episode_0028

Tap.

Someone’s hair brushes against my cheek.

It’s long and incredibly soft, almost like luxurious silk.

Am I asleep? My eyes are open, though. In my transparent, clear silver eyes, I see my own disheveled reflection.

“…Aunt?”

“What is it, dear?”

“Oh, it’s nothing… really.”

I avert my eyes from her innocent smile.

When was the last time I saw Aunt make such an expression? It felt awkward, despite being heartwarming. She even sat on my lap and hugged me quietly. It was an unusual occurrence. This spot always belonged to

Tap.

“Enough of that, let’s play. Hmm? Let’s play together~.”

“You seem particularly stubborn today. What about work? You’re busy, Aunt.”

“Why would I be?”

“Well, you’re a doctor. You’re much smarter and more talented than someone like me, a genius who doesn’t need to go to school to be recognized by everyone, a precious person whom parents always care for first and foremost.”

“Are you jealous right now?”

“It seems so.”

“So you hate me?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Do you dislike me?”

“I’m not sure.”

“But you want to kill me?”

“Yes.”

“Ahaha, I see. I understand very well. Really well.”

“But you don’t consider running away.”

“Women are creatures like that. They feel warmth from hands that seem threatening to break their necks rather than fear.”

“Why is that? Aren’t you scared?”

“The pleasure through contact outweighs the fear of death, making it irresistible. Look at this. When you’re embraced, hating, resenting, and loathing me, leaning into your arms, your heart beats faster, right? In fact, it’s hard to breathe properly, it’s so intense.”

“I don’t understand. I can’t hear it. I can’t see it or feel it.”

“Then let me help you. Here, take my hand.”

“Here, my hand.”

Tap.

Thin, snowy-white fingers grasp my wrist.

I have no strength. Aunt moves as she pleases. I don’t think at all. My dissenting opinion has long seeped far below the ground.

She loosens the tie around my neck.

She removes the cumbersome white coat.

She tears off the irritating harness.

She twists and pulls out a small button.

She untucks the white shirt as white as snow.

She lifts the white bra with a blue ribbon in the middle.

Contrasting her petite figure, a mature curve gently sways.

The size of her face. I grasp it, burying my palm deep and caressing the surface. It fits entirely in one hand. I continue to explore the firm elasticity that defies gravity.

“How does it feel now? Can you hear it? See it? Feel it well?”

“Yes. It’s thrilling. Thump-thumping, trembling.”

“My body is too busy right now. I need to circulate the blood quickly in every corner. Otherwise, it’ll be late.”

“Why?”

“New life craves a lot of blood.”

She reaches out her hand with a gleeful laugh.

Pointing to her clearly visible waistline, she touches the slightly protruding part below. She explores it. Instead of what she had been holding, she delves into the unique essence hidden beneath the skin with her remaining hand.

“Women and blood have an inseparable connection. Every beginning and end is stained with blood. Losing innocence to a loved one, failing to conceive a beloved man’s life, revealing the fruition achieved through shared love to the world. Women live for love, and love feeds on blood and grows.”

She lowers her skirt.

Similarly, she pulls down the white panties adorned with a blue ribbon. Her hand moistens. The smoothness untouched by a single wisp of hair glides over her palm.

It’s vivid.

Not unfamiliar.

Familiar.

Why?

Tap.

“More, a little more… Mm… Ah…♥”

“Ah… Mm….”

I lick her extended tongue with mine.

Like a fluffy cotton candy, her light lips seemed as if they would melt away. Tightly entwined, they pressed against each other. So close that breathing became difficult. Delving deep into every nook and cranny. Her long hair coiled around my back. Tears pooled in her silver eyes, trickling down her chin.

“Ah… Mm… ♥!?”

“Cold… Chilly….”

“Heh, ah… Hehe, mm… *gulp*… ♥♥!?”

Lips not yet touched by saliva nibbled gently on her tender neck.

Each time, a whimper escaped. As skin tore and teeth sank into muscle, spasms of pleasure shivered through her body. Licking. Drinking. The blood of a woman. The blood of kin. Ingesting the blood that connected families. I, too, willingly offered myself. Allowing the blood to be drunk. The untasted blood stained my chest. My stomach. My thighs. Leaving indelible marks of loss on the pristine white canvas.

Thud.

Dreams are flowers nourished by the essence of reality.

