(CHAPTER 1.2: The Dream and the incident)
After Edward finished his meal, he paid more than $800 for the food he ate. He also gave the kind waiter a $20 tip, even though it wasn't a huge amount. Finally, he got up from his chair and left the restaurant.
Gently patting his belly, he closed his eyes for a moment and whispered, "I'm full. That was delicious"
It was already 7:00 pm when Edward finished his meal. He headed towards the transparent elevator and pressed the number 3 button. As the elevator descended, he could see the bright lights and the bustling crowd outside the hotel.
A flicker of curiosity stirred within him. He pressed the button for the first floor, listening to the soft mechanical hum of the elevator as it descended. When the doors slid open, he stepped out into the hotel entrance. "So it was a night market" he said, Despite feeling slightly tipsy, he carefully walked down the hotel's wide entrance stairs, hands resting lightly on the handrails. And made his way to the night market bustling with activity. Vendors lined the streets, selling a variety of items such as souvenirs, fast food, and fresh fruits.
The aroma of food fills the air, especially from the grilling that's happening. You can even smell it from afar.
- "Come and try our freshly grilled fishes and octopus."
- "Would you like some lemon juice with that?"
- "Here you go sir, a souvenir for you to remember this place by."
- "That pearl necklace looks great on you, babe."
- "Don't forget to try our sweet apples."
People come here to eat with their friends and family. Some are couples, and some are newlyweds spending their vacation here to have a good time.
Edward walked past the food stalls and started to realize he had gone pretty far from the hotel.
"I didn't know I had wandered so far from the hotel. I must have been having fun watching all the things going on at the night market. Maybe I should head back now." Andrew said
As Edward headed back to his hotel, his gaze fell upon a group of individuals selling peculiar old items laid out on a big blanket.
They were at the edge of the road where the faint glow of the streetlights barely reached. And the dimness of the surroundings made it difficult to see.
Intrigued, he approached the makeshift stalls, noticing jars, knives, bowls, lanterns, and even old coins. But the object that truly caught his attention was an ancient-looking book placed at the very edge of the display. It seemed to be made of some kind of unusual leather material, adding to its mysterious allure.
"How much is that book?" he inquired to the seller, to which the response was 90 dollars.
Edward raised a single eyebrow, his expression calm but deliberate, and said, "10 dollars." The seller's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face before he respond, "60 dollars!"
Edward didn't waver. He repeated his offer, "10 dollars." Again. And again. Each time, his tone carried a quiet insistence, as if the number itself were permanently decided from the start.
The seller let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay… fifty dollars," he muttered, his voice tight with reluctant concession. Edward paused, a subtle smirk across his lips, and made a show of turning away, pretending to lose interest.
The tactic worked. The seller's voice pitched higher, edged with urgency "Alright! Thirty dollars! That's the lowest I can give!"
Edward's smile widened, he handed over the thirty-dollar bill, his eyes gleaming with quiet triumph. He couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction at the bargain—an antique book of this quality for such a price was quitea bargain.
Meanwhile, in the seller's mind, a judgment formed, almost spiteful "This guy… he's stingy."
Edward paid for the book and the man put it in a paper bag and taped it. Edward then walked back to his hotel room, holding the book close to his chest. He felt excited to see what inside. The paper bag crinkled in his hand as he walked.
Little did he know, the book had a dark and horrifying history and secrets. As he left, the seller's demeanor suddenly changed, muttering cryptic words about the "livedwehtufoivkoobka is gone!!!" being finally gone. Then, in a sudden and horrifying turn of events, the seller's body began to convulse uncontrollably, his skin turning pale and cold.
His eyes widened in fear, nearly popping out of his head, while his lips twisted into a ghastly grin. The unnerving sound of his manic laughter filled the air.
"Hahahahahaha.... Hahaha... Hahahaha...ha.haha!!!"
The echo of his laughter seemed to intensify, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere as the crowd watched in a mix of fascination and dread. Suddenly, in a horrifying turn of events, the man's head seemed to collapse in on itself, bursting open like a ripe melon with a sickening squelch.
Boom!! Splash!!! Splattered!!!
Showering the area with a gruesome mix of brains, eyes, teeth, and tongue. The ground was now a canvas of crimson red blood, with the horrified onlookers screaming for help
People frantically reached for their phones to call for help. With trembling hands, someone dialed emergency services, their voice quivering as they reported what had happened in the market.
- "Oh no, someone's dead!"
- "Quick, call the cops!"
- "Aaahhh! Blood all over my face, I can't see!"
The metallic stench of blood filled the air, causing some to gag in revulsion.
- "Blech!!!"
- "Blarg!!!"
They threw up on the ground, leaving a big smelly mess.
As sirens blared in the distance, the approaching police were met with a chilling sight of carnage, their hearts beat rapidly at the gruesome scene before them. Witnesses, their faces splattered with blood and eyes wide with disbelief.
"What happened here?!" exclaimed the police officer, looking at the shocked witnesses.
"The man's head... It just exploded out of nowhere!" replied one of the witnesses, pointing at the gruesome sight. The police officer immediately called for backup and began investigating the mysterious incident.
