So…
Lilith was certain that the Jiang who had fled was the real Jiang.
Not because of her unusual behavior, as she'd suggested to Seraphina.
Her suspicion of the Jiang on the sofa arose the moment she saw the duplicate on the stairs.
It wasn't because she had discerned the truth, but because, in Lilith's view, fleeing was the natural human response to encountering an exact duplicate of oneself.
The fleeing Jiang's reaction had been entirely realistic.
So, where had that Jiang gone?
She was now alone and in extreme danger…
"Ms. Graves, could you help me investigate something? I suddenly remembered something crucial I need to do," Lilith said apologetically, smiling at Seraphina.
Seraphina was stunned; she hadn't fully recovered from the revelation that "Jiang" might be a ghost, when she heard Lilith's request.
She looked at Lilith in surprise and nodded involuntarily.
"Please…"
Lilith leaned closer, whispering a few words. Seraphina's expression grew increasingly strange, but she nodded, her gaze fixated on Lilith.
"See you at 6:00 PM."
Lilith waved, turning to walk towards a corner; Seraphina's face paled.
Because the place she was heading towards… was the emergency staircase.
...
The staff break room, restroom.
Zhang Wen's hair was dishevelled; her face was wet; the sink was full of water. She was listlessly splashing water, letting it flow everywhere.
"Wen…"
Zhang Wen stopped, turning to look, then smirked. "Little Nathaniel."
Nathaniel was her colleague, but not an ordinary one.
This twenty-year-old had been pursuing her for almost a month.
But… Nathaniel didn't know some things, such as Zhang Wen's long-term affair with Magnus Crowe.
"What is it?" Zhang Wen turned away, ignoring him.
"Wen… actually… I…" Nathaniel’s face was pale but excited. "I saw… something about the boss's wife…"
Zhang Wen stiffened, turning to glare. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Nathaniel's expression was strange, a mixture of fear and excitement. "I… I know… Wen, I know it's useless telling you this, but… Wen, remember… I like you, more than anyone!"
Nathaniel left. Zhang Wen silently watched his back until he disappeared around the corner.
Then, she bent down, her arm stiff as she lifted the water and splashed it on her face.
She looked impassively into the water, at her blurry reflection.
But… the reflection wasn't her face!
It was another woman… her face swollen and pale, her eyes filled with hatred…
Zhang Wen's lips twisted; she seemed to go mad, reaching towards the face in the water. "Ravenna, don't be afraid. Sister will avenge you… Sister will definitely avenge for you…"
...
Vivienne was a waitress.
Juliette was her colleague.
"The landlady's been missing for almost a week, and they still haven't found her…" Vivienne murmured, washing her face.
Many people didn't know that the As You Wish Motel waitresses had a two-and-a-half-hour break; as long as they didn't cause trouble, they could do whatever they wanted—a remarkably generous benefit.
Most people used the break for lunch.
Vivienne and Juliette were among them.
Hearing Vivienne, Juliette scoffed.
"Honestly, it's better she's missing. That menopausal hag was so vicious, always taking out her childlessness on everyone. The boss said if you get on her bad side, expect a verbal lashing. Now that she's gone, everyone's got peace and quiet."
"Psst… don't talk bad about people behind their backs…" Vivienne whispered, holding up a finger.
"You're too soft," Juliette said, grabbing her towel and entering her room. "I'm going for a nap. See you later."
Vivienne watched her disappear, shaking her head.
Then, she glanced at the mirror on the wall above the sink and saw a dark shadow slip into Juliette's room.
She quickly rubbed her eyes and glanced at Juliette's room again.
There was no movement.
"Am I… too tired?"
Vivienne muttered, feeling a sudden chill. She quickly gathered her things and went home.
"Ugh… strange."
Juliette tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
Moreover, it was September, a time of crisp autumn weather in Sentinel City, yet she felt intensely cold.
She turned off the fan and even put on a light blanket, but the bone-chilling cold persisted.
Juliette pulled the blanket tighter, then noticed something wrong.
"Who wet my blanket?"
She sat up, pulled back the covers, and examined her bedding.
The blanket and sheets were completely soaked!
"Damn it! Who did this?! Who threw water on my bed?! I'll kill whoever it is!" Juliette, a woman in her thirties with a fiery temper, shouted at the wall, unsure at whom she was directing her rage.
