Chapter 21:
In this vast cemetery lies the body of an evil man named George Mackenzie.
It was said that one of Willy’s friends got mysterious burns after fooling around in front of Mackenzie’s tombstone.
“Jimmy, if you’re really going there, then remember what I tell you.”
“You must never, ever close both eyes at the same time while you’re there.”
“Stay alert and keep your eyes wide open.”
To that, Jimmy had retorted, “Shut up, Willy. Stop with the nonsense.”
“Damn Willy, always saying creepy stuff like that.”
He knew it was just a joke meant to scare him, but there was one thing he couldn’t deny.
True to its nickname, “the most cursed graveyard in Britain,” this massive cemetery was a hotbed of bizarre paranormal activity.
Jimmy shook his head, trying to rid himself of fear.
“…Let’s just get out of here.”
He walked quickly toward the light coming from the main gate ahead.
Caw, caw!
A chilling cry echoed.
Flap—something suddenly darted toward his face.
“Ahh!”
Jimmy screamed and squeezed his eyes shut.
He flailed his arms wildly, trying to shoo the bird away.
Caw, caw.
Flap-flap.
It wasn’t just one bird.
With his eyes tightly shut, everything was black, but he could feel multiple birds pecking at him.
“Stop it, stop!”
Still refusing to open his eyes out of fear, Jimmy flailed his arms blindly.
Even though keeping his eyes open would’ve helped, he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. The image of the black bird charging at him was burned into his retinas.
“Just go away, you damn birds!”
Cold sweat trickled down his back as he desperately tried to drive off the unknown assailants.
Then, amidst his frantic arm-waving—
He touched something hard and cold, definitely not feathers.
“…”
The hair on the back of his neck stood up.
Come to think of it…
The presence of the birds that had been surrounding him was suddenly… gone.
As a strange silence settled around him, Jimmy slowly opened his eyes.
“…!”
And saw—right in front of him—
“A statue?!”
Its face was half-broken, giving it a grotesque appearance.
If his memory was correct, it had originally stood by the cemetery’s main gate.
“…”
He turned his head—and saw another statue beside him, posed as if trying to grab him.
He swallowed hard.
His heart pounded in terror as he slowly spun in place.
In front, beside, behind—
All in all, four statues had surrounded him.
Though their eyes were hollow and empty, Jimmy was certain.
They were all staring straight at him.
“Never close both eyes.”
He suddenly recalled something Willy had said earlier—something he hadn’t remembered until now.
“If you close both your eyes… those things start to move.”
He wanted to scream, but his mouth was too dry to make a sound.
Fear seeped into his capillaries. Terror took hold of his entire body, and his limbs, ice-cold, refused to move.
“…Ah.”
As he let out a tiny whimper—
Jimmy collapsed and fainted.
Just as Jimmy’s story reached its climax, Sally let out a scream.
“Kyaa!”
“….”
Jimmy and I both turned to look at her. Flushing with embarrassment, she offered a sheepish excuse.
“I do like scary stuff, but… I also get scared easily, hehe.”
Jimmy gave a dry laugh, clearly exasperated, and continued speaking.
“Anyway, at the time, I really thought I was going to die. I’ve got nerves of steel and don’t flinch at most things, but…”
He shook his head as if the memory still haunted him.
“That was the first time I ever thought, ‘A person really can die from sheer terror.’”
After processing Jimmy’s story in my head for a moment, I asked,
“So those statues attacked you?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, when you opened your eyes, there were four statues surrounding you, right?”
Jimmy blinked and nodded.
“Did they lunge at you? Grab you? Were they trying to hurt you?”
He thought for a moment, then shook his head.
“No. I’m sure they didn’t. They were just… pointing at something with their hands.”
“Pointing? At what?”
“That, I don’t really know. But anyway…”
He furrowed his brows slightly, recalling the event, then continued.
“When I came to, I didn’t have a single scratch on me.”
“And the statues?”
“They were back in their original positions.”
At that, Sally let out another quiet gasp.
Jimmy sighed.
“If they had actually attacked me, I wouldn’t be here now. So… did you enjoy the story?”
