Unable to resist, Yosef gave Kevin a light tap on the head. “Ow!” Kevin yelped, rubbing his head and grimacing.After dinner, Yosef, unable to withstand Kevin’s relentless pleading, finally relented. He took a shower and changed into the pajamas Kevin had picked out. They were a snug fit, light gray with some white stripes—a definite departure from his usual somber attire.While not exactly his style, they weren’t as bad as he had feared. Kevin, on the other hand, beamed with satisfaction.“How do you like them, bro? Don’t you feel like a whole new person? Isn’t your vibe totally different now?”Yosef walked over to the table and took a sip of warm water. He looked at Kevin, who was sitting cross-legged in the middle of his bed, and frowned slightly. “Let’s not get into whether I feel like a new person... What are you doing in my bed?”“It’s been forever since we’ve hung out! You finally came back, so of course, we need to catch up. Let’s have a sl

A short while later, John returned, freshly showered and in clean pajamas. He lifted the covers and climbed into bed.Diana immediately rolled over into his arms. As he held her close, the emptiness in his heart felt a little less hollow.He lay there with his eyes open, the darkness accentuating the clarity in his long, narrow eyes. After a while, he lowered his head, inhaling the scent of her hair, and whispered, "I have to take a trip tomorrow.""Hmm?" Diana lifted her head from his chest, looking puzzled. "A trip? How far?""Not sure yet, but even if it’s quick, it could take about a week," John said, his voice steady yet hesitant, unsure how to explain further."At least a week..." Diana muttered, sounding disappointed. "That’s quite long. Where are you going?""To a... remote place. I’m not exactly sure what it’s called," John replied slowly, not knowing how to elaborate.Diana, to his surprise, didn’t press further. She adjuste

“What’s there to be bored about?” Ivana glanced out the window, her eyes momentarily clouded with sadness.“I didn’t think we’d go back there. I thought I’d escaped for good, that I’d never return…”Mitbahl perked up, ears pricking at the mention. "Back there?" She must mean that village, the one their captain had been investigating for ages. It was supposed to be a backward place known for making traditional medicines. The details were sketchy, and his curiosity was piqued.Ivana spoke softly, her tone distant. “That wretched place... whenever I think about it, I still feel uneasy. I remember…”Her words trailed off, as if a sudden thought had struck her. She turned to Mitbahl and offered a gentle smile.“Sorry, I didn’t mean to go on like that. I guess I’m just feeling a bit overwhelmed.”Mitbahl: …What do you remember? Just spit it out!Curiosity was gnawing at Mitbahl, but he couldn’t muster the courage to ask outright. He fixed h

Freud hurried over, examined Mitbahl briefly, and then administered an antivenom injection. Mitbahl twitched a few times before his eyes fluttered open.John stood over him and asked, “Is he dead?”Freud shook his head. “No, this spider’s venom isn’t particularly lethal, but it acts fast. It causes temporary paralysis.”Mitbahl looked up at John with teary gratitude. “Boss, you were worried about me? Don’t worry, I’m tough; I’m not going anywhere…”Ignoring Mitbahl’s theatrics, John turned to Ivana and asked, “Do you know why Carl slaughtered everyone in the village?”Ivana froze. Was the man who took her called Carl? Her eyes flickered with a hint of recognition and anger.“It was because… I told him to,” she replied, her voice tinged with quiet rage. “They deserved it... But I only told him to kill my father and the uncles who insisted on practicing voodoo rituals. There should have been others left in the village…”She thought ther