But as she stepped onto the floor, a "plop" sound echoed.
Juliette looked down, her eyes widening.
What… was this?
Why… was the room filled with water?
"Did a pipe burst?"
Juliette looked around, searching for the source of the water.
But she couldn't find it anywhere.
Juliette became increasingly uneasy.
Something's wrong… I need to get out of here!
This thought struck Juliette, but as she moved, she discovered something even stranger.
The water under her feet felt unusually heavy!
Although the water wasn't deep, only reaching her ankles, it felt impossibly heavy!
Juliette panicked; fear, like a wildfire, consumed her.
"What… what's happening?! Help! Can anyone hear me?! Help me!"
Her sharp cry should have carried far, perhaps even throughout the motel.
But… at that moment, the world was eerily silent.
Juliette trembled violently; water dripped from her thighs. This utterly bizarre situation pushed her to the brink of collapse.
Then, a drop of water fell onto her forehead, startling her.
She instinctively looked up at the ceiling.
Instantly!
Her eyes widened; the blood drained from her face; she gasped, unable to utter a sound…
...
Calm down, calm down… Jiang repeated to herself.
She wasn't cowardly; her childhood experiences had forged a fearless personality.
But that didn't mean she didn't feel fear.
She clearly remembered making the office look ransacked before heading to the restroom on the top floor.
But… when she emerged, she was horrified to see her duplicate standing beside Seraphina!
Intense fear assaulted her, nearly suffocating her.
Jiang covered her mouth, watching Seraphina and "Jiang" enter the elevator.
What should I do…?
That was clearly a ghost! What about Seraphina? Did the ghost attack her?
What should I do…?
Jiang was in profound agony and torment.
She covered her head, dejectedly sitting in the corner, her heart a tangle of complex emotions.
"Damn it!"
Jiang clenched her fist, punching the wall, making a decision.
Warn them… she had to warn them!
11:00 AM was their meeting time; if they didn't realize "Jiang" was an imposter, everyone would die!
Even if they couldn't distinguish the real from the fake, suspicion was enough…
With fierce determination, Jiang looked at the dark emergency staircase and entered.
Everything unfolded as she expected.
But also unexpectedly.
Jiang successfully sowed fear and suspicion, but she herself was in grave danger!
When "Jiang," along with the others, turned to look at the emergency staircase, the undisguised malice was visible only to Jiang…
She fled in terror.
"I've done all I can…" Jiang leaned against the wall of the fourth-floor staircase, a wave of despair washing over her.
Suddenly, a scream pierced the air!
"What… what's happening?! Help! Can anyone hear me?! Help me!"
Juliette's sharp cry, from somewhere on the first floor, penetrated the walls and reached Jiang's ears.
"Who… screamed?"
The scream's terror and despair were chilling; Jiang's immediate reaction was—flee! Get away from the fourth floor!
Not for any particular reason, but… it seemed only she could hear the scream!
Logically, such a scream should have caused an uproar in the motel, but everything remained eerily calm, as if nothing had happened.
Jiang gritted her teeth, about to leave, when she heard a sound.
"Click—Click—Click—"
Slow, distinct footsteps echoed from the stairs below, growing louder!
Jiang's pupils constricted; goosebumps covered her body.
It's coming, it's coming for me!
Jiang didn't hesitate; she'd planned to conserve her energy, avoiding strenuous activity.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
But now, she couldn't afford to worry about that.
The approaching footsteps sounded like a death knell, the feeling of imminent death overwhelming Jiang.
This terrifying sensation disrupted all her plans; when she stopped, she was breathless, collapsing against the wall.
She had reached the sixth floor, only to return.
The motel's layout was such that the staircase was at the end of a narrow hallway on the left, and the two elevators were at the end on the right.
Jiang was now next to the elevator on the sixth floor, having raced from the staircase to the elevator.
"…Should… I abandon it?"
Jiang stared at the top of the stairs at the end of the hallway; the pitch-black space seemed like a gateway to hell.
Thankfully… the ghost didn't seem to have followed.
Jiang finally exhaled…
But at that moment, a sound echoed from the elevator behind her!
"Ding—"
The sharp chime made Jiang tense; she looked up—the fifth floor!
Someone had taken the elevator to the fifth floor!
Who was it? Was it a person?
