Shavonne could make.

That day. Shavonne was guided to a cozy room on the second floor of the annex. With a width and length of at least forty steps, a luxurious bed made of glossy ebony, a shiny bedside table, and even T company’s new model gramophone gleaming in gold on top…

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was surprising that such a cozy room existed in Lute Penitentiary, which had looked so desolate. He heard it was a room for hosting distinguished guests coming to Lute Penitentiary. High-ranking officials, nobles, families of Lute Penitentiary’s founders… Shavonne was receiving the same treatment as them.

Of course, it wasn’t something to be entirely happy about. Unlike the high-ranking officials, nobles, and families of Lute Penitentiary’s founders, there was an intention behind Shavonne receiving such treatment. It was the warden’s kindness to make Shavonne answer ‘I’ll do as you say’ in a week.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

In other words, it was a carrot and stick approach. Confining Shavonne in the basement with corpses was the stick, and providing this luxury bedroom only available to distinguished guests was the carrot.

However, despite all this, Shavonne had no intention of being persuaded by carrots and sticks.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“…”

He turned off the lights in the room to make it look like he was asleep. All of them, not missing even a single candle that emitted a faint light barely enough to distinguish objects. Of course, he didn’t forget to draw the curtains.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

The time now was 1 AM. It was just when the night roll call was starting. Except for those on duty patrolling, all guards would be participating in the roll call. There was no better moment than now to escape from the penitentiary.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Shavonne squeezed between the curtains and opened the window. He opened it just enough to stick his head out, as opening it too wide might get him caught.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Beyond the window was pitch black. Were there no lights on anywhere? The entire penitentiary was immersed in darkness without a single streak of light except for two places – the watchtower and the guard post. Thanks to the watchtower and guard post serving as landmarks, Shavonne could roughly guess where the main gate would be.

However, to go out through the main gate, he had to pass in front of either the watchtower or the guard post. Which way is safer? Shavonne started to punch the calculator in his head while carefully observing the entire landscape of the penitentiary.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Shavonne was wearing a guard’s uniform. In other words, from a distance, he looked no different from any other guard. This meant that from the 5-story watchtower, there was a high chance they would think Shavonne was a guard on patrol, a guard out for a night stroll, or a guard looking for the outdoor toilet.

But the guard post was a different story. The chance of not recognizing Shavonne at the guard post, which was at ground level, where they could see the faces of passing people from just about 5 meters away, was close to zero.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Let’s pass in front of the watchtower. Having made up his mind, Shavonne quickly jumped out of the window and hung onto the wall pipe after making sure no one was watching. He almost missed it, but thanks to forcefully inserting his fingers into the pipe joint just before losing balance, he was barely able to cling to the pipe. Fortunately, it hadn’t snowed recently. If there had been even a little moisture left on the pipe joint, his hands would have slipped without fail.

He started to carefully climb down the pipe. It was only two stories high, but looking down made him dizzy. What if the room the warden had given wasn’t on the second floor? If it had been on the third or fourth or fifth floor… Then he would have given up out of fear as soon as he opened the window, let alone trying to climb down the pipe.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

He landed on the ground. Crunch. There was a small sound of half-frozen grass being crushed under his feet. 1:12 AM. By this time, the guards should have finished checking Zone C. They wouldn’t come back to a place they’ve already checked, so it seemed appropriate to move through Zone C.

Hiding behind trees as cover if he sensed any presence. Lowering his body flat if he heard any sound, determining whether it was getting closer or farther away. After passing through Zone C like that, he was already in front of the watchtower. The light on the upper floor of the watchtower was illuminating the darkness like a lighthouse.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Shavonne swallowed hard. If he could just pass this safely, he could escape from the penitentiary. Either betray his conscience for a moment to enjoy a wonderful life, or keep his conscience for a moment to live a squalid life forever. He could escape from the crossroads of choice where he would be unhappy no matter what he chose.

For a moment, Lewellyn’s face flashed before his eyes, but Shavonne pretended not to notice. It was a crucial moment. He didn’t want to disturb his mind by thinking about Lewellyn unnecessarily.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

He started to walk towards the watchtower. Slowly, so as not to look suspicious. But not too slow. One step, two steps. With each step his feet touched the ground, his whole body felt heavier. For a moment, Shavonne wished he were an insect. If he were an insect, then he wouldn’t have to worry so much about being caught by the eyes of the watchtower.

He was already drenched in sweat, even though he had barely passed halfway. It was so severe that if someone had been nearby, they might have asked, ‘Why are you sweating so much?’ Until now, he hadn’t realized that fear consumed so much mental energy… His legs were not just trembling, but about to give out, but he couldn’t show it until he was out of the watchtower’s sight. No, he shouldn’t show it. Shavonne desperately maintained a proper posture while clenching his teeth. That’s when it happened.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Mr. Shavonne?”

His feet stopped.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Aren’t you Shavonne?”

A voice that seemed to have gained certainty came from behind. Shavonne couldn’t turn around. His body had frozen as if he had fallen into a polar sea. Thousands upon thousands of thoughts surged in like a rising tide and receded like an ebbing tide.. His mind was blank. It was all just white.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Coming out alone at this hour, I thought the warden said he wouldn’t let you go out, but I guess that wasn’t the case.”

The voice came from ten steps behind.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“How did you persuade the warden to change his mind?”

Eight steps behind.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Or…”

Five steps behind.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Did you come out without permission?”

Three steps behind.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And… a hand was placed on his shoulder. It was that hand. The hand that had shaken Shavonne awake in the carriage, saying, ‘Mr. Shavonne, wake up.’ It was the man who had brought Shavonne to Lute Penitentiary.

The moment he realized this, his body started moving on its own. Before he even thought about doing it, his arm was already shaking off the man. Before he even decided to do it, his hand was already pushing down the staggering man. Before he was even aware of doing it, his legs were already moving. He was running desperately. He was fleeing towards the main gate.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

He knew it was a foolish act, but he couldn’t help it. If he had done nothing, he would have been caught by the man who had noticed the situation without even putting up a fight. There was no choice but to run away. Yes, even though he knew it would be for nothing.

He heard shouting. And then the sound of running. Footsteps. The sound of dirt. The sound of grass being trampled and stones being kicked. Light burst above his head. He was out of breath up to his chin. He felt the taste of blood near his throat, but Shavonne couldn’t rest. No, he couldn’t afford to rest.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

The choice that would make him unhappy no matter what he chose was chasing closely behind Shavonne. Even if it meant dying from his lungs bursting, he shouldn’t be caught by it.

The main gate had come into view. Just as he was about to spur on his running, it happened. With a thud, the back of his head ached. His legs gave way, and before he knew it, his body collapsed. I need to escape, I need to escape… Despite repeating it like a mantra in his mouth, his body wouldn’t budge. His vision was blurry. The main gate and the yellow light enveloping it were flickering. That yellow light. The eyes of the person who had looked up at Shavonne in that cramped room not even eight steps wide or long had exactly that light…

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With that thought, his consciousness faded. Then, there was only nothing.