Meanwhile...
Edward was completely absorbed in his own thoughts as he walked down the street. He didn't hear the commotion of people shouting behind him or the loud sirens of the police cars whizzing past. He was focused on one thing only - getting back to his hotel room to read his book and relax. He wasn't interested in getting caught up in whatever chaos was happening around him. Ignoring the frantic activity around him, he calmly walked into the hotel, escaping the noise and confusion outside.
As edward approached the hotel's sliding doors, it opened and the hotel staff greeted him with a smile and a bow, saying "Welcome back, sir." Edward made his way to the elevator, and as he stepped inside, the doors opened again and people got out, leaving him alone. He pressed the button for the top floor, where his room, number 2001, was located.
Edward Montague Hastings arrived back at his hotel room on the 20th floor. The room number was 2001, a big black number. He stood by the door, took out a card from his pocket, and swiped it. The door made a click and opened up. Edward walked in, feeling tired after a long day.
He first took off his tie slowly, then kicked off his shoes by stepping on the back of them. Edward felt the weight lift off his feet. Next, he started to unbutton his suit, starting with the sleeves. He carefully removed it and hung it up neatly on a hook.
Even though he was tired, Edward didn't bother to take off his socks, black pants, or belt. He walked over to a round table near the glass window. Next to it was a chair where he could sit and relax.
Inside, there was a fresh smell from the hotel's air freshener, making the room feel cozy. The Aircon kept blowing cold air, cooling down the room. This was a peaceful moment for Edward to unwind after a busy day.
Edward carefully untaped the paper bag and gently slid out the book. He was careful not to tear the bag as he didn't want to damage the book.
Edward gently placed the mysterious book on the table next to the big window covered in dark curtains. The street lights outside were very dim, making it hard to see the details of the book earlier. But now, as he sat down, he could finally examine it closely. The book was unlike any other he had ever seen - it was different from the thick and rough animal hides he was familiar with. As he touched the book, he was surprised to see the cover start to shift and change, transforming into the frightened face of a man. The sudden transformation sent a chill down Edward's spine, leaving him feeling uneasy.
"What's going on!? does this book cover had this weird design earlier, when I have bought it?"
Edward gently ran his fingers over the delicate, stiff, and wrinkled edges of the book, the thought popped into his head, "Could this actually be made of human skin?"
He couldn't stop thinking about it, his mind turning the thought over like a puzzle he couldn't put down. "I read this somewhere… doctors in the 17th and 18th centuries were the ones who made these types of books. Human skin… used as covers. Sometimes from patients, sometimes from criminals… sometimes from their own medical studies. I can't even imagine holding a book like this in person? Feeling the skin beneath my fingers, smooth or rough, knowing it once belonged to a living person..."
He drew in a shaky breath. It's... disgusting. Horrifying. Yet... His curiosity didn't let go."Could it really be? What if it's actually human skin... right here in my hands..." The thought made his heart race, a strange mix of fear and fascination gripping him. He glanced at the cover again, tracing the edges with a finger, almost afraid to touch it, almost desperate to. "I shouldn't..."
He lifted the book from the table, letting it rest carefully in his right hand. The cover was worn, the edges frayed, yet something about it felt... valuable. He traced a finger along the spine, feeling the faint grooves of the binding, and gently tilted it as if weighing it like gold.
He tilted her chin gently with a finger of his left hand, "Maybe... I could sell this for a higher price," he thought, his mind flickering with possibilities. The thought made a small, greedy smile tug at his lips. He studied every detail—the way the light caught the embossed letters on the cover, the faint scent of old paper and dust, the hidden knowledge of history pressed between the pages.
After looking at the book's cover, Edward felt unsure about opening it "If I open it... maybe it'll get damaged. and the value will drop." he thought, hesitation tugged at his curiosity. But curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to see what was inside. "Just a quick peek... that can't possibly damage it... right?" As he flipped through the pages, he couldn't believe his eyes. The words on the pages seemed to dance and shift, as if they were alive and changing right before him.
"Whoa, what is going on here?!" Edward muttered to himself, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Am I drunk? Did I have too much wine? But that doesn't make sense, I can handle my drinks just fine." He rubbed his eyes and peered at the book once more, the words still dancing and shifting on the page.
"Maybe it's just the heat getting to me," Edward mused, trying to make sense of the strange phenomenon. "I'm not used to this kind of weather, maybe it's playing tricks on my eyes. Or maybe I'm just really tired."
Feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over him, Edward made his way to a plush bed with soft, white bedding that looked incredibly inviting. He sank into the mattress, leaving the light on as he drifted off to sleep.
"Hopefully I'll feel better in the morning," Edward murmured sleepily. "Maybe then this strange events will start to make sense."
The following day
(july 23, 2024), 12:39 at noon, Edward Montague Hastings was still asleep.
*The great dreamer*, *High priest of the great old ones*, *The great Dreamer of R'Lyeh*, and *The slumbering one*, he had fallen into a deep slumber.
As he drifted off into dreams, it was said that he would not wake for ■■■ years. In that time, his dreams would take him to far-off lands and fantastical realms. But eventually, he would stir and awaken from his long slumber.