A flurry of thoughts raced through Jiang's mind; she struggled to regain her composure.
No… this won't do…
I need to hide!
Jiang slapped her head, forcing herself to remain calm; she looked around, searching for a place to hide.
Finally… she spotted a storage room.
Jiang slipped into the storage room without hesitation, ignoring the musty smell, closed the door, and hid among the cleaning supplies.
The storage room was a small, cramped space tucked into a corner, barely large enough for one person. Fortunately, Jiang wasn't tall or large.
Human willpower to survive is formidable, as demonstrated by Jiang's current state.
Despite her intense fear, she controlled her breathing and remained still, making no unnecessary noise.
The darkness of the storage room gnawed at Jiang's mind.
Each minute felt like an eternity.
One minute…
Three minutes…
Five minutes…
Jiang felt her pulse, counting the time approximately.
Although her rapid heartbeat was unreliable due to her intense anxiety, it served as a distraction, mitigating some of her fear.
At that moment, the nearby elevator chimed!
"Ding…"
Someone had arrived on the fifth floor!
What should I do?
What should I do?
What should I do?
Jiang clamped her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide.
The storage room door didn't close completely; a small gap allowed a faint light to seep through.
No one knows I'm here… perhaps they think I'm the ghost?
Jiang's thoughts became chaotic; she even resented her decision to warn everyone.
If she hadn't been so self-important, perhaps she wouldn't have been targeted…
Now, all Jiang could do was pray "he" wouldn't come here, wouldn't open the storage room.
"Please… don't open the door… please, don't open the door…"
Jiang's silent plea ended; her eyes widened in terror.
Because footsteps echoed from the elevator.
"Click, click, click…"
Closer, closer… "he" was near!
Overwhelmed by fear, Jiang covered her mouth; tears streamed down her face; despair filled her heart!
"Click, click."
The footsteps stopped.
Through the gap in the door, Jiang saw a blurry, dark figure.
"He" seemed to be looking at her malevolently.
It's over…
Jiang's composure shattered; her eyes were filled with despair…
...
Lilith had been pondering a question.
Why hadn't the shapeshifting ghost attacked?
"He" had clearly had numerous opportunities to target isolated individuals, yet hadn't. The most peculiar case was Harrison's encounter.
Harrison seemed to have been deliberately led to Zhang Wen's room…
Therefore, Lilith decided to gamble. Her actions might seem reckless and unbelievable, but perhaps… things were simpler than she thought.
…
Legend says that when facing death, memories flash before one's eyes like a whirlwind.
Jiang felt she was experiencing this now.
Her parents' divorce in childhood, her busy father's neglect, her association with unsavory friends.
Jiang knew she wasn't attractive and that her so-called friends were likely after her money.
But she didn't care.
What she cared about was her father's attention…
She even hoped that seeing her downfall, he would beat her severely…
But Jiang was disappointed.
Her father hadn't noticed her changes. He was always generous with money, seemingly showering her with affection through financial support…
However, while money and love might be equated in society, this wasn't true in a familial relationship.
Jiang became increasingly reckless and defiant.
Until Jiang's birthday, she realized she had truly become bad…
She no longer held any expectations for her successful, materialistic father; perhaps she no longer had expectations for anyone.
She only trusted herself.
After receiving her father's hurried birthday message, Jiang sneered, opening her door.
An empty room; not a home.
But… opening the door, Jiang stepped into a space filled with gray fog…
From terror to acceptance of death.
Jiang had thought she was accustomed to this, but it was self-deception.
She was terrified of dying…
She didn't want to die in this cursed fog; she had much left to live for.
But… all this would vanish under the gaze from that doorway…
Jiang closed her eyes in despair; she heard the storage room door open.
She bowed her head, knowing it was futile.
"Creak—"
The door opened.
A beam of light shone in.
But instead of the expected horror, a familiar voice echoed.
"Miss Jiang."
It was Lilith!
Jiang looked up; it was Lilith, opening the storage room door!
At that moment, Jiang felt as if she had encountered a savior—or rather, for her, Lilith was a savior!
No one knew how terrified and anxious she was, but in this desperate situation, Lilith had appeared!
"Come on, Miss Jiang."
Lilith extended her hand, long and slender.
Jiang stared, still reeling from the sudden shift in her emotions.
