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墨書 Inktalez
As Sofia's fingertips gently brushed against the final layer of gossamer fabric, an indescribable sensation rapidly spread within her heart. The fabric appeared so fragile, as if it could be easily pulled away, yet her fingers remained still. A tangle of desire and unease intertwined, as if a silent struggle was taking place within her.
Beneath that layer of fabric lay Ethan's face—the visage she longed for day and night. Sofia tried to convince herself that no matter how scarred or diminished his appearance had become, she would accept him. As long as it was Ethan, she could endure anything.
However, as her fingers inched closer to the last veil, the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly strange. An imperceptible pressure hung in the air, like an invisible shadow enveloping them. Sofia's heartbeat quickened, her palms grew sweaty, and a sense of foreboding quietly took root within her.
Just as she was about to tear away the fabric, Ethan's hands suddenly gripped her wrist like iron claws. The force was so intense that it nearly rendered her numb, as if some inhuman power had seized control of her. Sofia's body jolted, attempting to break free, but Ethan's grip was like a cold iron band, holding her firmly in place.
"Ethan!" The fear surged within Sofia, her voice tinged with anxiety and dread. "You're hurting me!" She tried to remain calm, but the icy touch and overwhelming pressure made her feel something was amiss.
Yet Ethan's response was even more unsettling than she had anticipated. His voice was astonishingly calm, like whispers hidden in an unfathomable abyss—serene yet devoid of warmth. "My dear..." he began slowly, his tone chillingly gentle, "are you really ready? Ready... to see me again?"
That calm voice carried an unfathomable power that made Sofia's heart tighten. She froze, her body instinctively stiffening; this simple question struck her nerves like a heavy hammer. Ethan's words seemed to test her resolve while hinting at a truth she was unwilling to confront.
Sofia's gaze fell once more on the remaining layer of fabric. It was so thin that a gentle tear would reveal the answer she had long awaited. However, Ethan's demeanor, his composure, and his cold, lifeless grip made her begin to doubt whether she should truly unveil this veil.
"Ready...?" Sofia instinctively echoed Ethan's words, her voice laced with unease and confusion. Her fingers lingered at the edge of the fabric, hesitating as if an invisible force were gripping her heart. She didn’t know if she was truly prepared to face it all or what she would see once she lifted this veil.
The air felt increasingly heavy; the light in the room dimmed as if being gradually consumed by some unseen darkness. Her intuition warned her that something was off—Ethan’s calmness, his unnaturally strong grip, and the suppressed power in his tone all sent chills down Sofia’s spine.
Was he still Ethan? Was he still the husband she knew?
Sofia bit her lip, striving to suppress the fear rising within her. This was her husband, Ethan. No matter what he had endured, she had to face him bravely. Even though an inexplicable sense of strangeness stirred within her heart, she chose to believe that this was merely a nightmare from which she would soon awaken.
"I... I'm ready," she said, her voice low and trembling, a flicker of struggle and determination in her eyes. Despite the inexplicable fear spreading within her, she firmly reminded herself that she had to uncover this final mystery.
Ethan's voice drifted through the room, soft as a falling leaf yet imbued with an unusual power. "Darling, close your eyes... let the joy of this moment be even more enchanting." His tone was gentle but carried an almost imperceptible strangeness, like a subtle lure that compelled one to follow his instructions.
Sofia felt a tightening in her chest. Though Ethan's behavior and words were odd, she knew all too well the changes he had undergone over these months. For someone who had been trapped in his own world for over three months, the initial abnormal reactions upon recovery seemed understandable. She unconsciously persuaded herself that this might simply be Ethan's way of regaining his freedom.
After a moment of hesitation, Sofia slowly closed her eyes. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, her breathing quickened, and her heartbeat thundered in her chest. Her hands still gently clutched the edge of the final layer of gauze, so thin it felt almost nonexistent, as if it would vanish into the air with the slightest touch.
What would she see in this moment?
