Chapter 89

In my past life, I loved my mother dearly.

I had no choice.

The only person who talked to me, who smiled at me, was my mother.

At the same time, I deeply hated her.

She always locked me in a tiny room, and behind her occasional tender smiles, there was always cruel abuse.

One day, a being approached me.

It became a sanctuary for me, bound by the existence of my mother, and became a precious friend I wouldn’t trade for anything.

I was so happy to talk to someone else that I gave my heart to her, chatting with her every day.

One day, she quietly suggested something to me.

Didn’t I want to escape from my mother’s grasp?

Didn’t I want to bask in the sunlight under the clear sky and talk freely with others?

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

She showed me the way.

On a night when my mother was deeply drunk and asleep, I carefully called the police.

Before the police arrived, I followed her instructions and cut my wrist.

Not deep enough to kill, just a moderately deep wound.

Because of that wound, my mother went to prison.

And soon after, news came that she had ended her life in that bleak prison.

Everything went exactly as she had told me.

Now I was no longer trapped in that small room, and I could live facing many people.

But I wasn’t happy. Instead, every day was filled with torment like hell.

It was my mother.

The one and only love I had, the only family I had left.

My mother.

What had I done to her?

The abuse was painful and hateful, but I missed the occasional gentle smiles she gave me in between.

Most days I had to eat cold rice with water, but I longed for the warm meals she lovingly prepared when she was in a good mood.

One day, unable to bear the guilt, I confided my pain to the orphanage director.

I hoped his comfort would lighten my burden, but soon rumors about me began to spread in the orphanage.

Before I knew it, I was labeled a parricide among the children, and people’s reactions changed completely.

It wasn’t disgust or pity.

It was complete indifference, as if ignoring my existence.

Everyone avoided me as if I were filthy trash.

Occasionally, some came to see me, but they were only creepy people fascinated by my resemblance to my mother.

In this complete indifference, my mind slowly deteriorated, and ironically, my longing for my mother only grew stronger.

I wanted to return to her embrace, even if it meant being locked in that small room again, even if it meant enduring that painful abuse.

[Do you want to see your mother again?]

Then she asked me again.

Hell.

A place where I could see my mother one more time.

Even if it was the Devil’s Temptation, I didn’t care.

I knew from the start it wasn’t a benevolent being.

Even if everything was malicious, it was fine.

If I could return to her, who cared about my existence.

It didn’t matter.

※

The sky, thick with dark clouds, painted the world with lonely rain and an ashen hue.

“….”

Were these droplets flowing down Artasha’s and my faces rain, or tears?

Either way, they only deepened our emotions into a darker abyss.

“Do you have nothing to say, Artasha? It’s goodbye now.”

Artasha sat drenched in the rain, her head bowed, her face shadowed, motionless.

Was it resentment, anger, or emptiness she felt now?

Whatever it was, it would become the deepest wound in her life, tormenting her forever.

I turned my indifferent eyes away from her. Artasha was now just a lingering attachment I no longer needed.

As I was about to leave, Artasha suddenly grabbed my wrist tightly.

“…I knew. My daughter, who never called me mother, suddenly started treating me warmly as if she had changed.”

Her voice carried a deeply buried sincerity.

“Is that so.”

“I must have been avoiding reality too. I missed my daughter’s smile so much after years of not seeing her, I didn’t want to lose this dreamlike time with her, so I turned a blind eye.”

“Yes, you ran away, Artasha.”

“Really… you’re not my daughter?”

The blue eyes that once looked at me with warm love now stared at me emptily.

My heart ached.

But the more it did, the more I sneered and mocked her.

“What do I have to do to make you believe? Should I dig up the grave of your husband, whom Tina loved?”

“…Where is my daughter?”

“Hmm, who knows? Maybe she’s in heaven?”

Considering Tina’s personality, she’s more likely in hell, but I didn’t need to add that.

Artasha staggered to her feet.

I was inwardly surprised by her steady stance.

Her only purpose in life was to live for her daughter. Now that that reason was gone, I thought she’d collapse weakly.

‘…What a strong person.’

I felt envy and resentment toward Tina again.

“One more question.”

“…Go ahead.”

