I didn’t hesitate. I spun around and bolted straight into the basement. A long flight of stairs stretched out before me, and the second I crossed the threshold, the stinging stench of blood and formaldehyde hit me like a physical blow. I didn't stop to think; I took the steps two at a time, practically flying down the stairs.

　　But the moment I reached the bottom, I froze, paralyzed by the sight before me. I remember going with my parents when I was a kid to the slaughterhouse on the outskirts of Binshui County to buy a pig for the Lunar New Year. Because of new local regulations, that foul-smelling place had long since been shut down; the sounds and smells of livestock being butchered were a thing of the past. But seeing what was in front of me now, those childhood memories came rushing back in a sickening flood.

　　The layout here was almost identical to a slaughterhouse. Severed limbs and organs were tossed carelessly into a bathtub overflowing with formaldehyde. I could tell that these weren't just animal remains—some were unmistakably human. In the center of the basement stood an operating table, and upon it lay a stitched-together corpse. Judging by the head, it was a young girl. But her limbs and neck had been forcibly grafted onto her torso with heavy medical sutures.

　　The most bizarre part was that despite her "patchwork" body, her clothes were brand new—especially that pristine white dress.

　　Wait! I’d seen this girl before. On the night Xiaoxin went missing, I saw her with a tall man. It was dark then, so I hadn't been able to see her face clearly, and I certainly hadn't noticed the surgical stitches covering her body.

　　"She looks lifelike, doesn't she?" a man's voice called out from behind me.

　　I turned around. Standing there was a tall, thin man with hollow, vacant eyes. He wore a surgical mask over his face, and his hair was a messy, unkempt nest. Yet, he didn’t look like a slob; instead, he carried a heavy, melancholic air about him. My mind immediately flashed back to that night—to the man and woman I’d seen, the ones who had abducted Xiaoxin.

　　"Are you... Boss Hu?" I asked tentatively, backing away.

　　The man didn't answer. He walked slowly toward the operating table and, with a black-gloved hand, tenderly stroked the girl's cheek—even though she was nothing more than a corpse.

　　"My daughter... she’s been gone for nearly a year now," he began. "Tomorrow would have been her birthday, just like the day she died. She’d invited her classmates from Grade 10, Class 3, to go swimming. But the poor thing didn't realize that being top of her class for years had already put a target on her back. By the time the police took me to identify the body, post-mortem bloating had already set in. Except for her face, her entire torso was swollen beyond recognition. She didn't even look like my little girl anymore. Maybe I really am losing my mind. I took the only part of her that was still 'normal'—her head—and cremated the rest. I’ve kept her here in this basement ever since, preserved in formaldehyde, just so she could stay by my side. And those classmates? The ones who watched my daughter sink beneath the water and did absolutely nothing to save her? They were only expelled. They just moved to other counties to keep going to school. I never got an apology. No one paid a real price for what happened. But they say God is watching from above, and heaven showed me mercy after all. Do you know why?"

　　The man finished his sentence and suddenly snapped his head toward me, locking his eyes onto mine.

　　Those vacant eyes suddenly dilated, and for a heartbeat, I felt like I was being stared down by a demon. Terrified, I scrambled back a few more steps, only to slam right into a metal cage covered with a blanket.

　　High-pitched, piercing shrieks erupted from inside the cage. I spun around and looked. Inside were more of those "rats" I’d encountered earlier. Only now, there were only two of them—or rather, two and a half. The two healthy ones were currently feasting on the flesh of a third "rat" whose body had been skewered. As I watched gray, brain-like matter ooze from the torn gashes under their rhythmic gnawing, my stomach did a somersault. I gagged, vomited right then and there, and sprinted toward the door on the opposite side of the room.

　　I yanked and twisted at the doorknob with everything I had, my eyes never leaving the man.

　　"That door is deadbolted. It’s not opening," he said, a grotesque, predatory grin spreading across his face. "You should consider yourself lucky. My daughter doesn't like taking lives. Once midnight passes, the ritual will begin. After she’s resurrected and has spent a beautiful day celebrating her birthday... well, then I'll carve you up. You'll make a fine feast for my little experiments."

　　"Why are you doing this? Did you kill those girls from Binshui High? Are you the one behind the 7-10 serial murders?" I glared at the man, my voice trembling with accusation.

　　"A murderer? Me?" he sneered. "And what about the ones who stood by and watched my daughter die? Aren't they murderers too? Whatever. I’m in a good mood today. If this were yesterday, I would’ve cut your tongue out first. Xi! Get down here!" He barked the final command toward the stairs.

　　Then, Hu Xi appeared. She crawled down the stairs—literally crawled. The back of her clothes had been shredded by a whip, leaving several deep gashes where blood continuously welled up. The blood, however, was a dark, sickly shade of black, which only added to the unsettling sight.

　　"Papa..." Hu Xi whispered.

　　"In a little while, I’m heading out to prepare the ritual to resurrect my daughter," the man said. "But just a bit ago, the police went sniffing around the altar. It's a good thing I’d already hidden the statue of Efisifanadu. they didn't find anything and left, but now I need to go back for the statue and present the final sacrifice to Efisifanadu. Unfold your body, bind this brat, and follow me to the altar. I don't have time to watch him. And another thing—next time you’re looking for a snack, don’t bring it home. If there’s a second time, it won't just be a few lashes. I’ll tear you apart and feed you to your brainless brothers and sisters. Do you understand?" As he spoke, he ground his foot into Hu Xi's back.

　　"Yes... I understand, Papa..." Hu Xi choked out through the pain.

　　"Isn't she your daughter too?" I shouted, unable to stomach it any longer. "She calls you Papa! Why do you treat her like a slave?"

　　Hu Xi looked up at me when she heard that. Something flickered in her eyes for a split second, but she quickly lowered her head again.

　　The man burst into a sudden, manic fit of laughter. He yanked Little Xi up from the floor and violently tore her clothes open, exposing her pale skin—and those grotesque, black, segmented limbs.

　　"You've got to be kidding me! You actually think this freak is human?" he sneered. "Her abdomen is packed full of 'blessed' embryos. She’s a monster through and through. Her calling me 'Papa' is nothing but a pathetic delusion. I have only one daughter, and her name is Hu Xi. Did this thing tell you that was her name? Hahaha! That’s rich." With that, he tossed the girl aside like trash.

　　"I think... compared to her, you're the one who's the real monster," I spat through gritted teeth.

　　"Think whatever you want. I don't have time for this. I have a birthday gift to prepare for my daughter. Xi, don't make me say it again. Use those disgusting hands of yours to bind this brat. If he tries to run, kill him." The man spoke over his shoulder as he headed back toward the stairs.

　　Little Xi slowly crawled toward me. Her chitinous, jointed limbs extended from her body, poised to coil around me.

　　"Wait a second," I said, reaching for my jacket. "Put this on first." I draped my coat over her shoulders.

　　"You... you don't find me... disgusting?" she asked suddenly.

　　"Do you want the truth or a lie?" I managed to force a faint, weary smile.

　　"Thank you..." she whispered. "And for the record, my name isn't really Hu Xi. That was the name of Papa's dead daughter. I'm just... Little Xi. He found me. He gave me the name..."

　　Looking at this "monster girl," I couldn't help but feel a pang of pity. At the same time, I was terrified by my own thoughts. Why didn't I find her revolting? Was this how a normal person was supposed to feel?