She instinctively reached out and took Lilith's hand.
Cold.
Her hand was icy cold…
Jiang trembled, then was gently pulled from the storage room by Lilith.
"You're in extreme danger, Miss Jiang," Lilith said, observing her. Jiang felt a blush creeping up her cheeks.
It felt strange; she hadn't felt this shy in years.
"You… came looking for me?" Jiang looked up at Lilith, her expression softened.
Lilith smiled faintly, remaining silent.
"Let's go. I'll take you to the first floor." Lilith said, turning and leading her to the elevator, pressing the button.
"Ding…"
The elevator was waiting on the sixth floor and opened.
Standing before the elevator, with the long hallway behind them, a sudden chill, dampness, and discomfort filled the air the moment the elevator doors opened, causing Jiang to instinctively recoil.
But Lilith didn't seem to notice, still smiling at her. "Don't delay, Miss Jiang. This place isn't safe."
Although she knew Lilith was right, Jiang hesitated to enter the elevator.
It was an inexplicable feeling, making her deeply uncomfortable.
But… Lilith stepped into the elevator, pressing the button, waiting for her.
Under her gaze, Jiang hesitated, then… stepped forward.
"Wait!"
Suddenly!
A distant call echoed.
The voice came from the end of the hallway, near the staircase!
"Wait," although a simple word, sounded like a death sentence to Jiang.
Because she had just heard that voice!
Jiang abruptly turned, looking towards the end of the hallway.
A pretty young woman stood there—Lilith!
Another Lilith!
A chill shot down her spine; Jiang didn't even glance back at the Lilith in the elevator, taking several strides into the hallway.
"Click."
The Lilith in the elevator stepped out, leaning forward, anxiously looking at Jiang. "Miss Jiang! What are you doing? Don't trust her! Come here!"
Her urgency was palpable; one foot was wedged in the elevator door; her expression was far from calm.
However, the other Lilith, who had run from the staircase, remained silent, calmly watching Jiang and the elevator, her expression unchanging.
The truth was apparent at a glance.
But for Jiang, choosing wrong meant being killed by a powerful ghost! Killed in the fog-world!
What should I do…?
Who is real?
Who is fake?
Jiang leaned against the wall, glancing from left to right.
The Lilith by the elevator was sweating, while the Lilith by the staircase remained calm and impassive, her gaze not shifting between the two.
"Miss Jiang, if you don't come, I'm leaving!"
The Lilith by the elevator seemed impatient; she retracted her foot, and simultaneously, the Lilith by the staircase took a step towards Jiang!
Thump-thump…
Thump-thump…
Thump-thump…
Jiang's heart pounded like a drum; blood rushed to her head; bloodshot eyes darted back and forth!
Who is real, who is fake?
"I'm going!" The Lilith by the elevator issued a final warning; her foot retracted, as if she was about to leave.
Jiang's heart lurched; she made her decision!
She ran towards the Lilith by the staircase!
Lilith felt a strange, subtle emotion at Jiang's choice—the first time someone had recognized her.
This feeling… was peculiar.
Especially when Jiang unhesitatingly grabbed her sleeve and hid behind her.
This strange feeling intensified…
After careful consideration, Lilith realized it was… the joy of trust.
And… it felt good.
Lilith looked down at her, remaining silent, then glanced at the elevator.
Good.
Jiang had made the right choice; the Lilith by the staircase was the real Lilith.
The one in the elevator now had undisguised malevolence in its eyes.
Then… the elevator doors closed.
Watching the figure disappear, Jiang finally exhaled.
She had also seen the "Lilith"'s eyes; she was now certain the person beside her was the real Lilith.
But… a blush crept onto Jiang's cheeks; she hadn't expected the real Lilith to come to her rescue.
Especially at such great risk.
However, if Jiang knew Lilith's true motives, she might be disappointed.
Saving her was secondary; the primary reason was to confirm Lilith's hypothesis.
And now, Lilith was certain.
"He" had retreated again.
Before two humans, "he" had once again chosen to withdraw.
This meant the shapeshifting ghost, for some reason, was incapable of killing!
Perhaps because of its ability to shapeshift, it had lost other supernatural powers, its strength on par with a human.
Or perhaps "it" had some restriction preventing it from attacking humans.
In any case, this was good news—a great opportunity for Lilith to take greater risks.
