Chapter 183 “The Invasion After Nightfall”
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Nina hurried down to the first floor, her eyes scanning the room. “Did Mr. Morris already leave?” she questioned with a hint of distress. Upon realizing he was no longer there, her face fell. “Uncle, why didn’t you ask him to stay a little longer? The weather outside is terrible, and yet you let him go…”
Duncan glanced outside, noting the setting sun. “It’ll be dark soon,” he remarked nonchalantly as he moved to lock the front door. “Besides,” he continued while heading towards the stairs, “he drove here, so a bit of rain shouldn’t trouble him too much.”
“But he looked so unwell,” Nina countered, her voice filled with concern as she began to ascend the stairs. “He should’ve taken a moment to rest.”
Duncan paused, thinking it might be worse if Mr. Morris really had stayed. However, he didn’t want to alarm Nina with these speculations, so he merely mumbled a few vague words, hoping to divert her attention.
In the kitchen, the table was laid out with a hearty meal: beet soup, toast, vegetable rolls, and slices of ham. The spread seemed ample for more than just the two of them.
“If we don’t manage to eat everything, let’s save the leftovers for breakfast,” Nina suggested as she glanced up at Duncan, curiosity evident in her eyes. “What were you and Mr. Morris discussing earlier? I heard a lot of chatter from upstairs but couldn’t make out the words.”
Duncan took a moment to study Nina’s radiant face. She always seemed so lively, exuding joy and positivity. There wasn’t a shred of negativity about her. He wondered what the so-called ‘sun fragment’ was, as there wasn’t a hint of anything supernatural about Nina. Initially, he had thought the ‘sun fragment’ was a physical object, but now he suspected it might be something dormant within Nina.
Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice Nina’s inquisitive stare. “Uncle Duncan?” she asked, slightly fidgeting under his intense gaze. “Is there something on my face?”
Snapped out of his reverie, Duncan quickly replied, “No, nothing at all.” He tried to shift the focus by tearing into a slice of bread. “Speaking of which, have you felt any odd sensations recently? Or had that strange dream again?”
Nina dismissed the thought with a wave of her hand. “Ever since my therapy session with Miss Heidi, I haven’t had that dream. I’ve been feeling so energized lately.”
Then she hesitated before asking with a tinge of anxiety, “Uncle, is everything okay? You seem a bit off. Please tell me you and Mr. Morris weren’t discussing my recent exam results.”
Duncan smiled reassuringly, “No, you’re overthinking things. Your teacher didn’t come all this way just to discuss your grades. Let’s eat.”
With a nod of relief, Nina complied, sensing something weighed on her uncle’s mind but unsure of its nature.
……
In the heart of the lower city, nestled amidst the crumbled and dimly lit passageways, the freshly ignited gas lamps battled the encroaching shadows, providing a last bastion of light before the night fully consumed the maze-like streets. Shirley, with an expression of wonder, leaned close to the window, her eyes absorbing every detail of the world outside.
“Why do you keep gazing outside? What’s so enthralling about it?” Dog’s voice resonated from the corner, accompanied by the clinking sound of the chains that bound the two together.
“I just can’t sleep, and there’s not much to do. The boredom is killing me,” Shirley whispered, her voice laced with a hint of frustration.
His voice dripping with sarcasm, Dog asked, “Would you like to venture out tomorrow and perhaps vex those cultists some more?”
Shirley contemplated for a moment, then slowly shook her head. “I think it’s futile. It feels as if the church has gotten better at their game or maybe the local authorities have cleaned up their act. The streets are devoid of those cultists. Their distinctive scent seems to have vanished…”
Dog stretched out, settling comfortably at Shirley’s feet. “True, those Suntist followers have become scarce. Maybe the city’s guardians have finally caught up with them.” He glanced at her with an analytical gaze, “But your restlessness, I doubt it’s just because you’re bored.”
Irritated, Shirley retorted, “Then, in your infinite wisdom, what do you think is the matter?”
“Are you longing for the other side?” Dog’s voice was soft yet probing. The crimson light that emanated from his hollow eyes seemed to intensify. “You miss that welcoming home, don’t you? The well-lit room, the aroma of a fresh meal, the gentle touch of someone waking you up for breakfast. Could it be you’re yearning for the companionship of Nina? Or, perhaps, is it him you think of?”