Shavonne’s options had changed. From ‘Enjoy a wonderful life at the cost of abandoning your conscience, or live a miserable life for the price of maintaining your conscience for a moment,’ to ‘Become a trainer or be eliminated.’

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll hear your answer in a week as promised.”

Saying this, the warden locked Shavonne in an empty solitary cell. It was a cramped room, less than eight steps wide and long, like where Lewellyn was confined.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Day One.

Shavonne, who had attempted to escape, was locked in solitary confinement. He regretted his rash escape attempt yesterday. If he hadn’t done that, he could have saved his life. Whether enjoying a wondeful life at the cost of abandoning conscience for a moment, or living a miserable life for the price of maintaining conscience for a moment, life was still life.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

But now? Now that he had upset the warden, wasn’t he explicitly being threatened with death? He hoped the warden’s threat to eliminate him if he didn’t become a trainer was just a bluff, but it probably wasn’t.

Day Two.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

He searched every corner of the cell for a way out, but it was futile. The cell was structured so that escape was impossible unless the door opened. Shavonne banged his forehead against the wall. Thud, thud. Blood stains were left each time he hit, but he didn’t notice.

Day Three.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

A large black insect was stuck to the bloodstain. He struck at it in surprise, but when he removed his hand, there was nothing there. It wasn’t until the end of that day that he realized it had been an illusion.

Day Four.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He had a nightmare about a large black insect entering his mouth. He could vividly feel the sensation of the insect crawling down his esophagus into his intestines. The nightmare ended with him dying as the insect devoured all his internal organs. When he was freed from the nightmare, Shavonne’s entire body was damp with cold sweat.

Day Five.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Shavonne had another nightmare. This one was of him dying in this room that was less than eight steps wide and long. No one mourned his death. No one rejoiced at his death either. With no family, no friends, no lover, nothing, his death was just… forgotten. When he woke from the dream, Shavonne was gasping for breath like crazy.

Last Day.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Shavonne made every effort not to fall asleep. He banged his head against the wall, stomped his feet, pinched his arms. It hurt, but he had no choice. If he fell asleep like this, he might have another scary dream. A dream of dying. A dream of being forgotten after death as if he had never existed in the first place. It was better to sacrifice his sleep than to have that dream.

However, everything has its limits. Even though his head was numb, his feet were swollen, and his arms were so bruised there was nowhere left to pinch, sleep kept creeping in. The multiplication tables Shavonne had been reciting to keep himself awake began to go awry one by one. Starting from the 7 times table, he began to confuse 49 and 56, and by the 8 times table, everything was wrong. The 9 times table was beyond hope.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

It was after he gave the answer of ‘ninety-nine’ to nine times nine that he realized he was reciting the multiplication tables incorrectly. Shavonne felt like an idiot. A real idiot who only realizes he’s done something stupid after time has passed. For Shavonne, who had never thought of himself as particularly smart but had never considered himself that stupid either, there was no worse experience than this.

It was at that moment that a deep resentment started to rise from within his chest, which was overwhelmed by a sensation of uneasiness.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Why do I have to be like this?

Why do I have to be locked up here, unable to even sleep?

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Why me?

Something surged, then subsided, then surged again. It’s because of Lewellyn. If only Lewellyn hadn’t gotten attached to me, I would have never been in this kind of situation. Even though he knew it was an unfair transfer of responsibility, he couldn’t stop. He wanted to blame something. He wanted to resent something. Without that… without that, he simply couldn’t… couldn’t endure all of this.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Shavonne swallowed his nausea. It was disgusting.

The next morning, when the warden asked for Shavonne’s decision, the only answer Shavonne, who feared death, could give was one.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Hearing the answer, the warden smiled faintly.

“A wise choice.”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Shavonne showed no reaction. He remained unchanged even as the warden explained the guidelines and precautions for being a trainer. The only thing moving was his throat. Beyond his Adam’s apple, something that might have been saliva, or nausea, or resentment was struggling to go down.

The first guideline as a trainer was to only use good words and actions towards Lewellyn. That’s why, when Lewellyn asked, ‘Is this a dream?’ when they met again, Shavonne couldn’t answer immediately. He had to deliberately suppress his emotions to prevent the sound of resentment stuck in his throat from bursting out.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“I don’t know. I wish this was a dream.”

Shavonne uttered. He saw Lewellyn’s face turn pale at the cold voice, but Shavonne’s heart remained firmly frozen, not thawing.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Lewellyn, why did I ever pity you?

The second guideline as a trainer was to grant whatever Lewellyn wanted. That’s why, when Lewellyn cautiously approached Shavonne, who wasn’t saying anything, and asked, ‘Can I talk to you?’ he had to accept. When Lewellyn asked, ‘Can’t you look at me?’ ‘Can I come closer?’ He had to say yes every time.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“You can. How could I say no to what you want?”

Lewellyn sat down next to Shavonne. A face unable to hide its joy. Not wanting to see that face, Shavonne tightly closed his eyes.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Lewellyn, why do you have such feelings for a man that unfairly resents you?

Why on earth?

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Lewellyn read 《The Steadfast Tan Soldier》 to him. No, since Shavonne didn’t want to hear it, it would be more accurate to say he read it aloud rather than read it to him. Though Shavonne thought Lewellyn would give up when he got stuck, Lewellyn stumbled through to the end.

“‘…He saw the same children, the same toys were on the table, and there was the same fine castle with the pretty little dancer. That touched the soldier so deeply that he would have cried tin tears, only soldiers never cry.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

He looked at her, and she looked at him, and never a word was said.

Just as things were going so nicely for them, one of the little boys snatched up the tin soldier and threw him into the stove. The tin soldier stood there dressed in flames. He felt a terrible heat, but whether it came from the flames or from his love he didn’t know.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

He looked at the little lady, and she looked at him, and he felt himself melting. But still he stood steadfast, with his musket held trim on his shoulder.

Then the door blew open. A puff of wind struck the dancer. She flew like a sylph, straight into the fire with the soldier, blazed up in a flash, and was gone. The tin soldier melted, all in a lump. The next day, when a servant took up the ashes she found him in the shape of a little tin heart. But of the pretty dancer nothing was left except her spangle, and it was burned as black as a coal.’”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

After finishing reading, Lewellyn put down the book and quickly moved to sit right in front of Shavonne. He lowered his body and stuck out his head to make it easy to pat, but when Shavonne didn’t pat him, he suddenly picked up Shavonne’s hand from the floor. He placed it on his own head and did it himself. Of course, this time too, Shavonne did not pat Lewellyn’s head.

Lewellyn, do you know that you’re no different from the one-legged soldier?

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Can you still act like this even knowing that?

Even knowing that the dancer is nothing more than a paper doll?

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

He wanted to ask. But no sound came from his bitten lips.