At this thought, Lilith's expression brightened.
She looked down at Jiang, asking, "Elevator or stairs, Miss Jiang?"
Jiang glared at her. "Stairs."
Lilith nodded, turning towards the stairs. For her, the elevator and stairs were the same; she was certain the ghost posed no threat. She even regretted not opening the door to "him" when she first woke up; she might have obtained valuable information.
At this thought, Lilith felt a pang of regret.
Despite this, if given the same opportunity at dawn, she would make the same decision.
Observing Lilith's pensive expression, Jiang was struck by a realization.
Even now, she couldn't believe this newcomer had actually come to rescue her.
But… only newcomers and fools would do such a thing in the fog gathering…
However, Jiang didn't dislike fools; it was their self-sacrificing foolishness that made everyone in the fog gathering feel human, alive…
...
Harrison was watching someone.
Or rather, a waitress.
He had received startling information from Lilith: Ravenna was dead.
And had become a ghost, hiding under Lilith's bed.
So… where were Magnus Crowe's wife, Lillian Pearl, and Ravenna's husband?
Had they both disappeared mysteriously?
And Magnus Crowe, due to it being Sunday, hadn't appeared at the motel.
Mysteries swirled in Harrison's mind, but he wasn't trying to solve them all; he just needed to survive.
This was valuable wisdom gleaned from the fog gathering.
Never speculate; wait for the deadline. Don't delve too deep, getting lost in the fog. Both could lead to quick death.
Therefore, searching in different directions was the best strategy.
Through his investigation, Harrison had learned Ravenna's husband's name, Ding Peng, and the waitress assigned to them, Nathaniel.
Ding Peng was Magnus Crowe's younger brother; Nathaniel was specifically assigned to look after Ding Peng and his wife.
But… Nathaniel seemed suspicious.
"Nathaniel… Nathaniel, should we call the police? This will be exposed sooner or later. If… if…"
Harrison hid around a corner, overhearing a low male voice in the hallway.
It seemed to be… about calling the police?
"Mind your own business," Nathaniel said, his eyes dark as he looked at the thin man. "Consider it unseen. We'll get paid. If you interfere…"
"But… but…" the thin man stammered, terrified.
He wore the same uniform as Nathaniel, apparently another motel employee.
Nathaniel impatiently glared at him. The thin man, Wang Sheng, was a timid, conflict-averse individual.
"The… the landlady's been there for almost a week. With this heat, the smell should have been discovered by now, but… but why…" Wang Sheng seemed to remember something, stammering. "No… it's not… the landlady turned into a ghost?"
"Enough!" Nathaniel shoved Wang Sheng against the wall, shouting, "What ghost?! Shut your mouth! Later… we get paid, and we leave. We keep what we saw to ourselves!"
Wang Sheng, timid and indecisive, didn't dare to say anything more.
Nathaniel released him.
He frowned at his hand. "Why is your shoulder wet?"
Wet?
Wang Sheng turned to look; his shoulder was indeed wet.
He scratched his head, confused. "I… I don't know. Maybe there's a leak in the ceiling?"
He instinctively looked up at the ceiling.
His eyes widened; his face paled!
The ceiling was soaked, and… Wang Sheng clearly saw… the wet patches forming a distinct, pale female face!
Terrified, Wang Sheng collapsed to the floor, his face devoid of color, his fingers trembling as he pointed at the ceiling, screaming,
"Ghost… ghost! There's a ghost!"
Wang Sheng's sudden, shrill scream startled not only Nathaniel but also Harrison, who was hiding nearby, causing him to break into a cold sweat.
Nathaniel, bolder than Wang Sheng, looked up at the ceiling after his initial shock.
The white wall above was indeed damp, but the wet patches seemed unremarkable.
Nathaniel glared at Wang Sheng. "Stop your damn yelling!"
Wang Sheng rubbed his eyes and cautiously looked at the ceiling again. But this time, the damp patches were unremarkable; there was no face.
"But… I clearly saw…"
"Shut up!" Nathaniel interrupted, grabbing Wang Sheng by the collar, his expression ferocious. "If you keep this up, I'll make sure you join her in the water tank."
Water tank?
Harrison, hiding nearby, knew something important; Nathaniel and Wang Sheng's argument had ended.
Harrison glanced around, a thought striking him. He silently left.