Angrily, Shirley yanked the chain, her voice filled with bitterness, “Shut it! I’m not that vulnerable child anymore. How can I be so feeble?”
Dog remained undeterred by Shirley’s hostility. “Desiring love, comfort, and light doesn’t make you weak. It merely underscores the humanity within you.”
Caught off-guard, Shirley grimaced, “Why are you getting all sentimental? And since when did you turn into a philosopher? Saying I’m ‘still human’ – are you complimenting me or mocking me for not having changed over the years?”
Dog sighed, a touch of amusement evident in his voice. “Just because you’ve merged with me doesn’t mean you’ve lost your humanity. Recognizing your human emotions isn’t a flaw.” He leaned closer, the chains echoing his movement, “Remember, it’s not just these chains that bind us. I sense every emotional ripple within you.”
With a sharp, dismissive tone, Shirley said, “Enough.” She turned her face away, clearly irritated by how transparent she felt under Dog’s scrutiny. “You really need to stop prying into my feelings. If you keep this up, I might just go visit Nina tomorrow. Oh, and I’ll be dragging you along. Imagine the thrill Mr. Duncan would get from interrogating you until you’re quaking in your bony legs!”
At that, Dog fell silent, his quiet demeanor prompting an impish kick from Shirley to break the uneasy silence.
“Why so concerned anyway? After all, I’ve got you to watch my back,” she said, a playful lilt in her voice.
When Dog finally responded, the chains jingled as he shifted away. “Honestly, sometimes you’re more sentimental than I am. Any more of this, and I might just spew acid. We’d then have to deal with a nasty hole in the floor.”
Beneath their light-hearted banter, the bond between the two was evident. Especially for Shirley, whose life had been upended, the camaraderie they shared was a source of solace.
“It’s for the best,” she whispered to herself. “Everything is back to how it was, and everyone can resume their lives. That cozy, tranquil haven wasn’t meant for you, Shirley. It’s not only foreign to you but perilous…”
She let out a deep, contemplative sigh, but her moment of introspection was short-lived. She felt it – a sinister, foreboding presence, hurtling toward them with malicious intent. Every fiber of her being screamed danger.
Dog’s reaction mirrored hers. With his muscles tensed and his stance poised for combat, he growled at the enveloping shadows within the house, his every sense attuned to any movement.
In a bid to save money, Shirley had extinguished most of the lights inside, relying on the muted glow from the streetlamps to provide a soft illumination through the windows. But tonight, that decision proved costly. The very walls seemed to seep malevolence.
“Dog!” Shirley’s grip on their connecting chain tightened instinctively.
Dog’s response was a low, menacing growl. “I’ve got it. Something’s encroaching on us… from every direction. What are these entities? My vision’s blurring!”
Before Dog could continue, Shirley observed a concerning phenomenon. The dim light filtering in from outside began to twist and warp, fading as if obscured by an impenetrable fog. The window’s once-clear view was now shrouded in an abyssal void, isolating them from the world beyond. As the room plunged into total darkness, shadowy figures emerged, forming a menacing assembly across from Shirley and Dog.
The figures that emerged were garbed in tattered black robes, worn and frayed from age and use. These robes were ragged enough to reveal their skeletal, wood-like arms. Suspended from their waists were ominous, pitch-black bibles, which seemed saturated in a dark, viscous liquid that dripped continuously, like thick, sinister ink. However, that wasn’t the only unsettling aspect of their appearance. Affixed prominently on their chests was a spiked iron emblem, representing an eerie white flame, so pale that it looked almost ghostly against the dark background of their robes.
From the group, one figure stepped forward, clearly taking the lead. “Thou shall perish…” With an aura of authority, this individual outstretched a bony finger, directing it squarely at the young girl in shock.
Dog’s urgent shout pierced the silence, “By the gods! He’s an Ender Missionary!” The sheer force and intensity of his warning jolted Shirley from her momentary stupor.
Time for Uncle Duncan to come to the rescue again.