The third guideline as a trainer was not to refuse Lewellyn. More precisely, it was not to refuse ‘anything’ from Lewellyn. The warden repeatedly emphasized that even if Lewellyn tried to feed him human flesh, he must never refuse.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

That’s why Shavonne couldn’t push away Lewellyn when he clumsily kissed him saying, ‘I love you.’ I love you, I love you… The endless voice made his mind turbid. To the point where he wanted to forget about resentment and hold Lewellyn’s hands. To the point where he wanted to feel Lewellyn’s body heat. The world became entirely unclear with the impurities piled up like sediment.

Lewellyn, how can you love me?

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

How…

How can you love me so much?

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Someone loved him when even Shavonne himself didn’t. It was unbelievable, but it was true. In this room less than eight steps wide and long, there was a love as heavy as the universe.

They ended up living together. Because of a letter written in crooked handwriting that said, “「Live with me.」

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

They were always together. Except for once a day, just before going to bed.

Every night before bed, Shavonne left the solitary cell. He said he was going out for some fresh air, but in reality, he was going to meet the warden. Shavonne’s daily routine was to report Lewellyn’s condition to the warden every day.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“How was the dog today?”

When the warden asked, Shavonne answered that Lewellyn had blocked his way saying, ‘No, don’t go meet the wind,’ when Shavonne said, ‘I’ll go out and get some fresh air.’ That Lewellyn had turned pale when Shavonne got angry and told him to move aside. After hearing the answer, the warden would either silently nod while writing something on a chart, or raise his hand to stop Shavonne’s words and then probe into the details of the situation.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When he returned to the solitary cell, Lewellyn was waiting. Sometimes quietly. Sometimes desperately pleading not to be late while clutching Shavonne’s clothes. Shavonne wanted to ask. If you knew that I was the person who will ‘kill’ you, would you still act like this?

Killing didn’t just mean taking a life. Taking away one’s sense of self was also killing. That night, when Lewellyn crawled into Shavonne’s blanket, Shavonne looked down at the sleeping face of the person he had to kill.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Now, Shavonne didn’t even know what to do.

To live, to avoid being eliminated by the penitentiary, he had to turn Lewellyn into a dog. He had to teach Lewellyn that he was a dog, that he existed only to obey his master’s orders, nothing more, nothing less. He had to kill the Lewellyn who was a human being.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

But could I do that to Lewellyn?

Do I even dare to do that to Lewellyn as he loves me and sees me like his universe?

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Choked up, Shavonne forcefully suppressed something rising within him. As a result, his stomach twisted, as if something was stuck. Feeling like he would suffocate if he didn’t release it, Shavonne opened his mouth. Afraid that Lewellyn might hear him even in his dreams if he spoke too loudly, he spoke in a voice smaller than a whisper.

Lewellyn, I…

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I wish you… didn’t love me.

He thought the tightness in his chest would ease after saying it, but he was mistaken. It became even more suffocating. Shavonne finally realized that what was tormenting him wasn’t words, but himself, and he closed his mouth.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Die. Or live a life worse than death. The crossroads of choice where either option led to unhappiness came to Shavonne again. But unlike before, this time he couldn’t compromise or run away. It was hell.

It was difficult to maintain sanity in hell.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Shavonne became stranger day by day. Some nights he lay facing Lewellyn, wanting to see the face of the only person in the world who loved him, and other nights he turned his back on Lewellyn, not wanting to see the face of the person who had put him in this dilemma.

Some nights he wanted Lewellyn to lie beside him, lifting the blanket and beckoning him to come. Other nights he threw off the blanket, unbearably disgusted by Lewellyn lying next to him and by himself for allowing it.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Some nights he dreamed of grabbing Lewellyn by the collar and spitting, ‘All because of you, because of you…’ and other nights he dreamed of holding Lewellyn’s hand and going for a cozy walk in a sunny park.

The alternating manic and depressive episodes devastated Shavonne’s mind. He soared to the sky and plummeted to the ground, over and over again. Even when his body shattered into pieces, it didn’t end. His shattered body was crushed, and even when it scattered like dust, it didn’t end. Every moment hurt like when he fell down the stairs at thirteen. With each step out of the fifteen, it felt like every bone in his body was breaking, and now he was feeling just like that every time he soared and plummeted.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But unfortunately, that was nothing compared to the sudden pain that now struck Shavonne.

“I want to become Shavonne.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Suddenly, Lewellyn spoke. Shavonne’s hand, which had been spreading out the blanket, stopped.

“I want to become Shavonne. I want to speak like Shavonne, think like Shavonne, move like Shavonne. I want to wear a hat like Shavonne. I want to wear a uniform like Shavonne. I want to wear shoes like Shavonne. I want to have black hair and green eyes like Shavonne. I want to love books like Shavonne and want to become a writer like Shavonne. I want to be like Shavonne…”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Shavonne cut him off.

“You want to become me?”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Mn.”

Lewellyn nodded. Shavonne couldn’t say anything for a moment. Me? Not the Warden, not the Vice Warden, not someone else, but me? Even though he knew it was something that could only be said out of ignorance, his throat felt strangely tight.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Even though I… don’t have a family?”

Shavonne’s voice cracked. Lewellyn answered.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“Mn.”

“…And no friends?”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He asked just in case, but the answer was the same this time too. “Mn.”

A face that seemed to say it didn’t matter whether Shavonne had family or friends, as long as he was Shavonne. Shavonne couldn’t bear that face.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Shavonne was too inadequate a human to be someone others aspired to be. He had no family, no friends, no lover. He had no money, no learned knowledge, no talent to boast of. If you have nothing, you should at least have a conscience, but he didn’t even have that. Shavonne wished Lewellyn would take back his words. ‘I don’t want to become Shavonne.’ He hoped he would say that.

“It’s not just that I have no friends or family. I have no money either. I ended up working here because I had to, to avoid freezing to death on the streets. It wasn’t out of a sense of mission or adventurousness. I just… had no money.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Lewellyn just looked at Shavonne without saying anything. Shavonne strained his voice further and continued.

“I’m uneducated. I don’t have any special talents. I’m not handsome enough to make a living with my face, not smart enough to avoid being exploited, and not skilled enough to be just a regular person. I’m just… nothing.”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Lewellyn, who had been staring at Shavonne, opened his mouth. Still with a face that seemed to say it didn’t matter what Shavonne had or didn’t have, as long as he was Shavonne.

“I want to become Shavonne.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Shavonne couldn’t say anything. It hurt too much. If the pain he had experienced until now was like his body breaking when he fell down the stairs, what he was experiencing now was… pain without a body. Yes. It felt like his entire body had disappeared. A phantom pain was consuming the empty space.

That night., in the midst of the extreme phantom pain that didn’t subside even as time passed, Shavonne stared down at Lewellyn’s sleeping face. Suddenly, he thought that he wouldn’t be able to kill Lewellyn. Because if he killed Lewellyn, the whole world would become a point of pain.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

He would be reminded of Lewellyn, who had never seen the sky, when he looked at the sky, and he would be reminded of Lewellyn, who had never stepped on the ground, when he looked at the ground. Every time he saw the sun and moon, he would be reminded of Lewellyn, who had never seen them.