Water tank…
The motel's water tank was on the top floor.
Should he investigate?
Or… should he wait until the 6:00 PM meeting to tell everyone?
After a moment's hesitation, Harrison made his decision.
He would go and investigate.
It was risky, but it could reveal the identity of the deceased. Besides, from the moment they entered this world, they'd been in constant danger.
Waiting passively for death was worse than taking the initiative; perhaps he could find a solution.
Besides, it was only the first day; the full horror of the ghost wasn't yet clear…
With this in mind, Harrison hurried towards the elevator; it was descending from the sixth floor.
He hesitated, standing before the elevator.
Then, the elevator arrived.
"Ding…"
The doors opened, and as Harrison was about to enter, he saw someone inside.
"Ms. Hollow?"
Harrison was surprised; he thought Lilith was leaving the motel to investigate.
"Hello, Mr. Harrison," Lilith smiled faintly.
"I thought you were going out with Ms. Graves?"
"I remembered something and decided to come back," Lilith explained.
Harrison was relieved. "That's great! I also discovered something. Shall we go together?"
He instinctively reached for Lilith's wrist.
A chill!
Harrison recoiled, startled; just as he was about to voice his suspicion, Lilith replied,
"Oh? Then let's go together."
Lilith's agreement quelled Harrison's suspicion; he quickly entered the elevator and pressed the button for the sixth floor.
Harrison explained his plan and the information he'd just overheard.
From the secretive waitresses to the hidden water tank.
Lilith listened impassively, showing no reaction.
The elevator ascended.
Two people stood in the confined space, yet a profound unease washed over Harrison…
A familiar feeling…
The atmosphere in the elevator was unsettling…
Once the strange thought took root, it grew rapidly amidst the fear.
The unease intensified, making Harrison tremble slightly.
Something's wrong!
Although Lilith wasn't talkative, she wasn't this silent…
Could… she be a ghost?
Harrison shivered.
Then, he instinctively dismissed the thought.
Impossible… "he" had disguised himself as Phineas earlier; why would he target him again?
Lilith, not Harrison, was the Cursed One.
Even if he were extraordinarily unlucky to encounter a ghost, it was impossible to encounter two consecutively?
At this thought, Harrison felt slightly reassured.
Then, the elevator reached the sixth floor.
No problem… Lilith wasn't a ghost. If she were, she would have attacked in the elevator…
Harrison's fear subsided; he looked at Lilith's back and exhaled.
But then, he noticed a large bump on the back of Lilith's head.
Stepping out of the elevator, Harrison caught up with her. "Ms. Hollow… what happened to your head?"
Lilith didn't turn, continuing to walk. "Nothing. I bumped into something."
Harrison nodded, thinking nothing of it.
Then, he realized something was amiss. Why was Lilith leading the way?
Where was she going?
Could it be…?
Just as suspicion arose, Lilith said, "Excuse me, Mr. Harrison. I really need to use the restroom."
Harrison sighed, thinking he was being overly cautious. If this continued, he would go mad.
His bladder suddenly felt urgent.
"No problem. I need to go too. Let's go together."
Harrison quickened his pace, smiling.
They walked towards the restroom at the end of the hallway; sunlight streamed through the windows.
Oddly, the bright sunlight seemed to cast a dim shadow on the wall.
It was still afternoon; the sun shouldn't be setting yet…
Just as Harrison thought this, Lilith stopped.
Harrison looked up; they had reached the restroom.
They quickly entered.
The girl went to the urinals without hesitation; Lilith was even quicker than Harrison.
She was already at the sink.
Harrison trembled, feeling disconcerted as he watched Lilith's back.
Why… wasn't she looking at him?
But… this newcomer was always strange; her actions weren't unusual…
Harrison found an explanation and dismissed his suspicion.
After relieving himself, Harrison considered the water tank, walking towards the sink.
Lilith was still splashing water on her face.
Harrison paid no attention, until… he noticed that the water dripping from between her fingers was red!
Harrison recoiled, taking several steps back until he bumped against the wall with a soft thud.
Lilith noticed the sound; she looked up, still not turning around. But this time, there was a mirror in front of Lilith.
And through the mirror, Harrison saw her face.
But it was… a decaying woman face.
In the mirror, the drastically altered face glared at him with hatred and malice.