Chapter 75: THE NIGHTMARE THAT PASSED

Lydia opened her eyes and the first thing she noticed was the smell of damp tent fabric, a mixture of nylon fibers and morning dew that had soaked into its seams. The ceiling above her was moss green with stitch lines clearly visible under the thin light filtering in from outside, and in the top right corner there was a single leak spot where the light entered brighter than elsewhere, leaving a pale brown circle on her sleeping bag. The tent was big enough for six people but now held only four sleeping bodies—Iris on the far left with her hands folded over her stomach and her mouth slightly open, Eve beside her with glasses still on her face even though her eyes were tightly shut, Aria whose fingers gripped the edge of her sleeping bag as if holding something precious, and Nora whose sleep was the neatest with hands at her sides and steady breathing like a soldier resting in the barracks.

Lydia tried to sit up and her head immediately throbbed—not throbbing like an ordinary headache, more like something was stuck inside her skull, something that wanted to get out but couldn’t. She pressed her temples with two fingers. Her skin felt hot. Her throat was dry.

She tried to remember. Tent. Campfire. Lake. Dinner. Then blank. Not blurry—blank. Like a page had been torn from a book and the remnants of the tear were still visible at the edge but the contents were gone. She knew there was something there. She knew she was supposed to remember something. But every time she tried to reach for it, all she got was a piercing pain behind her eyes.

Hff.

She crawled slowly, past Iris sleeping with her mouth slightly open, past Eve whose glasses were crooked, past Aria whose fingers still gripped the fabric, past Nora who even in sleep looked alert, then carefully unzipped the tent—zzzip—and crawled out.

The morning air greeted her like a slap. Cold. Very cold. Dew still clung to the grass and thin mist hung between the pine trees, making everything look like an unfinished painting. The sun hadn’t fully risen yet—just a slice of orange on the eastern horizon and the rest was still dark blue. Kai stood near the long wooden table with his back to the tent, wearing a black t-shirt and gray training pants without a jacket without a tie, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and occasionally the sound of a knife cutting something hard could be heard from his direction.

Lydia took one step forward, two steps, then the wind blew—whoosh—not an ordinary wind, a wind that pierced cold and sharp like needles stabbing through pores. Lydia shivered. Her arms wrapped around her own body and her teeth chattered without her being able to stop it.

Kai turned. He didn’t say anything. He just put down his knife—clack—then walked to the tent, took something from inside, and returned with a thick dark brown blanket whose fine fur looked warm. He draped the blanket over Lydia’s shoulders.

"Thank you, Sir," Lydia said in a hoarse voice.

Kai smiled—only the corner of his lips rising slightly, a smile that was almost invisible and didn’t reach his eyes, but enough to make Lydia feel a little warmer—then he returned to the cutting board and the sound of the knife cutting was heard again.

Lydia pulled the blanket tighter and stepped closer to the wooden table. On the table was a large pot steaming with the savory warm aroma of meat mixed with a slight smell of spices she didn’t recognize. Kai was stirring the pot with a wooden spoon.

"Are you making meat soup, Mr. Kai?" Lydia asked.

Kai didn’t answer. He kept stirring. Lydia waited one second, two seconds, then asked again.

"What meat are you using?"

Kai still didn’t answer. He lifted his wooden spoon, blew on it once—huuh—then tasted it. His expression didn’t change. He added a pinch of salt from the small bowl beside the cutting board.

Lydia tried again. "Ella and the others... have they woken up?"

Kai poured soup from the pot into a white ceramic bowl. The steam billowed carrying a stronger aroma. He placed the bowl on the table and pushed it toward Lydia.

Lydia received it without the slightest hesitation. She lifted the bowl to her lips and sipped the broth.

Then something caught in her throat.

Lydia choked. Her eyes widened. She looked down, opened her mouth, and spat what was caught in her throat onto the ground.

Hair. Long black hair. Wet. Clumped.

