Chapter 10

"It's time to relax." Winona's voice was indifferent as she spoke. "So you're just here to score a free meal?" What was meant as a joke took an unexpected turn when Winona turned to Hudson with a chip in her mouth and nodded earnestly. Hudson couldn't help but feel exasperated. "I'm going to shower," he said, getting up and heading toward the bathroom. But before he knew it, Winona followed, already starting to unbutton her shirt. "What are you doing?" Hudson spun around quickly as his face turned bright red. Winona looked at him innocently, her pale abdomen catching the light with a soft glow. "Didn't we agree that there will be a no-blind-spot surveillance for 24 hours? I have to supervise even when you're showering." "Wait! That's completely inappropriate! Can't I at least have some privacy in the shower? I managed on my own this morning, didn't I?" Winona tilted her head, pondering for a moment before reluctantly nodding. "Fine, but just while you're showering. There's no letting your guard down at any other time." Relieved, Hudson quickly slipped into the bathroom as he was afraid she might change her mind. The sound of water soon echoed in the bathroom. Back on the couch, Winona allowed a faint smile to surface. Of course she remembered that he had showered alone earlier that morning. She had only been teasing him as his shy reactions were surprisingly adorable. Later that night, they ended up sharing the bed, complete with the blanket, handcuffs, and all. Hudson had protested but ultimately lost the argument. "Good night," Winona said, shutting her eyes immediately. In just seconds, her breathing became slow and steady. It was uncanny how disciplined she was about time—down to the very second. With no other choice, Hudson closed his eyes as well. That said, he felt like he could run for 24 hours on just a five-minute charge for some inexplicable reason. He slowly sat up and was startled to discover that Winona was no longer beside him. He glanced around but didn't see her anywhere in the room. "What happened to the whole 24-hour surveillance thing?" he muttered with a wry smile. At first, he thought she might have gone to the bathroom, but after waiting over ten minutes, there was still no sign of her. He got out of bed—luckily, she hadn't cuffed him to the bed this time—threw on a jacket, and stepped out. After a quick check of the bathroom and finding no one there, he heard faint noises coming from the balcony. Cautiously, he approached the balcony. What he saw took his breath away. Under the soft glow of moonlight, Winona stood leaning against the railing, her figure wrapped in a gentle halo of silver light. She was wearing a white lace nightgown, making her look like a dream. The thin fabric of her dress fluttered lightly in the night breeze, outlining her delicate curves. The lace trimming on her shoulders peeked through, adding a touch of quiet allure. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her back, contrasting with her porcelain-like skin, making her appear ethereal and otherworldly. Her hands rested lightly on the railing as she gazed up at the sky. Her expression was serene but tinged with a faint melancholy. Her long, narrow eyes seemed to hold the reflection of the moon, filled with a quiet sadness. As Hudson stood there, entranced, Winona tilted her head slightly, her cool gaze locking onto him. "If you sneak up on me like that again, I'll kill you," she said. Her words caught Hudson off guard. He scratched the back of his head as his cheeks burned. "I wasn't sneaking around... I was just worried since you'd been gone for a while." Winona let out a soft laugh, her frosty demeanor melting instantly. "I was just joking." Hudson felt his heart skip a beat at her sudden, radiant smile. His feet, as if moving on their own, carried him closer until he was standing beside her on the balcony. "Can't sleep?" he asked, trying to break the silence. She hummed in response. "Do you have something on your mind?" "Your mom and dad are good people, Hudson," she said. The unexpected statement caught Hudson off guard. He chuckled awkwardly. "My mom's just a softie, and my dad… Well, don't let his gruff exterior fool you. He's just not great at expressing himself. Guess I take after him—" "Hudson," she interrupted him, her gaze steady as she spoke with deliberate clarity. "If you ever become infected, I'll kill you." He didn't respond immediately. After a moment, he sighed. "If I turn into something like Anne—a monster that eats people—then yeah, you should." "But…" Winona's eyes wavered. "Your parents will be heartbroken if that happens." He hadn't expected her to say something like that. He'd assumed she was cold and unfeeling, that her detached demeanor was just an act. But now, he realized Winona was more vulnerable than he had imagined. "That's why I'll do my best not to become infected. I'll turn into one of those... What do you call them? Awakened ones?" Winona couldn't help but laugh. "You're such an idiot. That's not something you can control." She rested her head on the railing, falling silent for a while. Eventually, she spoke again, breaking the quiet. "I wasn't lying today." "About what?" Hudson asked in a confused tone. "My parents died in a beast attack when I was very young. My mentor took me in after. He's my father now. And yes, he really is just a laborer." That explained a lot. It seemed she cared deeply about how she was perceived, not wanting him to think she was trying to earn sympathy. "Your mentor must love you a lot," he said with a smile. She nodded firmly. "He's the kindest person in the world." He thought that must be the reason why she was so bright at school. Perhaps every side of her—the cheerful girl at school, the strict observer by his side, and the ruthless fighter during missions—was genuinely her. They were all parts of the real Winona. "So, who's stronger—you or your mentor?" he asked on a whim. "My mentor is a veteran Awakened from the organization. I'm just a half-baked novice. Honestly, I…" She hesitated. "I'm scared of fighting beasts. I can handle the infected, but when it comes to beasts…" He understood. Losing her parents to beasts had left an indelible scar on her, a shadow she couldn't easily escape. "Maybe I'm just not cut out for combat…" As she spoke, he stretched and leaned closer to her. "But you still choose to fight, to face what you're not good at. That's pretty amazing if you ask me." Winona turned to him slightly with a faint, guilty smile on her lips. "Hudson, did I go too far today? I knew we're not… like that, but I still said those things to your parents. I'm sorry. Once the surveillance ends, I'll explain everything to them." Her words stirred a faint sense of disappointment in Hudson. A week would pass quickly. "Hudson, I like your parents a lot. Being with your mom reminds me of…" Her voice faltered, and she choked up. He gently wiped away her tears as he said jokingly, "If you don't mind, the surveillance could just… keep going." "What did you say?" her wide eyes reflected her genuine shock. "It's just an extra fork at the table, right?" he scratched his head while smiling. Winona bit her lip lightly, seemingly at a loss for words. Just as she was about to respond, a fleeting crimson light flashed in her eyes. A sudden, muffled scream echoed from the alley below. Hudson had heard it too. As he turned his head to look, she was already out the door. Realizing something was wrong, he hesitated briefly before chasing after her. The stillness of the night was pierced by a bloodcurdling scream coming from a dimly lit alley. It was followed by the sound of something being dragged and the wet, grotesque noise of chewing. When Winona and Hudson arrived, the sight before them was horrifying. A woman in a white coat was being dragged into the shadows of the alley by a foul monster. Blood streaked the ground, soaking her clothes. The woman was barely alive, completely helpless to save herself. Under the faint moonlight, they had a clear view of the monster. It had the lower body of a human, but its upper body was insect-like, covered in segmented limbs. Its head was a distorted human face, grinning as it feasted on the woman's flesh. The woman was collapsed on the ground. She twitched and convulsed weakly. The monster seemed to intentionally keep her alive. It devoured her bit by bit, slapping her head occasionally, forcing her to emit feeble, agonized moans. Watching herself being eaten bit by bit while still alive was undoubtedly the most painful and despairing thing in this world.