Darkness and silence... Just like the nights at the orphanage.
In this locked room, Mr. Castiel had ordered the maids to remove the lightbulb. He did it just to leave me in the dark. But darkness never scared me—not anymore. I had gotten used to sleeping in it. Back at the orphanage, when the lights went out, I was barely five or six. The headmistress was kind. She'd talk to us like a therapist, trying to help us face our fears.
At the time, having just lost my parents, being left alone in the dark felt unbearable. As if something might crawl out of the shadows and take me away too. Sometimes I even hoped it would—perhaps it'd bring me to them. Other times, I wanted to cling to life with every bit of strength I had.
A sweet ice cream on a summer's day, a game that made me laugh... Little things made life worth living. But does growing up always mean losing the reasons to live?
Though time felt frozen, I lay down. There was no bed, no pillow, not even a blanket. I was a real prisoner here. I was cold and forced to sleep on a hard floor in the dark. Hours must have passed in my attempt to fall asleep. Eventually, sleep pulled me under.
The door creaked open.
A mist hung in the air. And I... I was lying on a bed? When had I gotten here? Rubbing my eyes, I turned toward the door. It was wide open, but no one was there.
Then I turned my head.
Lady Moly's cold, lifeless body was lying beside me.
A scream tore from my throat. I tried to jump off the bed, but her icy hand grabbed my wrist. Her eyes never opened as she whispered, "Melissa... I'm cold. Don't leave me."
Another scream escaped me—and I woke up.
What kind of nightmare was that?
I clutched my chest, trying to calm my racing heart. Poor Lady Moly... I bowed my head, covering my face with both hands as tears poured down. Her death still didn't feel real. Watching her waste away from illness was already unbearable. Now she haunted even my dreams.
How worthless life had become. In this century, being human felt cheaper than a wallet. Lady Moly, with her broken heart and quiet suffering, had shown me how fragile we truly are. She died not because of her illness, but because of emotional abandonment.
Light crept through the window. It must have been morning. I dared to stand and tiptoed toward the tiny window. I pounded on the glass with my fist. It didn't budge. Another punch.
The door burst open.
"Melissa."
His voice darkened the room more than the shadows. Mr. Castiel stood at the threshold.
"This room is suffocating! I can't stay here! I promise I won't escape, just—"
He raised his hand, silencing me with a single gesture.
"You haven't eaten."
"What?" My eyebrows knitted. Was he seriously changing the subject to food now? "You expect me to eat while being imprisoned like some criminal?"
He stepped closer and opened the window effortlessly with his tall frame. Cool air rushed in.
"I won't let you starve."
"Not out of kindness," I muttered, wrapping my arms around myself. He turned to me. I avoided his gaze. "You just don't want to deal with another corpse."
His expression hardened. "Why are you so obsessed with dying? Or is it guilt? Do you feel guilty because you killed Moly? You were quick to blame me."
Daphne entered quietly and stood beside him, eyes downcast and hands folded neatly. I didn't understand why she was acting like this. I thought we had no problem.
"Daphne told me some things."
"What? Daphne?" I turned to her. "What's going on?"
Still avoiding my eyes, she spoke to Mr. Castiel with a frightened voice.
"Some days... Melissa didn't give Lady Moly her medication."
"WHAT?" I stepped toward her and shoved her by the shoulders. "That's a lie! I always made sure she took her pills properly!"
"Step back, Melissa. You're being aggressive. Are you about to show your true nature?"
How could I explain myself to this prejudiced man? My words meant nothing to him. Just because I accused him of neglect, he believed I was responsible for his wife's death.
"Mr. Castiel, I know we had an unpleasant encounter, and I said some things in anger and grief. But Lady Moly loved you. And I loved her. I would never hurt her. I made sure she took her medicine. Say anything to me—insult me all you want—but don't say I wanted her dead!"
"Then stop acting suspicious. Daphne's been here longer than anyone. I doubt she's lying."
I turned to Daphne, glaring. If I couldn't yell at Castiel, I'd let out my fury at her instead. But if I started a catfight here, everyone knew who'd end up looking guilty—me.
They didn't know yet how dangerous I could be when provoked.
I walked past Castiel and stood face to face with Daphne.
"Stop lying! I swear, I'll mess you up if you don't shut your mouth!"
"I'm not lying! I saw her pills in the trash when I was emptying it."
Had she really done that? Lady Moly had once mentioned stopping her meds during hard times, but I never thought she meant it.
My hands flew to my mouth as I stepped back in sorrow.
"What's wrong, Melissa? Is your guilt catching up to you?"
Tears streamed down my cheeks. I looked at him, shaking my head.
"No! It's your fault... You're the reason she stopped taking her meds! I thought she was joking. She smiled when she told me. I believed she was joking... But now I realize... That smile... was her farewell."