Blood on Lydia’s face flowed out. She stared at the bowl in her hands. The broth was still steaming. But now she could see the pieces inside. Not carrots. Not potatoes. Pieces of fingers. Pieces of ears. Something round and white that might be eyes.

The bowl fell from her hands and shattered on the ground. The broth spread wetting the grass and revealing its horrifying contents.

Lydia stepped back one step, two steps. Her body trembled violently. She stared at Kai.

"Sir... what is this..."

Kai looked at her with an empty face. Then the environment changed. The sky turned red. The trees turned red. The grass turned red. Everything red. And Kai approached slowly with his hand outstretched as if wanting to reach Lydia. The approaching Kai began to melt. His skin flowed like wax. His eyes melted. His mouth melted. His body collapsed slowly flowing to the ground but still approaching, still reaching out with a hand that had lost its shape.

Lydia couldn’t move. Kai approached until a few centimeters from Lydia’s face.

Then Lydia opened her eyes.

She woke up with her body soaked in sweat. Her breath was panting and her chest rose and fell rapidly. She looked around—moss green tent, stitches, leak spot in the top right corner, Iris, Eve, Aria, Nora. Tent. She closed her eyes and tried to calm her heartbeat. A dream. Just a dream.

But when she opened her eyes again, she saw the sleeping bag, the tent fabric, Iris sleeping with her mouth open, Eve whose glasses were crooked, Aria gripping the fabric, Nora whose sleep was neat. This was the same. Exactly the same.

Lydia crawled out of the tent carefully so as not to wake the others. She came out into the morning air and the same wind hit her—whoosh—the same cold, the same dew. And there, Kai stood with his back to the tent in a black t-shirt and gray training pants, sleeves rolled up, cutting something on the cutting board.

Lydia froze. Her body began to tremble not from cold but from something else, something creeping from inside her stomach rising to her chest to her throat.

Kai turned and saw Lydia trembling violently, her body shaking like a leaf in the wind. Kai put down his knife—clack—then walked to the tent, took the dark brown blanket, and returned draping it over Lydia’s shoulders.

"You’re cold," Kai said in a calm voice. "Sit down first. I’m making breakfast."

Lydia stared at him for a long time with a pale face. But finally she nodded slowly.

"Alright, Sir. Thank you."

Kai led her to a folding wooden chair he had prepared near the table and Lydia sat with the blanket still draped over her shoulders. Kai returned to the cutting board and the sound of the knife was heard again. He poured soup into a white ceramic bowl, the steam billowed, then placed it on the table and pushed it toward Lydia.

Lydia stared at the bowl then stared at Kai with a serious face.

Kai furrowed his brow with a confused face. "Why? Don’t you like soup?"

Lydia didn’t answer. She reached for the bowl, lifted it, and stared at its contents. Clear broth with pieces of carrot, potato, and celery. Vegetables. Only vegetables.

Lydia let out a sigh of relief then received the bowl. "Thank you, Sir."

Kai nodded and poured soup for himself then sat in the chair across from Lydia. He sipped his soup and Lydia also sipped her soup. It tasted a bit bland but not bad. Warm. Simple.

Then Lydia choked.

Kai lifted his head. "Why?"

Lydia covered her mouth with her hand and her eyes widened. She spat what was caught in her throat into her palm. Carrot. A piece of carrot that wasn’t perfectly cooked. Hard.

Lydia stared at the carrot then stared at Kai then laughed.

Kai furrowed his brow. "What’s funny?"

"Nothing," Lydia said still laughing. "Nothing. I was just thinking."

Kai shook his head and stood taking a teapot of warm tea from near the campfire then poured tea into a small cup and placed it in front of Lydia.

"Sorry," Kai said. "This is my first time making soup. I didn’t know the carrots weren’t cooked yet."

Lydia received the teacup. "It’s okay, Sir. Actually I should be the one thanking you. I’m the first person to taste your cooking."

