Jerome wove effortlessly through the throng of revelers and led us out of the ballroom. We passed countless lounges where guests rested and busy corridors where servants scurried. Jerome moved with complete familiarity, unfazed by the labyrinth of this mansion. The moment the halls emptied, he spun on his heel and gripped my arm tightly. He flung open the nearest door and strode inside. We passed one empty room after another until he finally entered one and shut the door. He released my arm as if discarding it, backed away a few steps, and at last we found ourselves alone in perfect silence, free from prying eyes or noise.My nemesis, my monster, my beloved stood before me—no longer the boy I remembered, but a fully ripened man. His reptilian eyes, barely blinking, shone with a depth and strangeness I had never known. Hands clasped behind his back, he tilted his head with rare bewilderment. Even he, who laughed at being strangled, now stood visibly flustered by our reunion.After a breathless moment, Jerome’s unsteady gaze flickered as he spoke quietly.“Rachel, this isn’t the place for you.”“…”“I’ll get you a carriage. Leave right away. And don’t come back.”I stared at him. The tension swelled until I couldn’t contain it, and laughter burst from me uncontrollably. I bent at the waist, clutching the armrest of a nearby chair, and laughed until tears streaked down my face. When I finally looked up, Jerome stood stiff and pale, watching me in silence. I caught the faintest glimmer of confusion flash across his face.Without breaking eye contact, I took long strides toward him. Jerome hesitated and retreated an inch as I seized his collar and thrust him against the wall. He stood flawlessly still, his brow unmoved, simply meeting my gaze.“You hadn’t even greeted me after so long.”My lips curled into a cruel smile. Jerome said nothing but blinked once. I pressed my face close to his and hissed,“I missed you so much, you bastard.”Slowly, life returned to his green eyes—no, not life but madness. I stared into the color I knew so well. Jerome covered my hand with his own and squeezed gently. His beautiful eyes drowned deeper in that familiar insanity, and his crimson lips split into a flawless, ecstatic grin. He tilted his head toward me, and I felt an electric chill trace down my spine as he kissed me.His tongue was hot and insistent, unlike the cold reptilian tongue of my memories. I opened willingly and met him with equal fervor. The scent of his cold hand wrapped around my jaw and a distant perfume mingled with the taste of him. I remembered the last time I saw him, standing at Laberham’s gates, blowing me a kiss as if I were a departing lover. From that moment until now, I had waited for this. For Jerome, for Simon—to bury them in the mud and choke them at last.I bit down fiercely on Jerome’s lip, tasting blood as it filled my mouth. He exhaled a heated breath, turned his head, and clamped my wrist in a grip that pressed me against the wall. Our eyes locked at arm’s length. Blood dripped from his lips onto his immaculate shirt.Even as he bled, he grinned and asked, “Did you miss me?”I swallowed the coppery taste, bared my teeth, and laughed, “Of course. I missed you in my dreams.”“You missed me that much?”He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Why did you leave me and go play with other men?”I shrugged. “I thought you’d be having a good time with Timothy.”At the name, Jerome’s smile faltered. He released my wrist and stepped back, rubbing his hand. I watched him curiously. He brushed his bloody hand over his mouth and murmured,“Raymond…”His voice trembled with strange joy and longing. I studied him closely.“Raymond, I’m glad to see you. I never expected we’d meet again.”He rubbed at his bloodstained shirt in silence. When he tilted his head and looked at me earnestly, an indescribable dread washed over me—as if someone I did not know stood beside him. The boy I knew, the madman who waved from the blasted windows, had become a stranger over eight years.“Go, Raymond. Run away. Like you did at Bluebell, at Laberham.”“…”“I won’t chase you anymore.”At those words, despair shook me so violently I could not explain it. I felt as though the ground had disappeared beneath me, and I plunged into some endless underworld. The thought of Jerome no longer pursuing me, of his disinterest, terrified me. I held his gaze, mouth clenched.Then I saw his expression change, and I felt relief. He was as shocked and confused as I was. This reunion had caught us both off guard. The man who once laughed through strangulation now looked so pale it was comical—no longer amused but tense, as though gauging my face.I asked, voice trembling, “You won’t chase me?”“…”“Is this the end? Do you swear you’ll never seek me out again… never interfere with me?”Unexpectedly, Jerome nodded. Silence fell. I watched the faint trickle of blood on his lips before nodding in return.“Very well.”He licked his bleeding lips and said nothing.“I’ll leave.”“…”“Do I have to say it like that, you bastard?”His face twisted into an unreadable mask. I stepped closer.“You don’t like me getting close to Timothy, do you?”Silence answered for him.“And joining your Club doesn’t sit well with you?”Then tonight I would join that Club. I would face Timothy, and reveal that I—the infuriating one, the hidden mystery—was exactly whom they sought.I pushed past him and turned for the door. As I latched the knob, Jerome whispered,“You always choose the foolish path.”I glanced back, hand still on the door.