All of that would hurt Shavonne. When he fell down the stairs, he was immobilized for just over a month, but this time he would be immobilized for the rest of his life.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

― Shavonne doesn’t need to be hurt.

He remembered something Lewellyn had said once. He was right. Shavonne didn’t need to feel that pain.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Shavonne stood up. Afraid that Lewellyn might be cold if left alone, he covered the sleeping Lewellyn with a warm blanket before starting to walk towards the door.

Clank. The sound of the iron door opening and closing echoed in the silence. Then it became quiet.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

He said he couldn’t do it.

At first, the Warden didn’t understand. ‘Do you mean you can’t follow the guidelines?’ The Warden asked, questioning which guideline did he have trouble with among watching one’s words and actions in front of the dog, granting whatever the dog wanted, and not refusing anything the dog wanted. Shavonne replied that the problem wasn’t with the guidelines, but with this job itself.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

The Warden said nothing, but it was only for a moment. When the silence ended, the Warden’s voice was as sharp as if it would cut if touched.

“So you’re saying you can’t do your job as a trainer?”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Shavonne silently nodded.

“…Do you know what that means?”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Of course he did. If you don’t become a trainer, you die. The pressure that had been pushing Shavonne to the edge all along was this, and he couldn’t help but know it.

In the past, Shavonne had agreed to become a trainer because he was afraid of death and the oblivion that followed. It was the same now. Even though he was saying he would quit being a trainer, he was still afraid. If anything had changed, it was just one thing. Unlike the Shavonne of the past, the Shavonne of now knew that there was something scarier than death and the oblivion that followed it.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

What should we call it? Pity? It was such a big feeling that it was more than pity. Affection for family? It was too cold to be affection. Friendship for a friend? It was too hot to be a friendship. Love for a lover? It was too deep to be love.

This emotion was too different from those you could call ‘similar’. This emotion wasn’t something that made you feel good just by holding it, like those. Rather, like a wound, it was something that caused constant pain just by holding it.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He thought every emotion had a name, but apparently that wasn’t the case. This emotion didn’t fit the names of fear, self-loathing, or remorse, let alone the ones mentioned earlier.

But one thing was certain. Because of this emotion, he could no longer be a trainer.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Shavonne answered.

“Yes. I know.”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

The Warden said it would be a mistake to think that his ‘elimination’ would be smooth. He said that much more severe hardships than what Shavonne had endured so far – being beaten, spending time with corpses, or being locked in solitary confinement – would be waiting.

At this threat, Shavonne just silently looked at the Warden’s face without saying anything. Just as footprints don’t leave marks on hardened cement, neither persuasion nor threats work on a hardened heart.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Just as the Warden was about to speak, a commotion was heard from outside the door. It was 2 AM, so this wasn’t a time when it should be noisy unless a major accident like a fire had occurred. Before he could think about what was happening, the door burst open.

A guard, who had clearly come running, looked up at the Warden while sweating profusely. He seemed to want to speak, but he was out of breath and couldn’t open his mouth. Just as he was about to ask what was wrong, the sound that the guard squeezed out like a death cry pierced Shavonne’s ears.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“Warden, the dog…”

Dog. There’s only one being called that in the penitentiary.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

But Lewellyn should be in solitary confinement right now. Unless someone went in at this hour, there shouldn’t be any problem… As Shavonne was thinking this, he suddenly felt a chill down his spine. Had he closed the door properly when he left the solitary cell? Clank, once when opening, once when closing. The clicking sound that should have been heard twice seemed to have been heard only once.

Then, could it be…

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

― No.

― Don’t go meet the wind.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

― If Shavonne doesn’t come back, I can’t sleep.

There was no doubt. It was because of Shavonne. Lewellyn, unable to wait any longer, had come to find Shavonne himself.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

His legs wobbled as if about to collapse, but he managed to steady himself. He couldn’t give up yet. If you’ve broken something, you should fix it before you leave. Shavonne intended to fix Lewellyn, who had always been made to wait for Shavonne. Even if it was impossible to fix him, he intended to do as much as he could.

He needed to go in front of him and abandon Lewellyn.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He knew it was a cruel thing to do, but he had no choice. It was even crueler to make Lewellyn wait for a Shavonne who wouldn’t come. If he couldn’t avoid causing pain, he wanted to give the lesser evil rather than the worst.

Perhaps Lewellyn might resent Shavonne. No, he would undoubtedly resent him. But he wasn’t afraid. Because it was better for Lewellyn to resent Shavonne than to wither away day by day in endless waiting. Resentment could become a driving force for life. Shavonne just… wanted Lewellyn to live on.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Where is he?”

Shavonne asked. The guard, not understanding, just blinked. Shavonne asked again.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“Where is ‘the dog’ right now?”

First floor lobby. Lewellyn was not far from where the guard had pointed.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Shavonne was able to come here because the Warden had permitted it. The Warden’s position was that Shavonne needed to meet with Lewellyn to calm him down.

However, the Warden didn’t trust Shavonne—and for good reason, as Shavonne had betrayed the Warden before—so he was to be monitored. The Warden’s threat that he’d get a hole in his head if he tried anything funny was particularly painful.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Lewellyn’s wandering gaze stopped on Shavonne’s face.

“…Shavonne.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The voice calling was feeble. Suddenly, Shavonne recalled when Lewellyn first spoke. The voice was so weak it made one wonder if he was sick, but Shavonne was overjoyed. Well, of course, the being Shavonne had been claiming was human had spoken like a human for the first time, so he couldn’t help but be happy. Suddenly, he became curious. Would he be able to feel this happy if he had family, friends, or a lover?

…I don’t know.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

His life would probably end before he could have family, friends, or a lover, so he’d probably never know. While thinking this, he saw Lewellyn approaching. Had he injured his leg in the meantime? It caught his eye that he seemed to be both dragging and limping.

“I found you,” Lewellyn said as they faced each other. “Let’s go back to our home.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Our home. It was a phrase Shavonne had never used. Shavonne never had a ‘home.’ The orphanage was just an orphanage, and the inn where he often stayed, with eight people sharing a room, was just an inn. The dormitory in the penitentiary was the same. From birth until now, Shavonne had never not been a stranger.

But…

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That place, not even eight steps wide or long, without a desk, chair, or even a bed. That place with a sturdy iron door as thick as an adult’s arm. Was that Shavonne’s ‘home’?

“…”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

No, whether it’s ‘our home’ or not doesn’t matter now. Shavonne stopped his thoughts. No matter what he heard, Shavonne wouldn’t change his decision.

“Why should I?”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Shavonne used formal speech, as he had done before they started talking. It was a kind of safe distance. It was a protective barrier that minimized each other’s wounds. Lewellyn flinched, but only for a moment, then he gathered courage and opened his mouth.

“I like Shavonne.”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“…”

“I love Shavonne.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“…”

Shavonne, deliberately ignoring the pain below his chest, deliberately ignoring the weight pressing up to his chin, repeated to himself. No matter what you hear, don’t change your decision. Yes, no matter what you hear.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Shavonne opened his mouth.

