Chapter 10
One hour later, Hunter finally arrived at the villa. He caught a faint whiff of something foul as he approached the entrance.
“Of course,” he thought. “Nadine wouldn’t give up so easily. She must’ve prepared something, just waiting for me to come back.”
He kicked the door open and saw that the interior was dark and silent. Hunter spoke to the emptiness.
“Nadine, are you happy now? I left Serena to come back. Isn’t this what you wanted after staying quiet for so long?”
No response came. Feeling unfazed, he turned on the lights and ascended the stairs.
“Let’s see what trick you’re pulling this time. Come on now, did you really die?
“Nadine, we’re adults. When will you grow up and stop these childish games? If you behaved, I might actually visit more often.”
The stench grew stronger. Flies buzzed past his face, making him scowl in disgust. He couldn’t fathom why she’d let the house deteriorate like this.
The putrid smell assaulted his senses as he reached the second–floor living room. Even then, he didn’t recognize its source.
His fingers finally found the light switch. Harsh fluorescence flooded the space, illuminating the horror before him.
Only then did Hunter understand the source of that smell. It was the stench of decaying flesh. It was the buzzing celebration of flies, as well as the wet squelching of maggots feasting on Nadine’s corpse.
Hunter’s breath froze. Frozen mid–motion, he stared at the grotesquely swollen body on the couch, the advanced decomposition making it nearly unrecognizable.
“Nadine?”
His voice came out hoarse, unfamiliar even to himself as he took a trembling step forward. Yet, no response came. His heart hammered violently against his ribs, each beat so forceful it felt like his chest might shatter.
“Nadine, stop this. I admit I’ve been neglecting you. You don’t need to play such cruel jokes.” He tried to keep his voice steady, but when he got close enough to see her face, his words came out trembling.
Chapter 10
It was Nadine.
2/2
Hunter reached out to touch her, but before his fingers could make contact with the severely decomposed body, his gaze caught on a piece of paper nearby.
A few short lines were written on it. He picked it up, reading each word slowly, his heart sinking like a stone.
“Hunter, the truth is I died long ago. These five days were just extra time the guardian of the River of Forgetfulness gave me.
“She said if you told me you loved me, I could live. But you didn’t. So now I’m dead, and I don’t love you anymore. Love Serena well. From now on, you’ll never see me again.”
His shaking became uncontrollable. He stared at Nadine with trembling pupils, and his face twisted with conflicting emotions. In that moment, it felt like invisible hands were choking him, stealing his breath.
He looked up, and the overhead light burned his eyes. He looked down, and flies, maggots, and Nadine’s lifeless body filled his vision.
Hunter couldn’t hold back any longer. He bolted to the bathroom and vomited violently.
The noise disturbed the insects feasting on the corpse. After what felt like an eternity of retching, his phone rang from his pocket.
Dizzy and disoriented, Hunter answered without checking the caller ID, his voice hoarse with sarcasm. “You really outdid yourself today. I admit it–you won this time, Nadine. You won.”
An eerie silence followed. Then, after a few seconds, Serena’s voice came through. “Hunter?
It’s me, Serena.
“Can you… Can you come back to me?”