“Then offer me a better choice.”I threw the door wide and stormed out into the ballroom’s festive chaos once more. I climbed the great staircase alone as I had with Christine, the black carpet beneath my feet feeling like the Styx itself. I walked into the unknown without fear, abandoning any chance of survival.I didn’t look back, though I could feel Jerome trailing behind. If I had turned, I feared he would pull me back up those steps. He, who always led me to hell, now felt like my only bridge back to life.I retraced the path Christine and I had taken, but the Italian salon of the banquet was empty. Only the barren table remained. Beyond it stood a plain white door, one I had not noticed before. Now two servants in formal attire and masks stood guard like statues. I approached them—it had to be the secret entrance.The guard with a cat mask tilted his head and handed me another mask—a rabbit. I realized Timothy had prepared this for me, despite Christine’s warning. I put it on without hesitation. The cat-masked guard opened the white door, revealing a narrow corridor lit by candles. The door closed silently behind me.“Not that one.”A quiet voice reached over my shoulder as a hand offered me another mask—plain white, with only eye holes. Jerome ripped the rabbit mask from my face and shoved it into his pocket. I had no choice but to don the white mask. I gripped the doorknob at the corridor’s end. A pang of regret struck me—I should have at least greeted Fay and Allen.I entered a lavish room where a waltz played. Men in white masks and tuxedos surrounded a roulette table, fists raised in celebration. Some glanced our way, but a roar from the table drew every eye. White-masked men waved number cards, cheering wildly. I edged closer but saw only a mundane game table. The dealer pressed a round red chip into a celebrant’s palm, and I turned away.Jerome maintained a discreet distance behind me, following. I let him and began to explore.The Club was nothing like I imagined. I had expected an obscene bacchanal—but it was almost dull. Beyond the gaming room, gentlemen and cross-dressed men in evening wear gathered in small halls to dance or talk. At the bar, men chatted with bartenders while smoking marijuana. In another room, a football match played on a wall-sized screen; elsewhere, groups played cards or enjoyed tea. Every salon hosted a dealer table for baccarat, blackjack, or poker. Remove the open drugs, and this was no different from an ordinary social gathering.Yet the Club differed from the ballroom in every detail. There were no women—only men in sharp suits, cross-dressed or not. Masks varied but followed rules: bartenders, dealers, and servers wore animal masks—cats, raccoons, parrots, tigers, deer—no duplicates. Other gentlemen wore plain white masks like mine, some decorated subtly. It felt less like a secret society and more like just another mansion party. I glanced at Jerome. He stood a few paces away, sipping champagne, then turned his head as if uninterested.“Have you heard the news?”A white-masked gentleman with blond hair stood beside me, wine glass in hand.“What news?”I answered while stealing a look at Jerome, who pretended to admire the view.“They say four red chips have come up.”“Red chips?”“In roulette… You seem new here. First time?”“I’m still a bit bewildered.”His eyes crinkled in a friendly smile. “You timed your visit well. You’ll see something special tonight.”“Now you’ve piqued my curiosity… What will it be?”“That would spoil the surprise.”“Come on, at least a hint.”He chuckled beneath his mask. “Before every party, we place a wager. Seats at the table are limited, but everyone waits their turn. Tonight’s bet: whoever wins the fifth red chip at roulette becomes the party’s host.”“Oh, so four chips means…”“That the host will be decided soon.”No sooner had he finished than cheers erupted across the room. The masked man urged, “Let’s go.” Guests at the bar, tea party, and card tables all rose and streamed toward the roulette salon. I joined the throng, determined to see this mystery unfold.In front of the roulette table, a man in a white mask was surrounded by people, rolling a red chip between his fingers. He bowed gracefully to the cheering and applauding crowd. He then took a business card from his pocket and handed it, along with a red chip, to the game dealer. The dealer gave the card a brief nod and disappeared.“I really wanted to win today.”Amidst the commotion, a familiar voice rang out. Phew… no, it was Timothy. I jumped in surprise and scanned the crowd gathered around the roulette table. One of the white masks participating in the game looked noticeably disappointed.“I was specifically trying to catch a rabbit.”“Why a rabbit?”“I personally invited you. But something’s strange. Why can’t I see you?”Even though I was wearing the white mask Jerome had given me, a cold sweat broke out. I quickly turned and hid myself in the «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» crowd. Like a drop of oil in a glass of water, I blended in with them, yet remained untouched, listening to the chattering chatter from all around. As time passed, I could sense the crowd's atmosphere growing increasingly heated with excitement.People were getting excited. Alone, frozen in their midst, I was overwhelmed by the ominous and sinister atmosphere that had suddenly taken over the crowd. All the guests of the secretive were gathered in the salon with the roulette table, excitedly imagining some conspiracy unknown to me. No one seemed to want to leave. Everyone seemed to be waiting for something. Some exciting event, perhaps…

Someone shouted. Everyone's gaze turned to the door. Footsteps could be heard from the hallway beyond. Neither fast nor slow, just ordinary footsteps. Soon, someone opened the door without hesitation and entered. The man who opened the door was, coincidentally, the very man I had spoken to in the grand banquet hall, trying to pry something out of him. The gentleman named Jamie sat alone, sulking, waiting for his companion. Jamie wasn't wearing a mask. He looked exactly the same as when we met in the grand ballroom on the first floor. He opened the door and entered, then paused, his expression bewildered.

The salon was filled with masked men, all staring at him. As if by agreement, the once bustling crowd fell silent and studied Jamie. In the perfect silence, the masked men all turned toward Jamie, staring intently. Jamie stood, his expression utterly bewildered, watching.

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