“Are you out of your mind?”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Something caught in his throat. It hurt.

“You like me? You love me? Why, why don’t you go out of here and live with me? In a red brick house, with a fireplace, and we’ll even get a dog. What should we name the dog? Happy? Or Clover?”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

He remembered Lewellyn once dreaming of leaving the facility. He remembered Lewellyn dreaming of escaping from the cell not even eight steps wide or long and walking in a wider world, and he remembered dreaming of being by Lewellyn’s side.

It was sentimental, and Shavonne himself was reluctant to think about it, but once, just once, he had imagined such a thing. A dream of living with Lewellyn in a red brick house. A dream where Lewellyn naps in front of the fireplace and Shavonne dozes off. A dream where the crackling sound of burning firewood spreads softly through the house like a lullaby.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He was sad to insult that dream in this way. He was daringly sad even though he had no right to be sad.

“Shavonne.”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A very weak voice fell from above.

“Have you… ever loved me?”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Too cold to be affection, too hot to be friendship. Too deep to be fondness. An emotion that, like a wound, causes constant pain just by having it. Lewellyn had named it.

Love. It was love. He thought love was something that made the world beautiful, but there was this kind of love too. Love that makes the world a pain point. Love that feels like you’re bleeding, your flesh is being ripped out, your bones are breaking.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He loved Lewellyn. As family, friend, and lover. Or more than that. As Shavonne’s entire world.

It might have been better to never know than to know so late. But even this knowledge couldn’t change Shavonne’s decision.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

“Never.”

He added.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Not even once.”

He will never know that Shavonne has never not loved him. No, he must not know. That was the best love Shavonne could give.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Are you awake?

I hope you are. I came to say goodbye.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I’m leaving.

I’m going to Bunch.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Bunch is the capital of our country. The capital. Understand? The place where the royal palace is.

It’s a city that has everything. There’s a palace, and a parliament, and a cathedral. There’s a library, an art galleries, and a museum. There are lots of theaters… It’s different from this wasteland.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I’ll be happy there. To the point that I won’t need to dream of anything…

So…

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Don’t wait for me.

I won’t be back.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

No answer came from the other side of the door. Shavonne, who had been staring blankly at the door, slowly stroked the surface of the door with his finger as if Lewellyn, who would be beyond the door, was being stroked.

But that was only for a moment. One step, two steps. Shavonne, who had stepped back, soon turned around and started walking towards the end.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

***

Shavonne didn’t die.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

They said they weren’t granted permission because guards in training fall under the category of civilians, so they couldn’t hastily carry out an execution. However, just because they couldn’t kill him didn’t mean they couldn’t remove him. Instead of killing Shavonne, the facility decided to neutralize Shavonne by erasing his memories and abandoning him in the middle of Bunch. That was the method the facility chose.

The one who explained this was Frasier Fawkes, who introduced himself as a hypnotist. Shavonne, who had been staring blankly at Fawkes, said in a calm voice.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“So it’s as good as dying.”

“You might think so,” Fawkes replied. Shavonne said nothing. Dying or living without remembering Lewellyn. He couldn’t choose which was more terrible.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Fawkes approached. Bending down, he faced Shavonne, who was tied motionless to the chair.

“Close your eyes, Mr. Shavonne.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Shavonne did as he was told.

The smell of mold wafting from everywhere. Squeaking sounds. Something moving, covered in stiff fur, hitting his face as it passes by. An intense headache as if God’s hand was rummaging through his skull. Screams. Death throes.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

And a sleep as deep as death, blackly covering all of that.

In winter, Bunch loses all of its color. The gloomy sky, and the narrow, tall 4-5 story houses packed so densely that the sky can’t be seen, all fade like an old photograph. Only the sounds remained the same. The sound of carriages and horse hooves. Footsteps. The cheap bell sounds every time a door opens and closes. And the sound of cold wind that seems to have blown in from somewhere very far away.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Shavonne opened his eyes.

Being abandoned with his memories removed. That was eight years ago.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And now. Shavonne has returned to where everything began, with his memories restored.

Beyond the iron door, a cell not even eight steps wide or long. The dim light of an incandescent bulb illuminating the inside, the sprinkler on the ceiling and the ventilation pipe on the wall.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

He was here.

The one Shavonne from eight years ago loved and the Shavonne of now loves, was right here.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

***

The flood of memories gave him a headache. It was a strong headache as if a giant’s foot was crushing Shavonne’s head. However, now Shavonne couldn’t clutch his head and groan as he usually did when he had a headache, nor could he close his eyes and wait for the pain to subside.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He didn’t know when the Warden—who turned out to be the man Shavonne had been tracking all this time—would return. He had to move quickly. It wasn’t too late to carefully think about all the memories he had regained 8 years later. Yes, if Shavonne was allowed a ‘later’.

The sack was lying alone in the room. The surface of the sack, with dried blood on it, looked black in the incandescent light. Shavonne realized only then that black blood could be scarier than bright red blood.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Kneeling down, he started to untie the sack. One knot, two knots… No matter how many he untied, there seemed to be no end. If he had a knife, he could have cut it right away… He felt utterly pathetic for only bringing a gun from Fawkes’ house.

The longer it took to open the sack, the worse his impatience grew. Nervousness made Shavonne’s hands tremble, and anxiety made cold sweat break out on the nape of his neck. He thought he could hear the Warden’s footsteps in the distance, like those of an executioner.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

The knot finally came undone just as he was about to faint from impatience. Hurriedly opening the sack, he saw a body covered in blood. The entire body had so much blood that he looked more like a bright red ghost than a person. Lewellyn. His voice came out too small as his throat choked up when calling him. Shavonne swallowed the tears that were welling up to his chin and called out the name of his world as loudly as he could. “Lewellyn, wake up.”

There was no answer. Neither the closed eyes nor the shut lips moved even slightly. Am I too late? Am I… such an unlucky person that I couldn’t even see the moment my whole world left?

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His eyes burned as if scalded, but Shavonne desperately suppressed his tears. He felt that if he cried, it would be like admitting Lewellyn was dead. Not yet… He couldn’t give up hope yet.

He reached for Lewellyn’s pulse. His skin, which was naturally cold, was now colder than ice at this moment. As if it were the temperature of a dead person rather than a living one.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

His heart sank when he felt no pulse at first, but it was only for a moment. The next instant, as if correcting him, he felt a pulse. A very faint pulse that could only be detected if all his senses were on high alert.

Lewellyn is alive.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

As soon as he realized this fact, the future began to take shape. If finding Lewellyn had been Shavonne’s future until now, from now on, escaping this place with Lewellyn would be Shavonne’s future. Even if they died. Yes, even if they died, they couldn’t die in this place that had bound Lewellyn for his entire life and Shavonne for 8 years.

