Chapter 78
D
“Then what about Agnes … and that pig–monster–thing?” I asked.}
Uncle Joe’s expression turned complicated, “They’re symbiotic now. Temporarily, they’re not in danger. But as long as Dawson is alive, their experiments won’t stop. We must stop him, otherwise, more young girls will be harmed.“}
As he said this, he handed me a small box, “This is your grandmother’s ashes. Keep her with you, she’ll protect you.“}
I took the box and tucked it into the pocket closest to my heart.
Then my phone lit up again. A message from the anonymous account came.}
[This is the address of Dawson’s lab. He’ll complete the final life swap ritual there. You have five hours. If you fail, your best friend will never come back. And your life will be in danger too. Dawson is after you. He won’t stop.]}
Reading that, I clenched my fists, my knuckles turned white.§
I arrived at the hospital where the association was based, held an access request form in my hand. A wave of unease rose in my chest. The truth was, I’d been to this hospital before.
Back in senior year of college, Agnes and I witnessed something here we could never explain.}
That winter, while intering at the hospital, we heard a meteor shower was coming. So we sneaked up to the rooftop.
But instead of stars, we saw a woman in a white dress, her hair down, she stood at the edge with her back to us.
We thought she was going to jump and rushed over to save her. But when we reached her, there was no one. Only a faint trail of wet footprints.
The records room manager looked puzzled when I requested Agnes’s file, “That’s strange… someone else just asked for her file earlier today.“2
My heart skipped. Was I too late??
But then the manager pulled out the file and handed it to me.
When I opened the folder, a photo slipped out. In the photo, Agnes was tied to a chair and had lost consciousness. On the back, it read: [Fifth attempt. Host reaction intense. Further soul–body separation required.] At the bottom right corner signed by Dawson.
I didn’t know why, but I always felt that the handwriting of this mastermind behind the scenes named Dawson seemed familiar. I felt like I’ve seen it somewhere, but I couldn’t remember where.
Then, under the light, something caught my eye behind the signature. When I looked at it under the light, it turned out to be a steel stamp.} I borrowed a pencil and a sheet of white paper and made a copy of the stamp. It turned out to be a pattern of a pig’s head.
My heart raced. I didn’t know why, but that pig head looked just like the sow at Uncle Joe’s farm.
Right then, another message arrived: [That seal under the signature, that’s Dawson’s lab insignia. There may be more answers inside.]} I immediately replied: [How do you know what I’m looking at? Who are you? Are you watching me? Are you working with Dawson?]}
The typing bubble appeared. Then, after a long pause, a reply came. But it wasn’t a message. It was a photo.
A college graduation picture. In the back row, a girl was circled in red ink.
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