Kai blinked and stared at the pot over the fire then the cutting board then his expression changed because he remembered something.

"Oh. I was cooking meat."

Lydia who was sipping her tea immediately tensed and put down her cup. "What meat, Sir?"

Kai didn’t answer. He walked toward the campfire and took a piece of wood then moved the still-hot charcoal and took out a package from aluminum foil. The package was hot and Kai used a cloth to lift it. He placed it on a wooden plate and unfolded the wrapping—sss—and steam billowed out. Meat. Whole. Golden brown with seasoning absorbed into its surface.

Kai took a knife and began slicing it—shlick, shlick—thin slices that he placed on bread. He gave the meat sandwich to Lydia and Lydia stared at it with doubt but she received it. She lifted the sandwich to her mouth and bit into it—crunch—and her eyes widened.

"This is beef."

Kai nodded. "Yes. I bought it at the store yesterday. I grilled it with charcoal."

Lydia smiled widely. "This is delicious, Sir. Very delicious."

Kai smiled—this time his smile was more visible, still thin but his eyes smiled too—and returned to slicing meat, placing it one by one on bread.

Lydia finished her sandwich and sipped her tea then let out a satisfied breath. She looked at Kai.

"Mr. Kai. What happened last night?"

Kai stopped slicing and his knife hung in the air one second, two seconds.

"Last night?"

"Ella and the others slept very soundly. And I felt something was off. I can’t remember anything after dinner."

Kai put down his knife—clack—and looked at Lydia with a calm face, too calm. "You had fun last night. Too much fun. I was overwhelmed."

Lydia furrowed her brow. "Had fun?"

"Yes. Mira sang. Rin danced. Iris told ghost stories. Aria just sat and bit her nails as usual. But the rest of you really made a ruckus. Even Eve danced."

Lydia stared at him. "Eve? Danced?"

"Eve danced." Kai turned toward Lydia. "You don’t remember?"

Lydia tried to remember but it was blank, only the piercing pain behind her eyes. "I don’t remember."

"You must have been too tired. You all slept like the dead. I even had to check if you were still breathing."

Lydia stared at Kai for a long time with something in her eyes that she wanted to ask but couldn’t say. Finally she just nodded.

"Maybe you’re right. I do feel very tired."

Kai nodded and placed the last sandwich on the plate. "I need your help. Wake them up. I’ve prepared breakfast. We’ll eat together."

Lydia nodded and stood—a little unsteady but she stood—then walked to the tent, unzipped it, and entered.

Inside the tent, Lydia crouched beside Iris and shook the girl’s shoulder gently. "Iris. Wake up."

Iris blinked and opened her red eyes. She groaned softly. "My head..."

Lydia blinked. "Headache?"

"Yes. It hurts so much. Like something is hitting my head from inside."

Lydia looked at her then shook Eve. "Eve. Wake up."

Eve opened her eyes with crooked glasses, pushed them up—a reflex movement—then groaned. "Uh... my head..."

"You have a headache too?"

"Yes. This isn’t logical. I slept long enough. I shouldn’t have a headache."

Lydia shook Aria. "Aria. Wake up."

Aria opened her eyes and immediately panicked. "Huh?! What?! Where?! What happened?!"

"Calm down. We’re in the tent. You’re safe."

Aria looked around then held her head. "Ouch... my head hurts..."

Lydia shook Nora. "Nora. Wake up."

Nora opened her eyes and immediately became alert, scanning the surroundings with fast-moving eyes, then relaxed. "We’re in the tent."

"Yes. Do you have a headache?"

Nora looked at her. "Yes. Why?"

"I don’t know either."

They came out of the tent one by one—Iris still massaging her temples, Eve whose glasses were still crooked, Aria who bit her nails faster than usual, Nora who walked with firm steps even though her face was a little pale. In the next tent, Ella, Rin, Mira, Luna, and Fay also came out with the same complaints.