Wake up, Lewellyn. Lewellyn. He called, but Lewellyn didn’t wake. Even when he slapped his cheeks and shook his shoulders, he remained motionless. He was no different from a corpse, except for his pulse. The only option left was to carry him on his back.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Shavonne had experience carrying Lewellyn to the doctor when he had an adverse reaction to medicine. He thought he could carry him on his back without difficulty this time as well, just as he had then, but he was wrong. Was it because he had been through so much, unlike then? When he tried to lift him, his knees buckled. It was fortunate that he had sat down. If he had been standing, he might have sprained his ankle.

Somehow he managed to get Lewellyn on his back, but he couldn’t run. He hoped for miraculous strength, but as always, such good fortune was not granted to Shavonne. A groan escaped from Shavonne’s lips. He could barely take a step, let alone run. But he couldn’t give up. How could he? Lewellyn was his entire world.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

One step, another step. As he struggled to move towards the iron door, he heard a small sound from somewhere. Looking back, he saw a whitish smoke coming out of the sprinkler on the ceiling. He tried not to breathe it in, but it was useless. In the blink of an eye, the smoke that had spread throughout the room also went inside Shavonne’s respiratory system.

His body collapsed. Lewellyn, who he had been carrying, fell and rolled, and Shavonne hit his chin on the floor. Even though he had only breathed it in once, his consciousness quickly faded. No. This can’t happen. I can’t lose consciousness after coming this far.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Shavonne desperately clung to consciousness, painfully digging his nails into the floor. This smoke was probably the gas used to subdue the ‘dog’. To avoid losing consciousness like this, he had to quickly escape this ‘gas chamber’.

But…

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

He was dazed. His mind kept fogging up, fogging up… and fogging up again. It was as if he was in a mist. Just as he was struggling to lift his head towards the iron door, a loud sound of the door opening echoed.

It’s him.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

He has returned.

His back felt cold… A black shadow flickered before his eyes. He thought how nice it would be if this person was a passerby who happened to be here by a one in ten million chance, or even less, but it was a futile wish. The shadow before his eyes was indeed the Warden.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Although he was wearing a gas mask that covered his entire face, Shavonne could recognize him. Unlike his hidden eyes, nose, and mouth, his right ear, tightly wrapped in bandages, was clearly visible. His unfocused gaze fell on the baton in the Warden’s hand. A black baton. It looked exactly like the one Shavonne had threaded a towel through long ago to wipe Lewellyn’s body.

The moment he thought this, a rough hand grabbed Shavonne’s hair and pulled him up. He tried to reach for his gun, but his hand wouldn’t move. Even his joints seemed to be filled with the whitish smoke. The Warden looked down at Shavonne intently. Was it because of the mind-numbing gas? The Warden’s gas mask that filled his vision somehow felt like a repulsive monster without eyes, nose, or mouth.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I thought some rat had crawled in, but it’s a familiar face.”

“Well, only familiar to me, I suppose.” His voice added sarcastically. Nothing had changed from 8 years ago. Just as Shavonne thought this, the Warden let go of his hair. Having lost his support, Shavonne fell face-first onto the floor. He felt crushing pain covering his nose bridge. Meanwhile, the Warden took the gun from Shavonne’s back pocket.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Oh no. Shavonne tried to get up, but the Warden was quicker in stepping on the back of Shavonne’s head to keep him down. A groan burst from Shavonne’s lips. It hurt. It felt like his brain would explode under the weight of the adult man stepping on the back of his head.

“You seem to have prepared thoroughly.” The Warden put the gun in his inner coat pocket. He didn’t seem to care whether Shavonne was groaning or not. A sound like laughter escaped from his mouth. “You came at just the right time. Cutting your throat in front of the dog should be worth the ear.” He added. “And this time, I don’t need anyone’s permission.”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was then that Shavonne’s fingertips moved ever so slightly. With a bam, the Warden’s foot kicked the crown of his head. A groan came from Shavonne’s mouth. Before he could finish groaning, the foot came flying again.

Kicked in the cheek, Shavonne fell back about three steps. His whole body ached. There was no sensation in his ears. Sound came and went as if a broken switch was turning on and off.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

He felt dizzy. His eyes kept closing. He couldn’t tell if it was because drowsiness was overtaking his eyelids, or if a sticky blood membrane was clotting on each eyelash. As the whole world looked like a sea of bright red blood, the Warden was moving away. One step, another step. The Warden was going where Lewellyn was.

Lewellyn was still lying motionless as if dead. The Warden grabbed Lewellyn’s nape and dragged him to the ventilation pipe. Then he took out shackles, connected them to the ventilation pipe, and clamped them on Lewellyn’s ankles.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

It was then that Shavonne realized the Warden wasn’t all talk. ‘Cutting your throat in front of the dog should be worth the ear,’ he had said. The Warden intended to kill Shavonne. And in front of Lewellyn, no less. It was clear without the need to see it that, after that, he would ‘dispose’ of Lewellyn.

He had to stop it.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

But how?

Unlike the Warden who had a gun, a baton, and a gas mask, Shavonne had nothing. The only thing he had was his consciousness, still awake despite the maddening drowsiness.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Would this be enough?

He wasn’t sure, but it was all he had. Shavonne no longer had any thought of avoiding it.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Avoiding it. Throughout his nearly thirty years of life, the path Shavonne always chose was to avoid things. Evade. Running away instead of confronting. By doing so, Shavonne could always save himself. Right, he could save his peace of mind, his pride, and his life.

Just those things.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Once, Lewellyn had said there was nothing as precious as Shavonne. But that was wrong. It was because Lewellyn said he was precious that Shavonne became a precious being. Without Lewellyn, Shavonne was nothing. Shavonne was just… just Shavonne. There was nothing as precious to Shavonne as Lewellyn. Lewellyn was more precious than Shavonne’s own peace of mind, pride, and life.

He would never avoid the situation again like he did 8 years ago.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

To stop the Warden, or more precisely, to grasp even a thread of hope that he could stop the Warden, this was the only way.

“Please spare me.”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Shavonne said.

“If you spare me, I’ll do… I’ll do anything.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Lowering the opponent’s guard. That is the first and last rule needed to turn the tables in an unfavorable situation.

The Warden is in cahoots with Fawkes. Since Fawkes knew that Shavonne and Lewellyn were lovers, it was highly likely that the Warden knew it too. In other words, it was not appropriate to deny that Shavonne and Lewellyn were lovers.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Then…

“I thought you came here knowing you’d risk your life, so this is quite unexpected.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The Warden’s gaze turned to Shavonne. He had an amused look.

“You were trying to save the dog until just now, why did you suddenly change your mind?”

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Behind the Warden, Lewellyn sprawled out like a marionette with cut strings. His eyelids, which had been tightly closed, were slowly opening as if his eyes were trembling. His unfocused golden gaze seemed to be staring into space. What was he looking at? Shavonne, who was facing off against the Warden at this moment? Or Shavonne from 8 years ago, who had entered the room carrying a basket of onions?

