Chapter 4

I'd never seen Silvia looking that worried—one could be forgiven for thinking the world was ending from her reaction.

Naturally, Henry would never hurt himself.

The knife barely cut an inch into him, and it only made him bleed without inflicting any lasting damage.

The doctor was soon here and quickly bandaged him, while Henry leaned feebly in Silvia's arms.

"I just wanted to comfort Carl," he sobbed. "But I barely said anything, and he suddenly tried to kill me. Please don't get upset… I'm sure he didn't mean it. He was just really angry and wasn't thinking straight."

Naturally, the crowded ward was loud with outrage against me.

"He tried to kill Henry! He's really that crazy!"

"Yeah. Thank goodness Silvia never chose him, or who knows if he would kill her too."

As they quickly shifted the blame on me, what little guilt Silvia felt over making me stay up faded right away.

"Carl Young, you really disappoint me!" she snapped. "I knew I shouldn't have felt anything for you!"

As the air around him turned sinister, I knew she intended to murder me.

The doctor and medical staff were soon chased out, with only Silvia and her men left in the room.

I frowned as a foreboding feeling swelled in me. "What do you want?"

Without a word, her men strode up, grabbing me and holding me out of the window from the thirtieth floor.

A little slip and I'd fall, reduced to pieces.

My stomach churned as I looked at the crowded roads down below, and Silvia could clearly see the pain in my eyes.

However, that did not quell her rage and only infuriated her further. "How dare you try to hurt Henry, forgetting your place!"

"Stop!" Henry cried. "If Carl dies because of me, the guilt will kill me!"

Despite his words, there was no hiding the excitement in his eyes.

My brain seemed to freeze for a moment, but I wasn't worried about being thrown off the building.

After all, once I was dead, I could leave this place and see Claire again.

I couldn't help smiling just thinking about that, even spreading my arms to welcome death.

Silvia's brow creased when she saw that.

Still, she said, "Don't try to curry my sympathy, Carl. You hurt Henry, and I'm not about to let that slide…. Carl? Say something!"

However, I couldn't speak as I was being held upside down, and my head was hurting from the blood rushing up my brain…

-

I was on the floor when I woke up, and I saw Silvia sweating all over her brow.

Didn't she hate me? Why would she be upset if I died?

It soon became clear, however, as she snapped, "Did you think I'd let you die so easily? Let me give it to you straight—you don't get to die without my permission!"

I closed my eyes wearily. "You know I won't die. So why save me? Why not let me fall?"

A troubled look showed in Silvia's eyes, but she soon hid it. "You're really useless! Anyway, Henry's company is conducting an experiment and needs someone to stay in a room with some murderous psychopaths. That means it's your time to shine—don't worry, I'll keep you safe."

Again.

I sighed.

Silvia quickly presumed that I was reluctant and about to snap, but I simply smiled humbly. "I mean, what's the point of discussing it with me if you've already made up your mind? You know that I'll do anything if it makes you happy."

Since I came to this world, I had shown her endless tolerance and kindness.

At first, I thought I could charm her to complete the mission sooner and go home, only to realize that she was a reptile with no human emotions to speak of.

And the more I suffered, the more it pleased her.

That was how I eventually learned that self-harm always entertained her.

She was silent for a few beats before she suddenly smiled. "This really is the last time, Carl. If you do this, you can be my boyfriend… for a month."

I nodded in silence, as I'd already imagined how I was going to die.