Just as roots cannot anchor without soil, fantasies cannot exist without experience.

You who desire me.

As your aunt, sister, mother, friend.

Me, whom you desire.

As your nephew, brother, father, lover.

Memories, become students on the stage of life.

Recollections, turn into spotlights on the backdrop.

Adorn this silver theater with a sweet, ashen finale.

Thud.

“This is all just talk. In truth, it’s all a dream.”

“I know.”

“Lies.”

“True. I really don’t know anything.”

“I don’t want to know, either.”

“There’s nothing good to know. I’m stupid and pathetic. Always quitting while filled with regret. Without drugs, I’m no different from a beast. It’s not dissatisfaction; everything in front of me seems dangerous and scary. Everyone looks like meat to me. The clamor of walking flesh is deafening. I want to eat. Nothing else tastes the same. I can’t help but want to kill, tear apart, dissect, smear flesh in my mouth until it’s full. I hate this about myself. I shouldn’t have been born. I should have died a long time ago. I hate my name. There’s nothing I hate more than my name. Because there’s nothing like that. Such a thing doesn’t exist in this world. It shouldn’t exist. Expectations are the harbinger of unhappiness. Disappointment turns into pain, pain into suffering, and suffering steals joy, leaving only ashes behind.”

“It’s okay. I understand everything. Because I was born for that purpose. This delusion is a world created solely for you.”

“So, does that mean Auntie didn’t die? Didn’t she die like Mom and Dad, like the uncles, aunts, and their children?”

“I originally wanted it to be that way.

Thud.

Just like everyone else, I hoped to remain forever within you, becoming your blood and flesh.

Being used according to your desires, discarded once consumed, was the best option.

Thud.

Being alive is truly boring and uncomfortable.

There’s no torture as dreadful as waiting for an uncertain end.

Thud.

Rather than grieving over unrequited love,

Enduring a painful life of unfulfilled love, I preferred to embrace such an end.”

“But Auntie is still alive now.”

“That’s right. If that idiot hadn’t interfered. I would have relaxed and given up.”

“Do you hate it?”

“I really do.”

“If I tell the truth, will you kiss me?”

“I hate it in my head, but just seeing your face makes my head feel like it’s going to explode. I should hate you, but even hearing your voice makes my heart flutter. It’s so strange. She won’t even consider me a friend anymore.”

“…Do you have no intention of reconciling?”

“How exactly am I supposed to do that?”

“I don’t know. I can’t reveal facts that Auntie doesn’t know.”

“That’s true. You’re really a foolish, stupid nephew.”

Thud.

“I’ve had many thoughts alone.

『If I tell the truth, will you forgive me?』

『If I kneel and beg, will you accept me?』”

“It wasn’t intentional.” “It was a mistake.”

“There was no other way but this.”

But it was too much. I committed unforgivable sins. I betrayed trust. I am not worthy of being a friend. I always spoke harshly and couldn’t be honest. Hating myself alone like that, now I don’t even know who I am anymore.”

Crying.

Unlike a little while ago, overwhelmed with sadness, uncontrollable bizarre emotions scatter the emotional line. Like shadows, ash-colored hair spread throughout the theater draws ripples following the tears that fall.

“If Auntie doesn’t know, there’s really nothing I can do.”

“That’s why you’re not doing anything. Really nothing, not doing anything.”

“Will things get better as time passes?”

“It’s been 7 years like this. Will the next 7 years be any different? You’ll forget everything once you wake up anyway. It’s always been like that. Dreams don’t affect reality at all. They’re just like movies. Ultimately, they’re just shadows cast by an indistinguishable semblance of reality. Worthless, playing no role, a fake without any value. A fragile ideological structure that conceals its traces if there’s no light. That’s the essence of dreams. So─”

Two arms don’t embrace me.

Weak legs on my stomach cling to my waist.

Moist silver irises shine upon my bewildered self.

“─Even in such a futile dream, I wanted to love you sincerely like this….”

Unable to respond, I just stared blankly.

Lips curl. Soft. Small. Narrow. Delve along the forcibly widened gap. Collapsing in a still ash-gray world where not even a breeze blows. The sound is erased. Like a scene from a silent movie, fading away into a distant view, leaving behind only one girl crying sadly.

Thud.

Lonely and desolate.

The sound of the final slate is heard.