NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: Death certificate
For Noah, it was nothing unusual. He had seen it countless times—people freezing instantly, their hearts stopping the moment they touched Ethan's skin. It had become a common sight for him. After all, he had been by Ethan's side since childhood, alongside two peculiar pets. He had long known about the icy hell curse that bound itself to Ethan's body.
The moment Ethan stepped into the car and shut the door, Taylor collapsed onto the cold asphalt. She clutched her head as a sudden sharp pain blurred her vision.
Thud.
"Strange... why couldn't I move when I got close to Mr. Ethan?" Taylor wondered, her face filled with confusion as she stared at the closed car window.
"Old man, I need some time to take care of something important today," Taylor said, addressing Noah while her gaze lingered on the car door.
Hearing this, Noah approached the pitiful girl.
"Very well. Let me assist you, Miss," Noah said as he bent down to help Taylor up. But just as he was about to lift her, Taylor whispered something into his ear.
"Are you serious, old man? Will you really give me money, huh???"
Her thoughts couldn't stray from the overdue rent payment looming over her.
Noah nodded calmly, trying to reassure the disheveled girl who stared at him with desperation. "The Master has permitted me to give you money, so stand up."
Taylor's face lit up with a wide smile, and Noah helped her to her feet. He quickly reached into his pocket to retrieve his wallet.
"Is it really true, old man? In that case, I'll give you my ID as collateral. How about that? Hm?" Without waiting for Noah's response, Taylor hastily unzipped her bag and began pulling out papers in a panic, scattering them carelessly on the ground.
Seeing Taylor's clumsiness, Noah reflexively bent down to gather the scattered papers and put them back together.
"Here you go," Taylor handed over a fake ID with the name Julian Robert written on it.
"I have no other choice but to give this fake ID to the old man. I need the money and the job, no matter what," Taylor thought, convincing herself that this was not a lie but a means of survival in this harsh world.
"Alright," Noah said as he accepted the rectangular card, fully aware that it was fake. But he let Taylor smile, a rare moment of peace crossing her face for the first time that evening.
He then reached into his wallet and pulled out a sleek black card, handing it to Taylor.
"Huh?"
Taylor couldn't believe it. She had expected a meager amount, but instead, she held an infinity card in her trembling hands.
"Are you joking with me?" she asked incredulously, staring at Noah's expressionless face.
"..."
"Call me Noah. Master Ethan is a generous man. That card is nothing compared to his benevolence. But don't even think about running away. Master Ethan can do things far worse than you can imagine," Noah warned, his cold gaze intimidating as he handed Ethan's infinity card to Taylor.
"Hah... So, the Master is serious?"
Despite her anxiety, Taylor forced herself to speak.
The shabby girl quickly bowed in gratitude to Noah and turned to Ethan, whose car door was slightly ajar.
"I promise I'll be there tonight, sir. At exactly midnight. I promise I'll work to death for Master Ethan."
"Old man—ah, I mean, Noah—please give me the address to Master Ethan's residence, and I'll be there tonight. I promise," she said, her voice trembling but determined. She had no other choice.
Noah handed her a small card with Ethan's address neatly printed on it. "Come after you've taken care of your affairs, but make sure it's before midnight," Noah instructed.
Taylor accepted the card with shaky hands, her eyes focused on the address as if it were her only salvation from her bleak reality.
"Alright, thank you, sir. I'll take my leave," Taylor said, bowing once more before stepping away from the car. She walked backward as she left, ensuring she didn't turn her back on Noah, who watched her until she disappeared into a narrow alley.
"Tch. Let her feed her little friends one last time," Ethan chuckled softly, glancing at Taylor's fake ID that Noah had handed him.
"I'll be waiting, my sweet little kitten," Ethan murmured with a barely visible smirk.
---
In front of an old building far from the bustling city, Taylor used scissors to open a sack of dog and cat food.
Meow.
Meow.
Meow.
Woof.
Woof.
Woof.
Her expression was calm and content. She hummed softly as the stray cats and dogs gathered around her peacefully.
"Na-na-naaa... na-naaa... na-na-na..."
"Good children, eat as much as you can. I'll be leaving soon, but I promise I'll come back and feed you often," Taylor said to the now-tame strays.
After stocking up on pet food and paying her overdue rent, Taylor glanced at the mailbox standing in front of her small, mossy house.
"Huh? Is that a new letter?" she muttered, her gaze fixed on the mailbox.
Walking toward it, she hoped it was a letter from the woman who had cared for her at the orphanage. That woman had raised her until she grew up, but for the past two years, they had only communicated through letters.
"Mom," Taylor whispered with a smile as she opened the letter.
Thud.
Her body collapsed onto the cold ground. Her breathing grew ragged as tears began to stream down her face.
Drop.
"Mom... no, this must be a mistake," she muttered weakly, hoping the devastating news she had just read was nothing more than a nightmare.
She quickly stood up and ran aimlessly, forgetting the promise she had made earlier. Her heart ached as the reality of the orphanage mother's death hit her like a relentless storm.
And then...
"The promise... Ethan... I have to go there."