Call for Help

Saint Anne Abbey had two telephones.

One was in Director Elma's private quarters, and the other was in Miss Gerdin's archives.

It was late, and the abbey high in the mountains was silent. Hesta hid between the suspended corridor floor and the rock face, her hands clamped tightly over her mouth, trying her best not to make a sound.

She had cried so hard that her eyes were now stinging. She heard the Chelated Being slowly pass above her head, then gradually disappear around the corner.

It was about a 15-minute walk from here to the children's common room, and 10 minutes to Miss Gerdin's archives. The problem was, these two places were in opposite directions.

She could only choose one: notify the others or call for help.

Hesta didn't hesitate for too long—most children at the abbey left to find work in society after turning 14, so there weren't many people who could calmly take charge. Running to wake everyone up now might lead to an even worse outcome in the ensuing panic.

That left only one option—call for help, notify the Chelated Being hunters.

She and Boheng used to frequent Miss Gerdin's archives. Boheng was 14 this year, the oldest child at the abbey. Whenever new children arrived, Sister Gerdin always had him organize and record their information. Later, Hesta was also chosen to work in the archives, which is how she and Boheng became close.

Over the years, Hesta knew there were at least three paths to Miss Gerdin's archives—the fastest one might not even take 10 minutes, 7 minutes would be enough.

No.

No... wait.

Director Elma knew all these things too.

Was she waiting in Miss Gerdin's archives right now?

A chill rose from Hesta's stomach, and tears silently welled from her eyes. On this quiet night, Hesta slowly crawled out of the shadows. Deep blue moonlight spilled over her as she hunched her back and trembled, returning to the ground.

The terrifying images from moments ago flashed uncontrollably in her mind, almost pushing her to the brink of collapse. She could feel every inch of her skin screaming—yet she continued to move backward, rushing towards the Director's private quarters she had just fled.

Fear surged like a tsunami. Under immense pressure, any threat could easily shatter her courage. She was like someone running frantically on a tightrope, unable to turn back, unable to stop, as if running fast enough would keep fear from catching her.

The door to the private quarters was ajar. Time was precious now, allowing no room for hesitation. Hesta gritted her teeth and slipped inside.

If the Chelated Being was waiting behind the door, then she would follow in Sister Gerdin's footsteps—if Miss Gerdin was waiting in heaven, then death was nothing to fear...

The opened door let out a faint creak.

Behind the door was a reassuring silence.

The candle by the Director's bed was still burning quietly. On the floor lay the bloody bodies of Miss Gerdin and Flosang. Hesta suddenly felt a rush of hot blood to her limbs. She glanced at Miss Gerdin with a pang of guilt, then quickly ran to the cabinet by the desk and picked up the receiver of the old-fashioned telephone.

No area code was needed, just press 1 and 7 directly—but Hesta's hand trembled uncontrollably. She repeatedly made mistakes, then repeatedly pressed redial.

The moment she finally succeeded, she suddenly heard a loud "BANG—"

"You dare to come back, Jane... you're very brave..."

The door to the private quarters was violently pushed open. The Chelated Being, holding a sharp blade, stood there with a sinister grin.

Hesta's body instantly stiffened.

"Beep—"

A static-filled signal sounded from the receiver.

Countless images flashed through Hesta's mind—all of them beautiful and precious memories from her four years at Saint Anne Abbey.

"Beep—"

She had grown up under the care of Sister Gerdin and Director Elma. The two sisters had been like mothers to her, guiding her.

Though their temperaments were vastly different, in one thing, they were the same:

When danger suddenly struck, they would prioritize the children's lives far above their own.

"Beep—"

Hesta slowly placed the receiver on the desk beside her.

In that moment, she suddenly felt her breathing become steady.

...That was Sister Gerdin. Now, it was her turn.

"&%#@... Hello, this is the AHgAs Help Center. How can I help you?"

The Chelated Being's gaze sharpened instantly. It lunged at the old telephone with unprecedented speed. Hesta, surprisingly, matched its pace, charging towards the Chelated Being. In the impact, the black coiled cord suddenly stretched, and the receiver was swept off the desk, swinging in the air like a small pendulum.

Hesta shrieked, "Chelated Being found at Saint Anne Abbey in Tanyi City, District 3!!

"The afflicted is—Chevalier Elma, the Director—"

Before she could finish, she felt an unfamiliar pain. The Dagger that had pierced Sister Gerdin's body now plunged directly into her heart.

The Chelated Being's lips curled into a silent, victorious smile. It pushed Hesta's body away and reached for the telephone receiver dangling in the air, but—Hesta didn't fall.

The Dagger was plunged into her chest, her disheveled hair obscured her face, yet her strength was greater than before. Hesta's hands clamped tightly onto the Chelated Being's arms, immobilizing it for a moment.

"Tanyi City, District 3... Saint Anne Abbey... Chelated Being found...

"There are over twenty... children... here...

"Please... hurry..."

Hesta felt pain, as if trapped in a long dream.

First, intense pain, then peace.

She felt a scorching wave of heat, as if boiling flames burned beside her, and within those flames, she saw a young, smiling face.

The surroundings were sometimes noisy, sometimes quiet. Hesta occasionally heard hushed conversations, but the voices sounded as if from underwater, blurry and indistinct.

She leaped from one dream to another, trying to find the person she had first seen, but in the infinite darkness, she felt like a wandering spirit, unable to find them or stop.

In her dream, she plunged into a sunny afternoon. This wasn't Duanming Alley, but Saint Anne Abbey.

She stood once again before Director Elma's resting room door.

Looking down, she saw herself barefoot in a white linen dress, holding a stack of newspapers.

For a moment, a familiar warmth welled up in her heart. Hesta forgot everything, tiptoeing to gently knock on the door.

Director Elma's voice came from behind the door, "Who is it?"

"Good afternoon, Director," her voice was childish, "Sister Gurdin asked me to bring a newspaper."

The sound of drawers opening and closing came from behind the door. "Come in."

Hesta pushed the door open.

Director Elma's resting room always had a faint scent of pine, completely different from the stench Hesta always smelled in Duanming Alley—this pine scent came from the wall of bookshelves on the north side of the resting room. To prevent insects, Director Elma hung many fragrant wood pieces near the bookshelves.

Hesta handed the newspaper over with both hands, and Director Elma received it with both hands.

The girl glanced at the Director's desk. On it lay a notebook and an uncapped pen, but no open books. Hesta suddenly understood. She looked back at the empty doorway, then smiled and circled back to the old Director's side.

"Are you looking at a book Sister Gurdin isn't supposed to find again?"

Director Elma chuckled, a silent acknowledgment.

Hesta walked over to the old woman. "Can I look too?"

"There's no helping it, since you've stumbled upon it..."

The old woman sighed softly, pulling open the nearest cabinet beside her. She took out the book she had hidden in the drawer, gently placed it on the desk, then picked Hesta up and settled the girl in her lap.

"Can you read the words on it?" Elma asked.

"From the Wilderness..." Hesta painstakingly spelled out, "...An Anthropologist's Notes...?"