“Why did you cry earlier?”

My body flinched.

I lowered my head for a moment, clenching my fists until they turned white.

“Artasha, your flailing was so ridiculous, I almost cried from laughter?”

“…”

“Well then, it was fun. Mother?”

Leaving a faint laugh behind, I walked forward.

Without looking back, I quickly left that place.

“One thing’s for sure. You’re just like my daughter in that you can’t lie.”

Ignoring her voice that trailed after me.

I just silently moved forward.

If I saw her expression now.

I might not be able to erase this lingering attachment.

※

My returned bedroom was eerily quiet.

Looking at the clock, it was already past 5 a.m.

In an hour, dawn would break, and the ashen world would be gently enveloped by warm sunlight.

But I wouldn’t be in that world anymore.

I slowly approached the mirror.

Something was waiting for me in the mirror.

“Can I go now?”

I asked it.

It smiled grotesquely, its mouth tearing wide.

Soon, the mirror slowly cracked, and a glass shard the size of my hand appeared before me.

I picked up the shard and stabbed it deeply into my hand.

With the flowing fresh blood, I drew a small pentagram on the wall.

Not long after, a black shadow monster leaped out from the glowing red circle and enveloped me in its embrace.

[Kihihihihuhuhuhaha! Finally… finally your soul has become tainted enough not to burn my hands.]

“…”

[You already know, don’t you? You can’t escape my grasp now.]

When did it start?

My will crumbled, and my body no longer moved as I wished.

My normal thoughts blurred and wavered.

[It’s no use trying to run. Your soul is no longer pure. Now it’s no different from an ordinary human.]

“I don’t care. As long as I can return to my mother.”

[Hoho, don’t worry. With you as you are now, you’ll surely cross the threshold of hell.]

The black shadow monster grinned grotesquely, its mouth tearing wide, and spat out a small object.

It was a familiar object.

The small kitchen knife I had used to end my life in my past life.

The monster smiled broadly and handed me the knife.

[Good girl. Just one last time.]

I slowly took the knife. The cold metal sensation made my entire body feel icy.

[Now, let’s rot in hell forever with me and your mother.]

The black shadow monster swelled as if about to burst, enveloping me and painting the surrounding space with darkness.

[Go on! Stab! Aim for the heart this time! And go to your mother!]

The darkness-covered space gradually fell into deep silence.

The faint sound of the dawn wind, the distant chirping of crickets, all disappeared into the darkness.

Finally, in the perfect silence, I gripped the knife tightly with both hands.

‘Still… there were some good memories.’

I raised the knife high.

Its tip aimed at my heart, and with this knife, my pitiful and ugly life would finally end.

But I wasn’t afraid.

For me, loneliness was a deeper pain than death.

With all my strength, I plunged the knife toward my heart.

And finally.

Thud—

With the sound of flesh tearing, red blood gushed out in the darkness.

The fresh blood soaked my white dress, warmly enveloping my body.

I felt strangely at peace.

Strangely, I felt no pain throughout the entire process.

‘…’

Really, there was no pain at all.

No, it was strangely painless.

“…Huh?”

Something was off.

“Rejoice in the fallen darkness, but cast a loving gaze upon the pure soul, for that is the essence of the devil.”

A voice of unknown gender spoke.

[…Impossible.]

The growling voice of the devil echoed.

“The devil’s temptation is fiercely alluring, its voice sweeter than honey and deeper than the abyss’ poison.”

[You, how could you!!!]

“They are beings of terror. The faith of evil, the darkness that evokes humanity’s primal fear.”

In the pitch-black space, a familiar voice echoed.

“But you know what, Tina? With an unwavering, resolute heart, devils are no more threatening than wild beasts.”

With a voice full of laughter, the darkness-filled space flashed brightly for a moment.

The light was so blinding I instinctively shut my eyes tightly.

“Tina, you can’t die until my revenge is complete.”

As the light gradually faded, I slowly opened my eyes.

There stood a girl.

A beautiful, kind girl with flowing pink hair.

“I won’t let you go until you’ve paid for your sins.”

“How… how did you…?”

Lillian Eldoria.

Her radiant smile left me speechless.

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