Chapter 20
Thump thump!
“Is anyone there? Mr. Denver!”
She had been knocking on the door for tens of minutes, but there was no response.
Isabelle tiptoed and peered into the house where faint light was leaking out.
‘I can’t see well… I can definitely sense someone inside, though…’
She squinted one eye to look inside, but soon realized this method wouldn’t work and stepped back from the window. The entire window was covered with thick curtains, and all she could see was a faint sliver through the gap.
‘If Mr. Denver is close to Hybert, I have to meet him.’
As she wondered if there was a way to sneak inside, she tried shaking each window.
Rattle.
One window creaked and slowly slid open. Isabelle froze in disbelief—she hadn’t expected it to open so easily—and quickly scanned her surroundings.
“All clear for now.”
After confirming no one was around, she leapt and perched on the window ledge.
“Sorry, Mr. Denver. It’s urgent.”
She apologized to the empty air and quickly slipped inside.
‘Looks like there was a fire just a while ago…’
Through the black ashes in the fireplace, she could see small embers that hadn’t been fully extinguished. Denver was definitely somewhere inside the house.
Other signs also suggested someone lived here: the dishes on the table weren’t dried out, and there was still damp laundry scattered about.
Passing through the kitchen and surveying the messy living room, Isabelle quietly made her way to what she assumed was the bedroom, where light leaked out.
“Mr. Denver?”
She called his name and cautiously pushed the door.
Creeeak—
The old, un-oiled door groaned as it opened. Stepping inside, Isabelle’s voice burst out in urgency.
“Mr. Denver!”
Denver was on the floor, foaming at the mouth. Isabelle hurried to support him, pressing her ear against his chest. His irregular heartbeat gradually returned to normal. It seemed he had merely fainted.
‘But why did he faint? Was something shocking enough to make him foam at the mouth?’
Isabelle tilted her head in confusion.
Denver was a robust man, far larger than most. Judging by the many hunting rifles on the walls and animal hides on the floor, he appeared to be a hunter. What could possibly startle a man like this?
Then, the fingers sprawled on the floor twitched, and Denver grimaced as he lifted his eyelids.
“Mr. Denver, are you conscious?”
“…Ugh.”
“Mr. Denver?”
“…Aaah!”
Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he pushed Isabelle away, crawling toward the wall. He curled up in a corner, muttering to himself.
‘Ah, right. I broke in without permission.’
Realizing her predicament, Isabelle tried to explain, but Denver was already too frightened to listen. In a quivering voice, he repeated the same words.
“Please… save me… I beg you, save me!”
“Mr. Denver, are you okay? Calm down a little.”
Feeling something was off, Isabelle approached and grabbed his shoulder. Denver screamed and shook violently as if he had seen a ghost.
“Mr. Denver? Mr. Denver!”
“Ugh… I can’t hear you! Go away!”
Startled by his violent reaction, Isabelle stepped back and observed him closely.
Looking more carefully, she realized that despite his strong build, he was in poor condition. Dark shadows stretched under his eyes to his chin, and his hair looked matted and unwashed. His clothes were covered in food stains, and his body emitted a strange smell.
‘That explains why the dishes were piled up and everything was messy.’
Denver had likely been holed up in the house for quite some time, hiding from the outside world.
Isabelle cautiously placed her hand on his shoulder. Denver stiffened immediately.
“Ah! You… you touched me…”
“Of course. I’m human.”
“…Human?”
Denver slowly lifted his head. Isabelle forced a gentle smile to show she wasn’t a threat. He rubbed his tired eyes and slowly stood up.
“Are you really human?”
“Yes. You can touch me, can’t you?”
He grasped her hand warily, flinching, then exhaled deeply.
Still suspicious, he asked,
“But who are you? Why are you in my house without permission?”
‘Oh no…’
Flustered, Isabelle quickly changed the topic.
“Well… um! Do you know Mr. Hybert? I heard he’s your close friend.”
“…Hybert?”
“Yes. I came looking for you to ask about him. Ms. Amanda gave me your address.”
“Tch. That woman caused trouble, huh.”
Denver wiped cold sweat from his face and sat on the edge of the bed, the old springs groaning.
