Trafford's Trading Club

A voice told her by her ear---Kill her.

Early in the morning, Allie suddenly felt a chill in the air. She woke up, it turned out that Gloria had opened the dormitory window and cold wind blew in.

Gloria took a piece of clothing and draped in Allieʼs body, exclaiming incredibly, ”Oh my god, you actually stayed up all night!”

Allie firmly grasped the clothes, suddenly asking, ”Did you hear a sound?”

”Oh, was there? What kind of sound?” Gloria was stunned.

Allie gaped and shook her head. She unconsciously looked to the mirror beside and found a gaunt face. After that, she looked at Gloria.

She was so bright and enchanting.

”Allie? Are you not feeling well?” Gloria asked with worry, ”Tell me if you feel uncomfortable.”

”No.” Allie shook her head.

”Is there something on your mind?” Gloria pressed Allieʼs shoulders and bowed her head, ”Is it about your boyfriend? Len? Tell me, we are good friends.”

”Good friends…” Allie softly repeat it, while looking at Gloria and herself in the mirror.

When they crowded their faces together, why did Gloriaʼs face became such a weird… She knew nothing was wrong with Gloria, but why did her face look so horrible in the mirror?

Like a monster.

”Gloria... What will you do if one day I hurt you? Allie asked suddenly.

Gloria shrugged, replying confidently, ”Why would you hurt me?”

”Thatʼs because there is a monster living in my heart.”

…

…

She was puzzled that which side was true. The reality or the fantasy?

Where was here? Narrow, narrow, narrow, and dusky… She found she was in such a place upon waking up at midnight.

They said that this was the living area belonging to the hospital. Oh, the wall was all carpeted with soft cotton bales. Allie sat up, looking at the clothes she wore, puzzled.

Why did her clothes look like hospital gown?

Oh, this was a mental hospital.

She didnʼt remember how long she had been living there... When did she come in? She couldnʼt remember that.

She couldnʼt even distinguish if something that happened before was a dream, illusion, or a real issue.

Occasionally, the man called the doctor would come to chat with her. He said that there was a monster in everyoneʼs heart, but it was not that terrible. However, if you run from it, itʼd turn stronger and stronger.

Finally, one day, it would completely devour yourself.

Was that true? When it turned quiet, Allie looked up to the small iron window, ʼIs that true?ʼ

ʼOh, where is this place? Gloria? Len... Branham... Where are you?ʼ

In the narrow, narrow, narrow room, Allie curled up at the corner. She saw monsters again and again, who looked like Len, Branham, and Gloria, surrounded herself.

”Go away!”

…

…

There is a monster in everyoneʼs heart.

The shadow of the trees were retreating quickly… It was too dark, she could only see an endless black cloth outside the car.

ʼAm I in a car?ʼ

ʼNot in that narrow place?ʼ

Allie was leaning on the car window quietly, feeling that her life was like the fluids in the sewer, too messy... and terrible.

She didnʼt even know why she was in the car... It should be a police car because the driver was wearing a policeman uniform.

ʼIs there a monster in everyoneʼs heart?ʼ

ʼThatʼs really ugly.ʼ

Allie realized what the two cops would do to her, when she was tied on the tree. But…was this reality?

Or was it just a nightmare?

One more time, she couldnʼt distinguish if she was in a dream or in life---ʼIs it true? Shouldnʼt I be in that super cramped room?ʼ

Anyway, the sense of touch seem to be real.

That was really ugly... ʼif I cover my eyes, will I feel better?ʼ

ʼAh, what a disgusting feeling.ʼ

There was a monster in everyoneʼs heart... An incomparably ugly monster... ʼPlease swallow me, I donʼt want to distinguish which one is reality and which one is fake.ʼ

ʼLet the monster devour me.ʼ

When she was crying in her heart, she couldnʼt even feel the policeman grouping her.

Hysterically crying.

”A portion of health, sensibility, friendship and love... even a soul, these are all the ways for us to get profits.”

She might have heard such words before and it was remembered by her brain… By the way, she met a weird guy, who had a strange conversation with her.

But is that also real... But no matter what, at this moment...

”Get out of my body! Donʼt touch me!”

There was a monster in everyoneʼs heart, so ugly…

ʼPlease let me become a monster too.ʼ

”After that, I may not have to distinguish what is reality and what is an illusion. Right?”

Like the monster without heart in that story… Without a heart, everyone would become a monster.

ʼIʼve tasted the flavor of blood.ʼ

She saw the two policemen, who were totally frightened... ʼOh, this scene seems to be true.ʼ

ʼBut whatever.ʼ

ʼBecause ... Iʼm already a monster.ʼ

Warm blood was like flowing stream, flowing down to her arms. And she pressed the bloody hand on the goat skin stroll, which was being unfolded gradually.

…

…

”The house owner is really a good guy.”

Looking at his wife, who had coaxed her daughter to sleep, Marken walked close by soft steps; he held his wifeʼs shoulder, murmuring, ”Thank you.”

Mrs. Maggie made a ʼhushʼ gesture, then left the room with her husband. Mrs. Maggie seemed to feel a bit cold, so she clasped her arms and whispered, ”Letʼs hit the road as soon as the sun rises… I feel uncomfortable staying here.”

Marken nodded, ”Me too. Anyway, itʼs so odd for a pair of youths to build a house in this kind of place.”

”How are your wounds?” Mrs. Maggie touched the wound on the forehead of her husband; she chided him, ”You should have shouted when you were attacked. If I heard your voice, you may not be knocked out and thrown into the pit.”

Marken shrugged his shoulders, ”In that case, I have to think of Linaʼs safety, donʼt I? I donʼt know if she has a partner. What if you got off the car too? How can I leave Lena in the car alone?”

”Yeah.” Mrs. Maggie nodded helplessly, ”Well, letʼs not mention it again. You go to sleep, tonight I want to sleep with Lena...”

Mrs. Maggieʼs look suddenly turned scared and leaned back against the wall, as if seeing something terrifying.

”What happened?”

Marken asked his wife hurriedly.

Mrs. Maggieʼs arms trembled, pointing at the corridor window, saying in panic, ”Just now... something went pass…”

Marken turned his head and looked outside; it was deeply dark outside, ”Nothing, are you too exhausted and saw wrongly? Perhaps itʼs just the shadow of a leaf.”

”Maybe.” Mrs. Maggie massaged her eyebrows and gently pushed her husband, ”Go to sleep, you have to drive the car tomorrow.”

Seeing Mrs. Maggie walk into the room, Marken turned to relax his slightly stiff neck, and planned to go back to his room---next to theirs.

After closing the door, Marken frowned, inhaling some cold air, while walking to the mirror, lifting up his clothes, and pulling down part of his pants.

”This damn woman.”

Several inches below his belly, a few dark red scratches were clear there.

Marken bowed his head, fingers gently touched the scratches, and observed their depths; he definitely didnʼt notice the mirror.

Where a pair of wide, scarlet eyes appeared behind him...