They walked through different areas of the village, passing by people who lived in quiet harmony.

The houses stood neat and well-kept, each a testament to its owners' care.

Arthur observed the scene, his gaze lingering on the small details, the way laundry swayed gently in the breeze, the scent of fresh bread drifting from an open window.

Then, without warning, Terrence stopped. Arthur nearly bumped into him, his curiosity piqued. He followed Terrence’s gaze and immediately felt his stomach tighten.

The house before them was in shambles. The walls bore deep, jagged scratches as if clawed by something unbelievable. The ceiling sagged, riddled with holes, barely holding itself together.

“This is her house,” Terrence murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as he shoved his hands into his pockets.

Arthur’s brows knitted together. “Is she the only one living here?” he asked, his eyes sweeping over every inch of the deteriorating structure, his mind racing to assemble an image of the person who called this place home.

Terrence hesitated. “She told me she lived with her mother, but... I’ve never actually seen her mother.” He paused, pressing a finger to his chin, his expression clouding with thought.

“If we go inside, we might find out more.”

He knocked twice on the door. They waited… only silence answered back.

Terrence shifted on his feet, his impatience evident in the way His fingers tapped anxiously against his forearm. He knocked again, harder this time.

“Is anybody home? If someone’s inside, please answer us!” His voice carried a slight edge, tight with frustration.

Still, there was no answer.

Clicking his tongue, he reached for the doorknob. Arthur watched as Terrence’s fingers curled around the rusted metal and gave it a twist.

The door creaked open far too easily, the sound scraping against their ears loudly.

Their eyes met. Neither spoke, but the same unsettling thought flashed between them—

Something was wrong.

Terrence stepped inside first.

“Are we really doing this?” Arthur asked, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. His voice was low, uncertain.

Terrence’s eyebrows furrowed.

“No. But what else can we do? No one’s answering.” He hesitated for a moment, worry tightening his voice. “And… I’m worried about Lily too. Maybe we’ll find her mother.”

Arthur exhaled sharply, pressing his lips together.

“Fine. But let’s not get caught.” His hand curled into a tight fist, tension rippling through his body. He didn’t like this, not one bit, but he had no choice.

Inside, they were met with an unexpected sight.

The interior was oddly well-kept. Dust clung to the sofa, but not enough to make it unlivable. The kitchen sink was clean, utensils were neatly arranged. Even the floorboards, though worn, bore no signs of neglect.

Terrence let out a sigh, dropping onto the couch, rubbing his temple.

“So much for answers,” he muttered, frustration clear in the way he ran a hand down his face.

Arthur remained standing, his gaze sweeping across the room. Something didn’t add up.

“This is… odd,”

he whispered, unease curling in his chest.

“Something’s not right.”

His gaze drifted slowly across the dim interior, taking in every shadow, every corner—until—

A low, inhuman sound cut through the thick silence, freezing him in place.

A shudder crawled up their spines. The fine hairs on Arthur’s arms stood on end, his breath catching in his throat.

The air in the room shifted, thickening, pressing down on them like an unseen force.

They exchanged glances.

“W-What was that?” Terrence’s voice came out barely above a whisper, his lips trembling against his will.

Arthur swallowed hard. “I don’t know… But we have to find out.”

He stepped forward, eyes fixed on the corridor ahead, where a room waited at the far end.

Only a thin curtain swaying slightly, as if something had just slipped past..

A sliver of shadow leaked through the opening, hinting at the faint outline of a bed inside. Every instinct in him screamed that something was terribly wrong.

The air grew heavier, suffocating, as if it wanted to choke them. Each breath came heavy, laden with something they couldn’t name.

They reached the doorway.

And froze.

Their eyes grew wide in shock. Breaths caught in their throats. Stomachs twisted into tight, anxious knots.

A woman lay on the bed, her limbs bound, wrists and ankles secured tightly.

But it wasn’t the restraints that unsettled them—it was the way she moved.

Her body jerked in erratic, unnatural spasms, as if something inside her was clawing to escape.

Ragged, wheezing breaths tore from her chest. Her fingers twitched violently, curling and uncurling against the restraints as if possessed.

Arthur’s legs felt impossibly heavy, his body locked in frozen disbelief.

Terrence’s breath was shaky, his fingers trembling at his sides.

“W-We shouldn’t be here,” he whispered, barely able to form the words.

Arthur took a step forward, instinct driving him to help but Terrence grabbed his arm, his grip tight with unspoken urgency.

Arthur turned to him, confusion flashing across his face.

“Why are you stopping me?” His voice was low, cracking slightly.

Terrence swallowed hard. “I-I have a bad f-feeling about this.” His lips quivered, fingers cold and unsteady.

Before Arthur could respond, a chilling wail tore through the room.

“Lily!”

The woman’s voice twisted with rage and desperation

“Release me!” Her voice ripped through the room, thick and heavy, pressing down on everything around her.

