TNKHC 13

Chapter 13 …

Creak—

As the door opened, a musty smell tickled the tip of her nose.

“Cough, cough!”

It seemed like no one had cleaned this place for a long time—the air was thick with dust.

It was so hazy she could barely see ahead, like walking through a city blanketed by a sandstorm.

Elena pinched her nose with one hand and slowly descended the staircase.

Without a flashlight or even a phone light, it felt like she was exploring a cave.

She carefully placed one foot forward, then another, inching down step by step.

“Ah, light.”

As she descended the dim staircase, a beam of sunlight streamed in through a large window.

It felt like an unexpected gift—an oasis in the desert.

“This is a semi-basement.”

Looking up from the bottom of the stairs, the ceiling was surprisingly high—high enough to stack about three Dekarus on top of each other.

All around were shelves made entirely of solid wood.

It didn’t look like anything particularly special would be found here.

“Why Humans Live, 1+1, Ancient History of Estel…”

They were nothing but philosophy, math, and history books.

She let out a sigh of disappointment.

She hadn’t pushed that heavy bookshelf aside just for this.

“Well… can’t be helped.”

She inhaled deeply and turned around—and that was when she saw them.

Several massive paintings, the kind you’d normally only see in a museum.

“What is that?”

The paintings in their faded frames were covered in thick layers of dust, as if untouched for ages.

Elena stepped closer, crouched in front of one lying on the floor, and wiped away the dust with her palm.

A face she had seen many times before emerged.

“…Me?”

Curly light pink hair, blue eyes.

The same soft pink hair as cherry blossoms, the same blue eyes.

Pale skin, delicate features.

It looked exactly like her—as if someone had copied her face perfectly.

“What on earth…”

Creak—

The faint sound of a door opening made her freeze.

There was only one person who could come down here.

Red sirens blared in her head.

She glanced around but there was nowhere suitable to hide.

Step, step.

The sound of shoes descending the stairs echoed above, and her heart pounded harder and harder.

“Come out.”

A deep, low voice filled the basement.

The drawn-out echo froze her body in place like a stop signal.

Her arms and legs turned stiff as she panicked.

The sound of heels against stone steps grew closer.

The louder it got, the wilder her heart pounded.

“Come out, Elena Helios.”

His voice, pronouncing her name slowly and clearly, sounded unfamiliar today.

The sunlight coming through the window began to outline his silhouette.

“Haha… hey…”

She tried to laugh awkwardly to ease the situation, but it was pointless.

He looked angrier than she had ever seen him before.

“Come out. Now.”

He grabbed her small hand roughly and pulled her up the stairs.

He moved through the dark staircase as if he were used to coming here often.

“Ow…!”

His grip was so tight it felt like her fingers would break.

But she had been caught red-handed—she couldn’t even talk back.

Thud—

“Elena!!!”

The moment they reached his office, he spun around and shouted.

His face was red, like it was burning.

It almost matched the color of his eyes.

The veins in his neck bulged as if they were about to burst.

“Well, I…”

She had no good excuse.

Her lips were dry, and she just kept licking them nervously.

“Haa…”

She wondered if this was where she would die.

Judging by his expression, it wasn’t impossible.

Elena bowed her head, her eyes darting nervously.

He took a deep breath to suppress his anger before speaking slowly.

“Tell me exactly what you were doing down there.”

“I mean…”

What answer would score full marks in a situation like this?

Should she confess that she sneaked into the room to snoop around?

Or should she claim she had been sleepwalking and ended up there?

Her head spun with panic.

“I told you to talk, Elena Helios.”

He was calling her full name—he really was furious.

His stone-cold expression made her squirm.

“I didn’t do it on purpose…!”

“Haa…”

He shut his eyes and rubbed his face roughly with both hands.

The veins on his neck stood out sharply like straws.

Thud—

Suddenly, a powerful force yanked her toward him like a magnet defying gravity.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, pulling her into his chest.

“I thought you were gone.”

His pitiful voice rang in her ears.

She cautiously opened her eyes and lifted her head, only to see his face twisted with anxiety.

Was he angry not because she snooped in the basement, but because he thought she had disappeared?

“……”

“I thought you’d left me again.”

Judging by his tone, that seemed to be the case.

He finally seemed to relax, pressing his forehead against hers and closing his eyes.

His gentle hand patted her back.

She sighed in relief, realizing she wouldn’t die today.

But that relief didn’t last long.

“I should’ve tied you up again,” he murmured.

She blinked in disbelief and looked at him.

He wasn’t joking. His expression was deadly serious.

“…What?”

She asked again, unsure if she heard correctly.

As he stroked her hair with a tender look, a strange sense of déjà vu washed over her.

“I should’ve clipped your wings so you couldn’t fly.”

