Gun of Ashes

Chapter 463: Chapter 79: Nightmare [Thanks to the leader Qi Qiu]

The rain grew heavier, accompanied by howling winds, dragging the entire world into a vast white ocean. With the thunder rolling in the clouds, the dark clouds covered all light; though it was daylight, it felt like night.

In this gray-black day, the prayers in the White Church continued, people gathered together, singing praises in the sea of candlelight.

Joey suddenly felt a sense of unreality, as if the entire world was collapsing in this storm, and only this small church would remain as the last sanctuary in this apocalypse.

”James... Moriarty.”

Joey slowly recited the man’s name, and he responded as if called upon, a faint smile appearing on his approachable face.

”The atmosphere is quite nice, I really like rainy days.”

Moriarty couldn’t help but say as he looked at the collapsing world outside the window.

”The contrast of the harsh external environment and the comfort around always gives one an involuntary sense of happiness.”

As he spoke, his gaze shifted once again to Joey’s face, curiously asking.

”So, Joey... is it okay if I call you that?”

Joey constantly guarded against the man in front of him, but as he said, the contrast always incites a sense of happiness, making Joey momentarily dazed, even slightly nodding inadvertently.

But then he suddenly snapped awake. This wasn’t something he usually did, as if realizing something was wrong; his voice turned slightly cold.

”Are you from Black Mountain Hospital?”

”Yes, indeed. This is just my part-time job. After all, saving the world is a pretty good work.”

Moriarty spoke fluently. He was certainly an excellent psychologist. Even if you were full of vigilance, you couldn’t help but follow his thoughts in his casual talk. Joey had felt this before with someone else, but that person was full of nonsense.

”Black Mountain Hospital demands a high psychological standard, and doctors can’t heal themselves... so, I need a place to satisfy my sense of salvation, enabling me to return to that hell to continue my good deeds.”

His tone was extremely relaxed, as if chatting casually with Joey about recent events, yet they had just met.

Joey tried hard to maintain his vigilance, feeling the difference, like being in a realistic dream where you know it’s fake but can’t find any flaws.

”It’s rare for doctors from Black Mountain Hospital to work part-time.”

Being a department under the Purification Mechanism, Joey knew a lot about Black Mountain Hospital, a place strictly guarded for confidentiality on both entry and exit.

”But there are always exceptions, right?”

As Moriarty spoke, he brought a chair for Joey, but placed it not among the gathered crowd, but on the other side of the steps. Joey and Moriarty sat facing each other.

”You don’t seem to like me much,” said Moriarty.

”Perhaps.”

”Is it because of the specialized training you’ve had?”

Joey’s pupils slightly constricted, staring intently at Moriarty, his reflection hazy in the glass, but soon after, Moriarty started laughing.

”Don’t be so tense, Joey. In a way, we’re somewhat colleagues.”

Joey’s every reaction didn’t escape his eyes, momentarily exposing Joey’s thoughts in his gaze.

”An informant?”

”Something like that,” Moriarty answered.

As a department under the Purification Mechanism, Black Mountain Hospital’s primary structure was different from other departments. It was open to the public, but another part was secret, responsible for taking in those injured by the Demons.

Therefore, the doctors there were also divided into two types: those aware of Demons, and those unaware.

”You Knights are like that. After specialized training to combat infiltration, you close off your minds, rejecting all attempts at intrusion, including doctors and Demons alike.

That might be why you don’t like me. After all, we psychologists aim to open the hearts of stubborn folks like you.”

”You’re violating confidentiality, Moriarty.”

Joey, still cold-faced, warned Moriarty. There were other people in the church, those cheering were not far away.

”They can’t hear us. They’ve already immersed themselves in their own joy, paying us no mind.”

Moriarty said, looking to the other side, where the crowd was enjoying a warm conversation. Hig was mingling with them, as if they were friends known for years, each face etched with smiles... yet those smiles seemed somewhat forced, as though everyone was engaged in a clumsy performance.

”Joey Joshua, this isn’t actually our first meeting... at least not for me.”

Moriarty recalled, which was why he was aware Joey was part of the Purification Mechanism.

”In a file, that should have been our first encounter.”

He continued talking to himself.

”You were quite the figure in Black Mountain Hospital back then. Everyone thought you couldn’t be discharged. We even prepared a comfortable ward for you in the sanatorium...”

Hearing this made Joey’s discomfort more severe; he had been trying to forget those cursed memories. Before Moriarty could finish, he got up, intending to leave, even as thunder rumbled outside.

”Joey, you later got discharged, but according to the treatment process, besides regular psychological evaluations, you never had psychological counseling... have you walked out of the shadows?”

Joey’s steps halted. He slowly turned around.

”It’s none of your business.”

”How could it not be? I’m a doctor; I need to ensure the health of you ’heroes’.”

Moriarty quietly watched Joey; no one knew what he was thinking. Then he deliberately emphasized.

”No, Joey, you haven’t come out.”

Joey didn’t want to bother with Moriarty any longer. He walked briskly towards the door, pushing it open forcefully as if ignoring the voices meant they didn’t exist. But like a bizarre curse, Moriarty’s voice echoed in Joey’s mind.

”If you really came out of the shadows, then why did you still come to the Mutual Aid Association? Was it to make friends, to hear about others’ miserable lives so you gain a twisted sense of happiness, or for some other cursed reason?

Joey, escaping doesn’t solve any problems.”

The thunder rolled, Joey raised the black umbrella, preparing to leave, but then he saw it.

The flood underfoot slowly began to change color, as if soaked with dye, turning red. Subsequently, the falling rain curtain did the same, like descending red drapes.

Beneath these layers of curtains, footsteps arose, so joyful, like children happily playing in water, soon they came.

Child after child appeared behind the curtains, each with the same face, yet on their youthful features burned holes, as if pierced by scorching metal.

The nightmare he refused to look back on found him, frozen in place, allowing the children to slowly surround him, thin arms clawing at Joey, tearing chunks of flesh from his body, juvenile teeth gnawing on his hard bones, producing terrifying rustling sounds.

Accompanied by chilling nursery rhymes, the children happily dispersed, running back behind the curtains, leaving only torn flesh and bone fragments in place.

A strong wind swept past, the black umbrella flying high until the cold rain drenched Joey entirely, then he sluggishly awoke as if all that had just occurred was overlapping Nightmares.

Subsequently, he knelt, clutching his heart forcefully as if someone was twisting a knife there.

”Ha... ha...”

Joey breathed heavily, cold air pouring into his lungs, causing him to cough forcefully, pathetically.

”Are you okay, Joey?”

Moriarty feigned concern as he approached, with the thunder’s descent, the burning flame extinguished in his pupils, carrying a strange smile, gently patting him on the back.

Joey didn’t speak, just forcefully shrugged off Moriarty’s hand, glancing deeply at this eerie man, then wordlessly walked into the torrential rain’s curtain.