“Sorry, I don’t know much about Hybert. You probably won’t get the info you’re looking for.”
“Still, since I’m here, may I ask a few questions?”
“Hmph… Don’t you know you should reveal your identity before asking favors? Though, seeing as you broke in, maybe you don’t.”
Isabelle flinched and handed him her business card.
“Haha, I’m late with introductions. I’m Isabelle, a detective. I’m looking for the missing Mr. Hybert.”
Denver crumpled the card without looking at it.
“If that’s your mission, it’s useless.”
“Useless?”
“Just go. I have nothing to tell you.”
He pushed Isabelle toward the door. She held onto the frame, shouting.
“I only have a few questions! You’re a friend of Hybert, aren’t you? Don’t you care about him?”
“….”
Denver suddenly stopped, wiped his face, and spoke.
“Hybert is already dead. No point in looking for him.”
“….”
‘He knows Hybert is dead?’
Certain Denver could hold clues to the case, Isabelle pressed on.
“Mr. Denver, you know something, don’t you?”
“I don’t! I know nothing!”
“Then what about Dr. Morus?”
“….”
Denver lowered his hands from his ears, eyes darting nervously.
Dilated pupils, trembling body, foaming at the mouth—reactions to uncontrollable fear.
Isabelle seized the opportunity.
“Hybert met Dr. Morus and disappeared. And as you said, he died, right?”
“Shh! Quiet! Don’t talk about Dr. Morus! He’s always around. He could be listening even now!”
His eyes bulged, veins visible, darting everywhere. Isabelle tried to calm him.
“Mr. Denver, Dr. Morus isn’t omnipotent. He’s just a fraud, exploiting people’s weaknesses under the guise of healing for his own gain.”
“Damn it! Shut your mouth! He’s different! He’s special!”
Denver suddenly raged, clearly unhinged. In minutes, his emotions swung wildly.
“Yeah… Hybert was chosen by him. So he collected the ingredients, just as he was told.”
‘So it was connected.’
“Tell me in detail.”
“Luckily, Hybert had many ingredients. He had… many wives.”
Isabelle covered her mouth in shock.
According to Denver, Hybert intended to use his wives as ingredients to heal someone.
“So I thought his wish could soon be fulfilled… But foolish Hybert. He angered him, and in the end, Hybert became an ingredient himself.”
Denver, furious, now began tearing at his hair while crying.
“Mr. Denver, is all this true? Hybert became an ingredient?”
Denver’s expression hardened.
“I said nothing. I know nothing. Just go. Leave now!”
“W-wait!”
He shoved her out, and Isabelle landed hard on her rear. She rubbed it and looked up.
“Don’t ever come back. Next time, I’ll shoot your head.”
Bang!
Isabelle, frustrated, got up slowly.
“…Everyone seems intent on killing me today. Unbelievable.”
She decided to return tomorrow.
Watching her leave through the curtains, Denver noticed the open window and muttered,
“The… window. I need to lock the window!”
He locked all the windows, drew the curtains, and moved heavy furniture to block every entrance. Returning to the bedroom, he covered himself with a blanket.
“Now no one can find me. I will never die.”
At that moment—
Splash—
“…?”
A sound came from somewhere. His hands gripping the blanket twitched. He should have been alone, but he heard footsteps… wet footsteps.
“No! I don’t want to become an ingredient!”
Denver cried, hiding in the closet, his eyes peeking through the slits, shaking violently.
Splash… splash…
The footsteps seemed to be searching the house.
Denver felt his hands and feet grow cold.
‘I won’t get caught here. I’ll be fine.’
Then the footsteps stopped right outside the bedroom.
Splash… splash…
Suddenly, they drew closer. Denver buried his face in his knees, covering his mouth.
A chilling nursery rhyme echoed in the room:
“Hide and seek, hide your hair—”
The song wandered around the bedroom, eerie and haunting.
After what felt like forever, the song and footsteps vanished.
Denver slowly lifted his trembling hands.
“Huuu….”
Then he saw it.
Through dozens of narrow gaps in the wardrobe, a pair of pitch-black eyes stared.
Denver couldn’t even scream. He began sobbing quietly.
The black figure stretched its mouth into a grotesque grin.
Hee hee hee hee…
“I found you.”
