> "Before you stand before me, you must bear your own burdens. Face all the trials in this forest — trials born from your own sins."
The baritone voice echoed in Xelix's ears, piercing down her spine. Her trembling steps halted amidst towering bamboo, shivering as white mist slithered around her ankles. Her body felt light, yet crushed under the weight of guilt.
Suddenly, a chilling giggle crackled behind her back. Xelix turned slowly, her breath caught in her throat as she saw an old woman in a tattered red dress. Her long hair covered a maggot-ridden face, mouth agape, laughing hoarsely in the silence.
> "NO! STAY AWAY!!" Xelix screamed, leaping back — but her knees gave way.
Before she could escape, two small hands clutched her legs. Frozen in horror, Xelix looked down — two children, bruised and crushed, their bodies stained with dried blood. Their lifeless eyes stared straight into hers.
A violent memory stormed into her mind.
That rainy night — she had just left a wealthy client's house. In a dark alley, these two children begged her for leftover food. Drunk and angry at the world, Xelix had kicked them, scolded them like stray dogs. She didn't care that their small bodies tumbled onto the street… hit by a car… their blood pooling in the rain.
And now, in Enver's bamboo forest, her past sins demanded retribution.
> "Forgive me... please... I DON'T WANT THIS ANYMORE!!" Xelix wailed.
But the red-dressed woman's laughter only grew louder, summoning more of her kind. The bamboo trees groaned as dozens of fanged old women emerged from the mist, dancing in a circle around Xelix crawling through the mud.
Suddenly, Xelix's body burned from within. Her stomach twisted — from her throat spilled blood and thousands of tiny black snakes. They slithered across her body. From her lower belly, rotting worms oozed out, devoured by the red women like a feast.
Xelix wanted to scream, but her voice was locked in unbearable pain. Only one name remained in her mind: Enver. The only one who could end this torment.
---
Meanwhile, in Enver's grand manor, the distant laughter of those creatures sounded like music in his ears. Seated in a wooden chair in his lavish study, he sipped tea and smirked.
Marva stood trembling in the corner, holding a silver tray. Her chest pounded as Xelix's distant screams echoed through the forest.
> "Master... why won't you save her?" Marva whispered.
Enver turned, his cold gaze freezing her in place.
> "Silence. This is her punishment. No sin goes unpaid. Anyone who comes to me must pass through their own hell. That is the rule keeping this world intact."
Suddenly — silence. The screams stopped.
Enver set down his cup and snapped his fingers. A crimson light flared in the bamboo forest, scorching all the rotten spirits into the soil.
Xelix collapsed in the mud, her body trembling, skin pale. In front of her stood a stone house — eerie, yet strangely soothing to her shattered soul. She dragged herself to the door, reaching for the handle.
> SLAM!
The door swung open. Warmth rushed to greet her battered body. Inside, a man with black hair sat calmly. His piercing gaze stripped away all her lies. A slight smile curled on his lips — more terrifying than death.
> "Welcome, Miss Xelix."
Xelix stood frozen, breath ragged, her clothes filthy, face streaked with mud and tears. Yet her eyes locked on Enver as if seeing a god. Without realizing, her irises turned crimson.
Enver raised an eyebrow, head tilted.
> "Your eyes... do you think you can fool me? You let a white serpent nest in your body, didn't you? Is it trying to steal a piece of mine too?"
Xelix dropped to her knees, clutching her stomach as a hiss echoed from within. Enver stepped forward slowly, looking down at her.
He snapped his fingers again. Blood-red ropes slithered from the floor, binding Xelix to a wooden chair.
> "Listen carefully. Creatures like you should be thrown away. But sadly, I cannot kill humans — it's my cursed vow. So... you have to choose: die slowly or let me cleanse you — painfully."
On his desk, Enver laid out tarot cards — one by one, their symbols glowing ominously. He stared at Xelix with disgust.
> "Pick a card, Xelix. Choose... or I'll slice your belly open right here."
Xelix bit her lip. Her eyes wild, she smirked. Still bound, she slithered forward, lowering herself between Enver's knees, her fingers creeping toward the hem of his coat.
> "Don't you want to try my body first, Enver? You're a man, aren't you? I'll give you everything... for free. Isn't this the reward I owe?"
Enver's breath turned cold. His left hand clenched. His face tensed as if resisting the urge to vomit. One word escaped between his teeth:
> "Disgusting."
In a flash, a black pistol appeared. The barrel pressed cold against Xelix's forehead. Enver's finger tensed on the trigger — but suddenly, Marva's small arms wrapped around his, her tearful voice pleading.
> "Master… no! You know… killing a human… your curse…"
The blood ropes responded to Enver's fury, tightening around Xelix, choking her. The white serpent hissed inside her stomach, clashing with Xelix's ragged cries.
Enver took a deep breath, forcing down his rage. His gaze turned to Marva, still burning with anger.
> "Step aside."
With one motion, Marva flew back, hitting the wall. She winced in pain.
Enver looked at Xelix one last time. Slowly, he lowered the gun — then picked one tarot card and stabbed it into her forehead.
> "I'm pulling you out right now, filthy serpent. And you, Xelix — prepare to pay for your sins. Your body will never be the same again."
Crimson light engulfed the room. Xelix's scream pierced the night.
And beneath that scream, Enver smiled — the smile of a hellseer judging the sins of humankind.