ANMELDENThe man had been thrown aside, and the police cautiously knelt beside me, checking my body."Do you feel any pain or discomfort anywhere?"I clenched my teeth, staring at him and refusing to let my guard down."Don't worry. They've been caught. The village chief and the elders have given their statements. You're safe now."I still did not speak.The officer frowned slightly, then seemed to realize something and turned to leave.Soon, a female special agent arrived.She knelt beside me and took my hand. "It's okay now.""We've found the buried bodies and are sorting through them. Do you want to look for your sister?"The tension in my body eased, and I rose to my feet as I leaned on her."All the bodies are in pieces. The sorting will take a lot of work. The medical examiners say it will take days. Can you wait?"I nodded. "I've been waiting a year. A few more days don't matter.""Let's get you to a hospital first."As we stepped out of the cave, the sunset light fell acros
I explained that after my sister died last year, they found the police report, but it contained only a few fleeting lines.[A husband and wife killed each other during an argument. After her breakdown, the elder sister went into the mountains and committed suicide. The younger sister suffered a high fever and memory loss. Case closed.]In the face of online outcry, the authorities had no choice but to send in the state police and a SWAT helicopter. Three hours later, the helicopter touched down at the base of the mountain.The village chief was grabbed and shoved to the front. "Lead the way!""Sir, it's not that I don't want to, but without instructions from the god, we can't just enter the mountain. Otherwise, the village will suffer the consequences."The police officer put on a cold expression and glared at him. "There are four hours left until the bomb goes off at seven. If you don't lead us in, no one in this village will survive."Professionals were already clearing the
I nodded.Indeed, I had not been alone since the night before, when the women had checked me to see if I was still pure. The next morning, I changed into the bridal gown under the watchful eyes of men."There's no way I could have hidden anything before leaving."These men were now powerless, and the person I was waiting for had not arrived yet. I lit another fire, dragged them together, and tied them up. Then, I pulled out a man's phone and started streaming."Let me explain how I planned all of this."A year ago, you killed my sister, stripped her, broke her bones, and buried her under the osmanthus tree. That's when my plan for revenge began."The dim cave and the bound men made the livestream explode in popularity. Within minutes, I had over 100,000 people watching.I continued."For the past year, I sneaked onto the mountain at night whenever no one was around. I brought a little bit each day until I had enough explosives to turn you into what you are now. At that
"Why destroy something so young and so soft? Can't I have a little fun first?"That voice haunted me in nightmares and fueled my hatred.Now, I could finally avenge my sister!…The man looked down at my thin arms and legs with contempt."Just you? How do you… Ah!"I slashed at him from behind, targeting his shoulder blades. I knew it was illegal, but it was necessary to survive and to lure the others in.Two strikes later, he was done. He lay on the ground, completely powerless.I did not want him bleeding out and dying before I got answers. I disinfected his wounds with the best alcohol I had and sprinkled on plenty of pain relief.He writhed on the ground, crying out for mercy. I could not help but laugh."This is how my sister begged you for her life. Did you spare her?"No. They did not. They killed her, torturing her both before and after death. They were no human beings. They were demons."Don't worry. I'll let you live."I crouched beside him and continued,
The man stared at my hand without a word. Then, in the next moment, he grasped my hand.However, he did not grab the left hand I had reached out, but the right one I had kept hidden behind me."No men are allowed in here. You could have ended me just now, so why save me?"I opened my hand, revealing the mottled scars and dried blood. Deep, jagged wounds ran along my flesh, not from falling on the ground, but from sharp instruments."What secrets are you hiding?"I responded simply. I drew the small knife I had hidden and pressed it toward his neck."Shut up!"…He seemed unfazed by the blade and laughed."I underestimated you."I nudged the knife forward slightly. "Good thing I didn't underestimate you either."If I hadn't saved you just now, you'd be like other men who entered here, knocked me out, and dragged me away. If I had cooperated, you might have sent me away. But if I resisted, my outcome would be the same as theirs."I pointed at a corner, where the roots of
"Ah!"I panicked, tumbling back and hastily wrapping myself in my clothes as I retreated to a corner.The place where people had been standing was suddenly empty. Had I imagined it?I looked up. There were a few small holes in the ceiling, which normally let sunlight in.They were now covered by thick clouds. My phone had been confiscated when we entered the mountain.The chief and the village elders had warned that no modern devices were allowed. Bringing them was considered disrespectful. Any offense could bring the god's wrath upon the entire village.After fumbling around, I finally found a hidden lighter in the folds of my clothing. A sudden spark ignited, and I set my garments on fire. The flickering flames cast light across the dark cave.I did not dare wander, so I cautiously searched the small area around me. No one else appeared, and I finally got a clear view of the figure before me.He was half-reclined in the stone chair, body trembling slightly. I lean