Her entire body froze as if doused in cement.

His gaze made her stomach churn.

Fear crept up from her toes, quickly swallowing her whole.

“What… are you saying?”

“They say you pluck a pet bird’s wings so it won’t fly away.”

A faint smile curled at the corners of his lips, sending chills down her spine.

Elena slowly pushed against his chest with both hands.

“I’m going to go…”

“Where could you possibly go when I’m right here?”

He stroked her like she was a precious toy.

The warmth of his touch on her hair made the fine hairs on her body stand on end.

“I’m afraid you’ll fly away.”

She didn’t respond.

No, she couldn’t even open her mouth.

If she said the wrong thing, she might really end up as his pet bird.

“Don’t go anywhere anymore.”

“……”

“Promise me.”

Like an answering machine, she mechanically nodded.

He chuckled softly and took her hand.

“Let’s go back to the room.”

Once they arrived, neither of them spoke.

She just glanced at him nervously, wondering what to do next.

His voice broke the silence.

“What were you doing?”

“…Huh?”

“What were you doing in the basement?”

Her heart, which had been beating quietly, began thumping louder.

She had actually wanted to ask about the painting.

Who that girl was.

Why he had a picture like that.

Somehow, she felt it might be the key to regaining the memories she’d lost before her possession.

“Nothing…”

She had so many questions but couldn’t ask any of them.

He had hidden that place so carefully; there must be a reason.

If she mentioned what she saw, he’d interrogate her for sure.

And so, her memories slipped back into the labyrinth.

The memories she lost before the age of seven—before she possessed this body—were buried once again.

She probably would never find them.

Even though this wasn’t her original body, the regret still hurt.

“Come here.”

He spread his long arms and slowly embraced her bowed figure.

Wrapped in his arms, Elena looked like a small kangaroo tucked into its mother’s pouch.

“Stay with me from now on.”

He whispered something strange as his hands moved behind her.

Silky fabric slid around her wrists.

When she lifted her arms at the odd sensation, the long cloth tightened painfully.

“What is this…!”

Startled, Elena looked up at him. His face had turned cold as ice.

“Shh, it’s okay.”

“What are you doing…?”

As the fabric bit into her wrists, it became harder and harder to breathe.

The chilling memories of the basement resurfaced vividly.

“What are you doing?!”

“Good girl.”

“Dekarus!!!”

She screamed at the top of her lungs.

But he only looked at her with a cold, emotionless gaze.

“Untie this. Right now.”

She twisted her body frantically, gasping for breath.

Her trembling voice and tearful eyes were filled with fear.

“I’ll feed you, so don’t worry. Even without hands, I’ll take care of you.”

He sounded like a true psychopath.

His emotionless voice made her shiver.

“Untie it. Untie it now!!!”

She struggled with all her strength, screaming until her throat hurt—but it was useless.

“Come on.”

He pulled the rope binding her wrists and dragged her to the head of the bed.

She resisted desperately but was ultimately dragged like an animal to slaughter.

“Stop it, stop… this isn’t right.”

Dekarus pulled out another cloth and tied her securely to the bedpost.

“I’m just anxious, okay? Elena.”

He embraced her tightly as she sat bound.

She twisted her wrists trying to free herself, but it was pointless.

“You know it’s useless.”

“Why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong? Huh?”

Elena trembled like a leaf as she looked up at him.

But he only gazed at her fondly, stroking her hair.

“I’ve done everything you wanted until now. Isn’t it time to stop? Why are you doing this to me…”

She knelt and pleaded desperately.

She was terrified that she’d live the rest of her life like this—trapped forever in his cage, a bird with no wings.

“It’s okay. Once you sleep like this, everything will be back to normal.”

“Karus… please…”

“I like it when you call me that.”

He closed his eyes and rubbed his face gently against her hair.

The sweet scent of peaches made his lips curl into a smile.

“You smell nice.”

“Please untie me, Karus. Please. Please…”

Her aquamarine-blue eyes filled with clear tears.

They slipped between her long lashes, tiny drops falling from her delicate eyelids.

“Why are you crying?”

A teardrop soaked into his shirt.

Dekarus kissed her smooth forehead, locking eyes with her.

“What am I supposed to do when you’re beautiful even when you cry?”

Elena glared at him through her tears, biting her lip hard.

The tears streaming down her cheeks pooled on his fingers.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Why have you gotten so fierce again?”

“You’re insane…”

“Only pretty words, okay?”

He smiled faintly, tracing her chapped lips with his finger.

Elena snapped her head away in disgust.

“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“What do you mean…?”

“It means nothing will change no matter how much you resist.”

She slowly lifted her head and met his gaze.

His drowsy eyes were filled with madness.

“Forever.”