The question flashed briefly through Sofia's mind, but she quickly suppressed it. She told herself that this was Ethan's moment of rebirth, and the significance of this moment was the culmination of countless sleepless nights she had waited for. Taking a deep breath, she filled her heart with anticipation and a hint of fear, though that fear was soon subdued.
With her eyes closed, Sofia's movements became more delicate as she carefully tore away the last layer of gauze. The thin fabric fell away like a feather drifting from her hand, silently descending. Her fingertips trembled slightly, as if what she was tearing away was not gauze but a veil separating reality from the unknown.
As the gauze floated down, the atmosphere in the room grew heavier. Ethan's breathing seemed to become more pronounced; he inhaled softly, and an unusual silence enveloped them. "I haven't breathed such fresh air in ages," Ethan murmured, his voice tinged with a strange satisfaction as if he had finally been liberated from some form of confinement.
Sofia remained with her eyes closed, her anticipation and unease intertwining into a powerful emotional whirlpool. Ethan's tone sent shivers through her heart, but she couldn't tell if this was meant to be a moment of liberation. Hesitating for a moment, her fingers twitched as if wanting to open her eyes, but the eerie atmosphere held her back.
That strange ambiance quietly spread throughout the room like an invisible mist enveloping them both. Sofia took a deep breath, instinctively clutching at the drifting gauze in the air as if it were the only thing providing her with a sense of security.
In that instant, she suddenly felt a surge of fear; her intuition warned her that perhaps she should not open her eyes.
Ethan's voice resonated again—low and gentle—carrying an underlying coldness and strangeness. "Open your eyes, darling..." he said softly, his tone laced with an inexplicable allure and pressure. "Look at me."
Sofia's heart suddenly tightened, feeling a chill slowly creeping up her spine. Her breath quickened, and her hands trembled slightly as she hesitated. Deep within her, a strong instinct told her not to look, absolutely not to look. Yet, Ethan's voice carried an irresistible force that compelled her to obey.
Finally, she mustered the courage, filled with deep unease and a strange sense of anticipation, and slowly opened her eyes.
In an instant, Sofia's world shattered completely.
That face—the face of Ethan, whom she had longed to see again—was no longer there. In its place was a bizarre and terrifying wooden mask, as if it had grown from some evil abyss, firmly adhered to Ethan's face, merging tightly with his flesh. The surface of the mask was covered in rough textures resembling cracked bark, glistening slightly with a moist sheen as if some viscous substance was seeping from the junction of the mask and skin.
Sofia's eyes widened in horror, her heartbeat nearly stopping at that moment. She stared rigidly at that face, letting out a sharp, piercing scream that shattered in fear, reverberating through her entire body.
Those hollow eyes were like bottomless black holes within the mask, staring intently at her. The corners of the mask's mouth curled up slightly, forming a grotesque smile devoid of warmth, filled instead with a cold mockery of the world. That smile sent chills down her spine, as if it were ridiculing all foolishness and ignorance; it felt as though Ethan was no longer her husband but a monster consumed by some malevolent force.
Sofia's entire body went rigid as fear flooded over her reason like a tidal wave. She couldn't believe what she was seeing; this masked creature had completely replaced the Ethan she knew. Her legs lost their strength and crumpled beneath her, causing her to fall backward helplessly onto the cold floor.
"No... no! This can't be happening!" Sofia's voice trembled, barely forming coherent sentences as she gasped for breath in terror. She pushed against the ground with her hands, desperately trying to distance herself from this horrifying presence, but her body felt locked in place by fear, unable to move an inch.
The Wooden Mask remained tightly affixed to Ethan's face, its smile twisted and eerie as if reveling in Sofia's terror. Ethan's body showed no signs of abnormality; he sat quietly there, but the mask infused the entire scene with an indescribable sense of distortion and absurdity.
The hollow eye sockets exuded silent derision; that smile seemed to deepen further, as if it had not only devoured Ethan's soul but was also consuming Sofia's last shred of sanity with its cold and empty visage.
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