"My head hurts," Rin said.

"Mine too," Ella said.

"Mira too!" Mira held her forehead with both hands. "Mira feels like she got hit!"

"My head is heavy," Luna said softly.

Fay just nodded while hugging her doll which looked more crumpled than usual.

Lydia observed them—all with headaches, all not remembering anything about last night, and all having small scratches on their bodies, on their arms, on their cheeks, on their necks, scratches they didn’t even realize. "All of you. Do you remember what happened last night?"

They exchanged glances.

"We... ate dinner?" Ella said with a furrowed brow. "After that I don’t remember."

"Me too," Rin said. "I remember eating. Then blank."

"Mira remembers Mira laughing," Mira said. "But Mira doesn’t remember why Mira laughed."

"We slept," Luna said. "That’s all I remember."

"Me too," Nora said.

"Me too," Eve said.

"Me too," Iris said.

"M-me too," Aria said.

Fay nodded.

Lydia let out a breath and smiled—a smile she forced. "It’s okay. You must have been too tired. Come on, Mr. Kai has prepared breakfast. He said it’s special."

"Special?" Mira lifted her head and her eyes began to sparkle even though her head still hurt. "Special how?"

"I don’t know. Let’s see."

They walked to the eating area where Kai was already standing beside the wooden table full of meat sandwiches. He smiled when he saw them.

"Good morning. How did you sleep?"

"My head hurts, Sir," Mira said.

"Mine too, Sir," Rin said.

"Everyone, Sir," Ella said. "What happened last night?"

Kai smiled slightly. "You were too excited. Come sit down. I’ve made breakfast."

They sat in the prepared chairs and Kai divided the soup into each bowl then placed them in front of them one by one.

Rin stared at her soup. "What is this, Sir?"

"Vegetable soup. It’s my first time making it. Sorry if it doesn’t taste good."

Rin sipped it and furrowed her brow. "Hmm. Bland."

"Rin!" Ella scolded.

"But it’s warm," Rin continued. "And not bad."

Mira was already sipping her soup. "Mira likes it! Mira likes bland things!"

Ella sipped hers and nodded. "It’s simple. But delicious."

Luna sipped hers and just nodded slightly.

Nora sipped hers. "Adequate."

Iris sipped hers. "Edible."

Eve sipped hers. "The nutritional content is sufficient. Carrots, potatoes, celery. A good combination."

Aria sipped hers. "W-warm... delicious..."

Fay sipped hers and nodded.

Kai smiled then placed a piece of meat sandwich in front of them one by one. "This is for you."

Mira lifted her sandwich and bit into it—crunch—and her eyes widened. "THIS IS SO DELICIOUS!"

Rin bit into hers and stopped chewing. "This is beef, Sir?"

"Yes," Kai said.

"But it’s so tender. And the seasoning... what seasoning is this, Sir?"

"A secret," Kai said.

Ella bit into hers and closed her eyes. "This is incredible, Sir."

Luna bit into hers and smiled slightly—a smile rarely seen. "Delicious."

Nora bit into hers. "Good, Sir."

Iris bit into hers. "Mr. Kai. You should open a restaurant."

Eve bit into hers. "The combination of bread and meat has a balanced ratio of protein and carbohydrates. Perfect for breakfast."

Aria bit into hers. "I-I like it... it’s warm..."

Fay bit into hers and nodded, and for the first time that morning she smiled—a small smile but real.

Kai stood beside the table and watched them—Mira devouring her sandwich with full cheeks, Rin eating with one hand while tapping the table, Ella eating neatly, Luna smiling slightly, Nora eating calmly, Iris eating while occasionally teasing Mira, Eve analyzing her food, Aria eating carefully, Fay smiling. He looked at the sky where the sun had risen—not high but enough to make the thin mist slowly disappear—and the dark green pine trees under the morning light and the lake in the distance glistening like glass. In his mind, he said one sentence. "Seems like this is enough for today."