“Answer me.”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

The Warden’s voice threw Shavonne back to reality. The cruel reality where he had to face off against a man with a gun, baton, and gas mask with bare hands. Shavonne subtly shifted his gaze to look up at the Warden. More precisely, at the gas mask the Warden was wearing.

He wanted to check if Lewellyn was okay, but he couldn’t look at Lewellyn now. He knew that if he looked at Lewellyn, his composure would surely crumble.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Even without looking, Shavonne could tell that Lewellyn’s gaze had become clearer. His throat was dry. Shavonne wanted to reject Lewellyn without hurting him. If someone heard this, they would say it was nonsense. Just as stabbing with a knife causes bleeding, hitting with a baton causes bruising, and burning with a hot poker damages the skin, hearing a rejection inevitably causes hurt.

But Shavonne wanted to perform this ‘nonsense’. He wanted to reject Lewellyn without hurting him.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“You said… you were going to kill me.”

A trembling voice. But thanks to his slurred pronunciation, it wasn’t too noticeable.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“I came all this way because I needed him. Mrs. Banshee¹ said she’d forgive my debt if I brought him by tomorrow.”

“Banshee?”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

The Warden raised an eyebrow. Shavonne nodded, hoping that Lewellyn would notice this was a lie.

“I needed money to settle down. Mrs. Banshee lent it to me… She wants him.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The Warden said nothing. It was a silence demanding explanation.

“So… I think she wants to play with him.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

Had Lewellyn noticed? He wasn’t sure. If by any chance he didn’t get the code ‘Mrs. Banshee’… Just imagining it sent chills down his spine.

Alright, just one more time. Just one more time to prevent any misunderstanding. Shavonne gathered saliva and swallowed. Fear was creeping down his throat.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

“I borrowed from Mr. Adam Isle to pay back Mr. John Grey, and then borrowed from Mrs. Banshee to pay that back…, so now I’m being pressured…”

“So you’re saying you came all this way because of debt and don’t want to die, is that it?”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Shavonne nodded. The Warden stared down at Shavonne for a moment, but only briefly. Soon, laughter burst from his mouth. It was such a big laugh that he had to wipe the tears that had formed in the corners of his eyes from laughing so hard.

In other words, he was laughing at hin.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Mockery fell upon Shavonne’s head, saying that even for a dog, it was too foolish to stake one’s life on such an idiot, showing a complete lack of judgment. Did he believe what Shavonne said? Judging by the way he was tilting his head back and laughing heartily while holding his stomach, it seemed he did believe it… but it wasn’t really clear how much he believed.

If quantified, with an enemy being 0 and a friend being 10, Shavonne would probably be around 3. Three. The position of a traitor, yet a pawn that the Warden could freely manipulate. Wondering if he could attack, Shavonne discreetly observed the Warden’s movements. Although his guard was lowered due to laughter, it wasn’t to the extent that could be called a weakness. He still had to wait for the right moment.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Just as the laughter seemed to stop, it started again, and when it seemed to really stop this time, it began once more. This went on for quite a while. Finally, after managing to stop laughing, the Warden turned his head towards Shavonne. “You said you’d do anything, right?” He asked, his voice tinged with amusement.

Shavonne nodded silently, trying hard not to look at Lewellyn, whom he could see beyond the Warden’s legs.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Click, the sound of the safety being released was heard in front of him. Looking up, the gun barrel came into view. Four steps ahead, like a lurking snake, the black muzzle was aimed directly at Shavonne’s left part of the chest. He wanted to ask if he was going to shoot him, but the Warden handing over the baton he was holding came first. Or perhaps ‘threw’ would be a more accurate expression than ‘handed over.’ The heavy weight of the metal settled on the two hands that had reflexively received the baton.

“What are you telling me to do…”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Shavonne suddenly closed his mouth as he was speaking. The gun aimed at his chest. And the baton in his hand. His breathing started to quicken. An ominous feeling crept up the nape of his neck.

“Hit him.”

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The order fell like a sentence. Although he said to hit him, it wasn’t to hit the Warden. It was to hit the person lying helplessly behind the Warden.

His body froze. Beyond the stopped world, the Warden’s light laughter was heard as if wondering if he had been too blunt. Was it because he couldn’t contain his amusement? The voice that followed was brimming with a peculiar excitement, noticeably exhilarated.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Work on him.”

Work… That word shattered into pieces in his mind. Bruises, cuts, burns… Lewellyn’s body that he had seen once, or more precisely, the horrific wounds covering Lewellyn’s body, flickered before his eyes. The stench of blood, pus, and scabs seemed to linger at the tip of his nose.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Work on him?

Shavonne, on Lewellyn?

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

He couldn’t do it. However, if he didn’t, Shavonne’s words of doing anything if he were to spare him would lose their power. If that happened, the Warden would shoot him.

Shavonne wondered what the chances were that the gun aimed directly at his chest would suddenly malfunction. Not very high. It could be that the gun was defective, or sand could have gotten into the barrel while running, climbing walls, and chasing, but it wasn’t a probability high enough to bet two lives on – Shavonne’s and Lewellyn’s.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

What if I struck him with the baton? He thought about it, but only for a moment. He would be shot before he could even swing, let alone lunge at the Warden. Charging head-on at someone pointing a gun, especially someone who wasn’t letting their guard down, was an obvious act of suicide.

Shavonne took a deep breath and exhaled while gripping the baton. Working on someone was no different from the ‘training’ the Warden had once ordered him. To say that Lewellyn wasn’t human. To say that Lewellyn was a dog. To say that Lewellyn existed only to obey.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He couldn’t say those words.

Then…

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Step. Shavonne took a step towards Lewellyn. One heavy step, then another even heavier. With each step, the Warden’s expectant gaze clung to him.

Lewellyn was looking at Shavonne. However, he was half unconscious and half conscious. His eyes blurred and focused and blurred again repeatedly, but there was one thing that remained unchanged. That was the fact that Shavonne was in Lewellyn’s golden eyes.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

The baton was heavy. It felt as if something invisible was hanging from the end of the baton. If asked what that ‘something’ was, Shavonne would answer that it was memories. Countless memories accumulated from the moment he first met him nine years ago, covered in wounds, until now, looking down at him who has become covered in wounds.

He raised the baton high. As he was about to bring it down, the past flashed by like a kaleidoscope. It was all Lewellyn, as if memories of times when he wasn’t with Lewellyn never existed.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Lewellyn. A smiling Lewellyn. A crying Lewellyn. A laughing Lewellyn with wrinkled eyes. A frowning Lewellyn that kept him from bursting into laughter. A Lewellyn in solitary confinement, clinging at Shavonne’s ankles saying, ‘You’re here?’ Lewellyn at Ira Apartments, sitting on the stairs peeling onions while saying, ‘Good morning’…

Shavonne spun around. He threw the baton he was about to bring down towards the Warden. The Warden couldn’t block the baton that was cutting through the air with acceleration and flying towards his side. However, there was one thing he did right. He pulled the trigger aimed at the ‘deceiver’ Shavonne.

