I Have Yet to Become a Doll Today

No one knew what had happened to her.

The witch’s chair, Iron Maiden, bronze bull torture, pear torture, the dustman’s daughter, Catherine wheel, two-man saw… Seven torture tools, each one a nightmare for women.

The corridor was deserted, silent as a tomb.

All sounds choked in their throats…

Zhu Shu covered her face with both hands, her body violently trembling, tears falling inaudibly.

Bai Youwei leaned against the wall, sitting on the floor, head drooping as she gasped for breath, speechless.

Yu Yaqing also sat on the floor, clutching her injured hand, silently staring down the end of the corridor.

She thought about Hu Ya’s death, their current predicament, the future of this world… Her heart was filled with bewilderment.

This night seemed unbearably long.

They stayed outside the torture chamber. Su Man’s voice was no more.

Silently, Yu Yaqing prayed that Su Man found the strength to end her suffering. It was better than being tormented by torture tools.

She got up to help Bai Youwei stand, telling Bai Youwei and Zhu Shu:

“Su Man bought us another day. We cannot let it go to waste. Let’s return to our rooms to rest, then reconsider our options.”

She thought they would continue to be despondent, or even collapse emotionally, but they didn’t.

Even though tears still flowed, Zhu Shu stood up quietly and started walking towards the stairs one step at a time.

They returned to the first floor.

The hall was strewn with shattered crystals.

Hu Ya was silently crushed beneath the massive crystal chandelier, her form unseen.

They walked past the hall to return to the bride’s room, though sleep eluded them, despite knowing they needed rest.

Zhu Shu sat at the edge of the bed, her tears unceasing. Yu Yaqing didn’t try to console her. Perhaps, expressing the grief was better…

The door creaked open.

Yu Yaqing looked up to see Bai Youwei leaning on her crutch by the doorway, ready to leave.

“Bai Youwei…” Yu Yaqing stood up.

Before Yu Yaqing could say anything, Bai Youwei quietly said:

“I want to be alone for a while.”

Her hair was disheveled, hiding half of her face. Her bangs cast shadows over her eyes that obscured her expression.

Yu Yaqing gazed at Bai Youwei.

She understood that Bai Youwei was suffering. She wanted to comfort her — it’s okay, there’s no need for guilt, don’t be sad, we all agreed to your plan, and if it’s wrong, it’s not your fault alone… Su Man wouldn’t blame us… We all did our best…

Sigh…

How powerless words seemed.

Yu Yaqing couldn’t bring herself to speak. Every sentence she formulated felt so superficial, so weak.

Finally, she sat back down in silence.

Bai Youwei opened the door and, leaning on her crutch, walked out.

For the entire night, no one slept.

In the morning, they gathered in the dining room, nibbling on tasteless dry bread, all of them silent and lifeless.

The Inspector watched them with a smile.

“Only three brides left, I see. It seems we’ll need to reduce the breakfast portions tomorrow.”

No one responded.

Bai Youwei sat quietly, eating. Whether she was daydreaming or pondering, she seemed not to hear him at all.

The Inspector found it unamusing. He wished to revel in their misfortune, but without any response, his mocking seemed pointless.

After finishing their simple breakfast, Bai Youwei rose, leaning on her crutch for support.

Zhu Shu and Yu Yaqing followed her lead.

The Inspector looked slightly surprised, blurting out, “Where are you going?”

Bai Youwei stopped, slowly turned around, and looked at him.

The Inspector couldn’t help feeling curious, he scrutinized her eyes… Dark, tranquil, like an unfathomable well, devoid of light, wind, or any emotional upheaval.

Just as he was about to ask, Bai Youwei suddenly spoke:

She said, “If the reward of this game doesn’t satisfy me, then you are nothing but…trash.”