“I’m your mother! How can you do this to your own mother?! You piece of shit!”

Her words tumbled out in curses, each one more venomous than the last. She thrashed violently, the bed creaking beneath her weight.

“Let me die in peace!!”

Her screams swallowed the entire house, the sheer force of her voice rattling through their bones.

Arthur and Terrence stood frozen, trapped in place, their minds struggling to process the horror before them.

Alice and Lily sat at a table set for the contest judges.

Lily’s eyes locked onto her, frowning deeply.

“Why are we judging the contest? I thought we came to eat.” Her stare was tense and sharp, her fingers tapping lightly against the table in irritation.

Alice laughed awkwardly, fidgeting in her seat as if trying to cut through the heavy tension.

“W-Well… I didn’t have my wallet with me, and Arthur went somewhere without telling me.” She hesitated, forcing a small, awkward smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“So… I thought it’d be best to come here and, uh, eat for free, right?” She raised a shaky peace sign, her smile just barely holding together.

Lily exhaled, arms crossing as she leaned back.

“Well, I guess it’s okay since we won’t have to spend a penny.” She sighed, her expression softening slightly.

The contest finally started. The contestants moved with practiced precision, slicing, stirring, and plating with focused determination. The air grew thick with the rich aroma of spices, sizzling meats, and freshly baked bread.

The scent wrapped around them, warm and inviting.

Lily’s stomach let out a low, audible growl.

Alice turned to her with a teasing smile.

“You sure are hungry, aren’t you?” Her voice was light, but there was a knowing glint in her eyes.

Lily stiffened, a faint pink dusting her cheeks. She quickly turned away, pretending to focus on the competition.

As the contest continued, some contestants finished their dishes, carefully arranging them with artistic flair.

The atmosphere became tense, charged with silent competition. This wasn’t just about winning a prize—this was their pride as chefs on the line.

Finally, it was time for their job. Plates were placed before them, each dish a masterpiece in its own right.

Alice noticed only one spoon and fork at their table. She stood up, raising her hand with a bright smile.

“Excuse me, can I have another spoon and fork, please?” Her voice was gentle, careful not to disrupt the flow of the event.

A staff member hurried over, her brows furrowing slightly.

“Apologies, we thought we had prepared everything beforehand.” Her voice was low, her lips pressing together in a small frown.

Alice shook her head with a reassuring wave of her hand.

“Oh no, it’s okay! I came here with a friend, so I need two.”

The staff’s gaze shifted toward Lily, who kept her head down, shoulders slightly hunched.

A flicker of understanding passed through the staff member’s face before she offered a small smile.

“I see. Well, please enjoy the contest to your heart’s content.” Her tone softened as she placed the utensils down and walked away.

Alice sat back down, her eyes settling on Lily, who hadn’t lifted her head.

“What’s wrong?” Her brows lifted slightly in concern.

Lily hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.

“N-Nothing.” Her voice was quiet, almost hesitant. She slowly raised her spoon and took a bite, her movements careful.

As they ate, the announcer’s voice suddenly rang out, making them pause.

“All contestants, please proceed to where your dishes were assigned.”

Alice looked up just as a man approached their table. He had a gentle smile, his posture straight yet relaxed.

“Good afternoon, Judge. I’m Bob. It’s my honor to serve you a dish that I personally made.” His tone was polite, but there was a quiet confidence in it.

Alice cleared her throat, adjusting her posture slightly. The warmth in her demeanor didn’t fade, but there was a shift, something more serious now.

She smiled. “I didn’t really know the flow of the contest, so I thought all the dishes that were served at our table were made by all the contestants.” Her eyes lingered on the food on the table.

“There were so many… Knowing that you cooked this many within a time limit, I respect that.”

Bob lowered his head slightly, a gesture of humility.

“Thank you for the compliment. I appreciate it.” His voice was steady, respectful.

Alice turned to Lily, who was still eating. “What do you think, Lily? Is it delicious?” She tilted her head slightly, watching her friend’s reaction.

Lily swallowed slowly. Her hand trembled as she set her spoon down with deliberate care. Her lips parted, but no words came at first.

Her fingers curled slightly against the table, lips pressed together as a single tear slid down her cheek.

Alice and Bob watched as a single tear slipped down Lily’s cheek. They were surprised by her sudden behavior.

Lily blinked, as if just realizing she was crying. Her breath hitched. She quickly raised her hand, covering her face as if trying to hide.

“I-It’s… v-very delicious,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I’ve never tasted anything this… good before. T-Thank you.” Her voice wavered, raw and uncertain, as if the words felt foreign on her tongue.

Alice smiled softly, reaching out to pat Lily’s head. She then turned to Bob.

“I guess seeing her like this proves how delicious your dish is.” Alice said gently while her eyes shimmered like stars.

Bob’s lips curled into a wide smile, his eyes glistening with emotion. He bowed deeply.

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I will treasure this for the rest of my life.” His voice was strong, resolute.