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

The problem was that the gun missed. Was it because his mind got distracted by the flying baton? The bullet grazed Shavonne’s left shoulder instead of his left chest, which the Warden had originally been aiming for.

“…”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

With a breathtaking pain, literally feeling as if every blood vessel was being torn apart, Shavonne collapsed without even being able to scream. But that was only for a moment. Thinking he would die if he stayed like this, Shavonne quickly looked around while strongly gripping his left shoulder as if to stop the bleeding. Gun. Where’s the gun?

The gun that should have been in the Warden’s hand was already rolling on the floor like dust. It seemed the Warden had dropped it when he was hit by the baton. Shavonne quickly lunged and snatched the gun. The coldness of the gun grip digging into his entire palm had never been so welcome. But that too was only for a moment. Before he could even shoot at the Warden, something black flew in front of his eyes.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

A numbing pain striking and passing over his forehead. Above that, he felt something warm trickling down. I’m dizzy… The moment he thought that, his legs, which had been staggering as if about to collapse, gave way. Shavonne fell to his knees and sat on the floor like a condemned man waiting for the axe to fall on his neck.

The Warden’s shadow fell over him. If the baton hit him once more, Shavonne would die. Whether he died from his head being cracked open or from having the gun taken away while defenseless, the fact that he would die remained the same.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Shavonne raised his head towards the Warden. Although he couldn’t see properly because of the blood that had flowed down, he could still distinguish where the Warden’s face was and where his body was. Shavonne pointed the gun he had been clutching like a lifeline at him and pulled the trigger. A loud gunshot that made his ears ring echoed through the room.

He wasn’t sure whether the scream came first, or whether the heat and blood pouring down over his head came first. What was certain was that the Warden had fallen. With his eyes rolled back, stark white.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Is he dead? Or is he pretending to be dead?

Whatever it was, the fact that Shavonne’s heart wouldn’t calm down remained unchanged. Shavonne approached the Warden. And then he shot. Two shots in the Warden’s leg, three in his arm. He had originally planned to put two shots in the arm, but his hand was shaking so much that he couldn’t hit it.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

He thought this should be enough to prevent the Warden from stopping Shavonne even if he came back to life. Yes, literally ‘even if he came back to life.’

Key. He needed a key to unlock Lewellyn’s shackles. Shavonne began to search the Warden’s pockets. From the pockets on the pants, to the back pockets, to the pocket inside the coat… His already red hands became even redder as he searched through the clothes that were covered in blood.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Then, something felt in the inside coat pocket. When he took it out, it was a small bunch of keys with eight keys on one ring. He wondered if the shackle key would be among these, but for now, he had no choice but to try them one by one.

He approached and sat in front of Lewellyn, dragging his trembling body. He began to insert the keys into the shackle keyhole and turn them one by one. Not the first key. Not the second key either… As he was about to try the third key, Shavonne felt his vision going dark.

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Startled, he regained his senses, and only then could he see the keyhole and the key. But that was only for a moment. Soon his vision darkened again. His vision was going dark even though his eyes weren’t closed. The meaning of this was clear. He was losing consciousness.

Would he lose consciousness or die? He didn’t know. But he could tell that it was so deep that he couldn’t see. Now that it was right in front of him, there was no way to stop it. All Shavonne could do was hope that it would happen late, as late as possible.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Click. When he inserted and turned the fifth key, the shackles came off easily. “Lewellyn, try to move.” Shavonne said. His voice was so hoarse that even he found it unfamiliar. Lewellyn.

Then something thin and weak touched his ear. “We need to stop the bleeding quickly, Shavonne.” Although the voice was so rough it could be called a growl, it was Lewellyn’s voice. Yes. It was Lewellyn’s voice.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

The tension that had been sharply honing all his senses suddenly disappeared. The strength left his arms and legs. The bunch of keys he had been holding fell to the floor with a clang, and his ankles gave way. Only a faint voice leaked between his lips like a last will.

“Lewellyn, I…”

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Shavonne could have said, I remember. He could have said he was sorry, sorry for everything Shavonne had done 8 years ago, and that he was ashamed of himself for not understanding Lewellyn’s heart, which must have been as painful as being in hell all this time. Or he could have just cried without being able to continue talking.

But Shavonne didn’t do that. Because there was something that had to be set right before his consciousness was completely consumed by whatever it was, sleep or death.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

“I have never… not loved you.”

He added. “Not even once.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

At that, Lewellyn, who seemed about to say something, closed his mouth. Shavonne could faintly see Lewellyn’s Adam’s apple rising and falling. Suddenly, he felt something hot flowing down his face. He thought it was blood, but it wasn’t. It was tears washing over his face covered in blood. Without realizing it, Shavonne had started crying.

There was so much he wanted to say. He wanted to say that he thought he was a person with no luck all his life, but that wasn’t true, that his luck was Lewellyn. He wanted to say that not having parents, having to spend lonely days without true friends or genuine lovers, was all to meet Lewellyn. He wanted to say that Lewellyn was his family, his friend, his lover, his whole world.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

But his voice wouldn’t come out. There were so many things he needed to say, wanted to say, but his voice wouldn’t come out as if someone had cut his vocal cords. Lewellyn’s face, looking down at Shavonne, turned pale. Shavonne. Lewellyn’s calling voice sounded distant like a dream*. Shavonne. Wake up. Shavonne.*

His senses were gradually submerged in whatever it was, sleep or death. He lost his sight, he lost his sense of smell, he lost his hearing. It was pitch black all around as if someone had turned off the light bulb above his head. The pungent smell of blood that had been lingering at the tip of his nose also faded away, and the breathing sounds that had been piercing his ears were no longer audible.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Although he couldn’t see, smell, or hear, Shavonne could tell that Lewellyn was by his side. Temperature. He could feel Lewellyn’s temperature holding Shavonne’s hand.

Eventually, the world faded away. A black night engulfed Shavonne’s vision.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

***

When snowflakes began to flutter through the dawn light, Lewellyn, carrying Shavonne on his back, had already come far. Supporting the unconscious Shavonne, Lewellyn was limping through the snowy field.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Shavonne struggled to hold onto consciousness. Just as he seemed to be waking up, he would collapse again. Just as he seemed to be raising his eyes to look around, his head would suddenly droop, and just as he seemed to be moving his lips to say something, he would fall into a deep state of unconsciousness in the blink of an eye.

Lewellyn talked to keep Shavonne conscious. He said they would take a ship. He told him to imagine the bright emerald color of the Bunch Sea that appears after passing through the cold Bunch Sea. He told him to imagine the warm and yellow sunlight of Bunch, the quaint houses, and the smell of baking bread that starts to waft from the windows at seven in the afternoon.

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

Like the falling snow, the stories continued endlessly. Until Shavonne slowly opened his eyes, raised his head, and finally regained a vague consciousness.

A weak light was in the distance. Their traces on the frozen ground were disappearing under the endless snow. Both old and new footprints were  faint, and they were gradually being erased by the silent snow.

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

Somewhere, dawn was breaking. Light was coming. Slowly, but certainly.