Chapter 5: The Final Bargain

"I know about the Iron Cross Pendant. If you want freedom, only life for life. I went to St. Jude’s for a battered St. Jude’s medal, the kind you get for desperate causes. As long as you agree, I’ll give you my life."

Thunder rumbled, illuminating Natalie’s pale face.

Different from half a year ago, she was weak as a thread, collapsed under my maple tree, no strength left.

Her skin looked like cold milk in the harsh lightning, the kind of color that comes after too many sleepless nights and too much disappointment.

"I didn’t forget you, I just couldn’t get out. No fried chicken, don’t blame me."

"See, even dying, I’m thinking of you."

She only wanted to die—anywhere would do.

But it was twenty miles from the city to here.

She trudged through the mud all night.

Her shoes—once white, now stained brown—told their own story. Blisters bloomed on her heels, every step a silent scream. Nobody walks that far unless they’ve truly got nowhere else to go.

"Who drove you to this? The Montgomerys?"

She smiled with grim resolve, her face wet with rain or tears.

In the next instant, she pulled a pocketknife, hands trembling, and dragged it across her wrist, red blooming fast in the rain.

"It’s the world. It’s my stupidity and weakness. This is my fate."

Fresh blood gushed, soaking the wet St. Jude’s medal hidden in her shirt, which glowed gold.

"Come here, come hug me. You’re the only one who ever protected me."

"Oh, you have no hands—then I’ll hug you."

No matter how much I wanted to save her, it was always futile.

"You wanna die, and I just want to live. What if we traded places? I beg you."

If someone wants to die, no one else can save them.

She tore the wound deeper. Bright blood, washed by rain, spread down, soaking my entire skeleton.

"Living is already so hard. Don’t let me die with regrets. At least, as long as you live, someone will remember me, right?"

Her spirit slowly floated out, growing fainter, only a breath left.

I reached for her, but my hands—her hands now—were useless. I was nothing but longing and regret.

I drew close to her.

"Do you have any wishes? I’ll help you. I’ll help you with all of them."

She smiled, hugging me tightly, burying her face deep in my chest.

"You must live well. I’ll be born into a good family in my next life. We’ll both win."

Did we?

Unless I drag them all to the grave, otherwise it’s a wrongful death.

That night, the Montgomerys lost a real daughter no one cared about, but a ghostly demoness was revived in the mass grave.

The maple tree withered overnight, and I took Natalie’s body down the hill.

As for the next life, I don’t know, but this life—I want payback.

The wind carried Natalie’s scent—rain, iron, and a sweetness I couldn’t name—back into the world with me.