Just as he asked that—
The voice I’d been waiting for rang out.
[My apostle, Emily. I now command you in the name of the King…]
…Bingo.
I barely contained my delight and nodded.
“I liked it very much.”
“Well, that’s a relief. If you’d like, I can even give you a tour of the cemetery. I know the caretaker there.”
Now that was a more than welcome offer for me.
“After I fainted, the caretakers told me that the statues are known to be a bit strange.”
“Strange how?”
“Well, after night passes, their expressions or postures tend to change. They say it gives them the creeps.”
So that’s why they say, “Don’t close your eyes.”
I committed each sentence of Jimmy’s story firmly to memory.
That night.
I told Helena about Jimmy’s story when she returned after having dinner with an acquaintance.
As soon as she heard the phrase “living statues,” she immediately said,
“That’s an old urban legend.”
“Really?”
Helena, who had been reading a book while leaning against the headboard, sat up to face me.
She removed her reading glasses and continued.
“Statues that appear normal when you’re looking, but move like living creatures when no one’s watching. It’s a classic theme in old folklore.”
I mulled over her words before asking,
“Do humans feel an unconscious fear of inanimate objects that resemble them?”
“That’s one way to look at it. But there are historical reasons too.”
Helena made the sign of the cross over her chest and went on.
“During the Middle Ages, churches made tons of statues resembling saints to attract large numbers of uneducated believers.”
It’s ironic, really—using idols to spread a religion that forbade idol worship.
Helena added that this practice contributed to the spread of “statue horror stories” across Europe.
“I’ll gather more information about this case.”
“Thanks, Helena.”
I kissed her on the cheek and returned to my room.
Lying in bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Jimmy had said.
“Never close both eyes.”
“Stay alert and keep your eyes wide open.”
Statues that move only when you blink or close your eyes…
Maybe it was the intensity of that image, or maybe it was just exhaustion from traveling—
But as soon as I fell asleep, I dreamed of statues trying to grab hold of me.
In the dream, they charged at me whether my eyes were open or closed.
Bang! Bang-bang-bang!
Instead of running away, I shot at them with everything I had.
Staying at Sir Graham’s Edinburgh country house was nothing short of delightful.
“Emily, shall we go for a light walk today?”
“I’d love to.”
In the mornings, I enjoyed the meals the staff had prepared, then rode horses nearby with Henry.
At lunch, I played cards with Helena and Sally or went sightseeing around the area.
In the evenings, I’d visit the university to see Jimmy.
On the third day, I went to meet Jimmy outside the medical building, as usual.
When he saw me, he scratched his head awkwardly and asked,
“Madam, is it safe to assume that you’re doing all this because you accepted my request?”
The request—pretending to be in a romantic relationship so others would see them as a couple.
It wasn’t exactly a difficult task.
“That’s right.”
As soon as I answered, Jimmy gave a relieved smile.
“I was kind of nervous, but I didn’t expect you to agree so easily.”
“I’m more easygoing than I look.”
At that, Jimmy gave me a quick once-over and nodded.
“Yeah, I can see that. Then may I escort you, my lady?”
I lightly linked arms with him.
Though they pretended not to look, I could feel the stares from students around the building.
A couple made up of a university student and a noblewoman wasn’t that unusual, but the level of attention we drew…
‘It must mean Jimmy really draws people’s curiosity.’
Jimmy Miranda Berry probably lived in a world where such curiosity was a daily occurrence.
…And unchecked curiosity can easily turn into hostility.
“Shall we go, darling?”
I pressed up against him, using a ridiculous nickname for added effect.
I heard small gasps from those who had been pretending not to watch us.
“How was that? Satisfying enough?”
Jimmy looked at me and gave a faint smile.
“More than enough.”
And just like that, we got into the carriage.
When I looked outside, I could see the medical students still staring at the back of our departing carriage.
“Ah, this is kind of fun.”
I giggled at their foolish expressions.
Jimmy glanced at me and chuckled in disbelief.
“You really are something, Madam…”
“Something wonderful, right?”
“No, not that.”
That’s what he said.
But judging by the look on his face, he was pretty pleased.
