The alarm rang.
When the clock hit midnight, the town was covered in thick fog, like a blanket.
The villagers slept beneath a canopy of cold, dewy night.
But at the Wilson mansion... the night only grew longer.
After the death of Ambrose,
everyone was on edge.
His body lay in the same room as Nira's,
locked away from everyone.
Wesley and Elrick prepared for their journey.
For the first time, they lit lanterns on the carriage Edwin helping them,
making sure they could see the road for the night travel.
Elrick tightened all the ropes on the horse,
while Wesley called out,
"Elrick! I need you to gather enough wood for the town.
Tonight will be the brightest night in Westward history."
He turned to Edwin.
"Well, old friend. I'll be counting on you.
Take care of Lillian for me."
Edwin nodded and handed him a small med kit.
"For your hand. Just in case."
Wesley smirked.
"Don't worry, I won't need it now.
Next time, I'll make the Beast bleed."
"Take care," Edwin said softly.
With a crack of the reins,
"Hyah!" Wesley called, and the carriage disappeared into the fog.
Inside the room,
Lillian lay on her bed.
Her wrists still chained.
She had dried all her tears.
There was nothing left to cry.
Only exhaustion.
Only thoughts that wouldn't stop.
Mikael sat not far,
in a chair placed where she could see him.
He was there. Just to keep her safe.
Doctor Edwin climbed the staircase.
His mind was clouded with temptation.
"I'm a doctor... I do what's right.
For my patients.
For a better generation..."
Step by step.
The voice in his head grew louder.
"Kill one to save many...
It's not a crime."
"IF YOU KILL LILLIAN,
YOU'LL LEARN EVEN MORE SECRETS."
He paused mid-stair.
Heart racing.
"More secrets...
What more could Lillian be hiding?"
He reached the door.
It was slightly ajar.
He gently knocked and stepped inside.
"Hey," he greeted. "Mikael."
Mikael rose.
"How is Lillian?"
She lay on the bed,
tucked in carefully by Mikael.
Pillow and blanket in place.
Her hands still chained.
Her face turned the other way.
Mikael shook his head.
"Well, I'm here now," Edwin said softly.
"You should get some rest.
I'll keep her safe."
Mikael nodded.
"I'll be downstairs. Making tea for her."
He bowed.
"My lady... I'll be right back."
He left the room.
But Lillian...
She had no energy left to speak.
Only a single tear fell, soaking into the pillow.
"Lillian..."
Edwin sat beside her, elbows on his knees,
fingers laced together.
"If you can't sleep, I can give you something.
Just a small pill.
It'll help."
Her voice came out hoarse, barely a whisper.
"If you want to help me, Doctor...
untie me."
He gave a bitter laugh.
"You know I can't do that.
Sheriff's orders.
I'm keeping the key safe."
He stood, walking toward her slowly.
"But I'm wondering..."
His voice dropped.
"Do you mind... if I ask you something?"
She didn't move.
Didn't answer.
But he kept talking.
"You know... I had a wife once."
He paused.
"I lost her because I wasn't good enough.
Too late to save her."
A bitter smile touched his lips.
"It's the same for you.
If you knew what's in your blood...
we might have saved your grandfather."
Lillian's eyes widened.
She shifted.
Chains clinked.
"Lillian...
I don't want you to carry the same regrets I did.
I was too late to learn.
But maybe... if we start now, together...
we can save others."
He leaned closer.
"If you let me...
Give me a chance.
Let me... have you."
Her eyes turned to him slowly.
Voice low and steady.
"If I give you what you want...
will you let me go?"
Edwin smiled politely. Soft. Honest.
"Yes.
I only need three things,"
he added.
"Your blood.
Your tears.
And... your wound."
Lillian shot upright.
The blanket slid off her shoulders.
Eyes wide, worried.
"Wound? What do you mean?"
Edwin opened the med kit,
laying it on the bed.
His eyes sharpened on her.
"Trust me...
it won't hurt."
He picked up a small knife.
"I just want to see how your blood heals a fresh cut."
Lillian shook her head violently.
"No. Please, Doctor. Stay away from me!"
She pulled at the chains.
"Sheriff! Mikael!" she screamed.
"Shhh..."
He raised a finger to his lips.
"The Sheriff just left.
If you cooperate... I'll let you go.
But if you don't..."
His voice darkened.
"I'll just blame it on the Beast."
Suddenly
His voice changed.
The doctor's warm tone twisted into something cold.
Eerie.
Unnatural.
A shadow curled along Edwin's skin,
crawling like smoke from his jaw to his temple.
His eyes once soft with guilt darkened to pitch.
Inside his head,
a voice echoed.
Over. And over.
Only he could hear it.
"KILL LILLIAN.
YOU'LL LEARN EVEN MORE SECRETS."
"KILL LILLIAN.
YOU'LL LEARN MORE."
"KILL HER.
MORE SECRETS."
His lips trembled.
Then he screamed
And lunged at her.
Knife in hand.
Lillian gasped and raised both her chained arms,
catching his wrist mid-air.
The blade trembled inches from her face.
"Doctor! Stop!" she sobbed.
"Please please stop!"
But Edwin couldn't hear her.
He couldn't hear anything.
Only the voice.
"KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL!"
Then
CRASH!
A steaming teapot hurled against his back.
It shattered.
Tea splashed everywhere.
Hot liquid soaked his coat and skin.
But Edwin didn't flinch.
Didn't feel it.
He turned.
Mikael stood at the door,
one hand balancing a tray of tea cups,
the other clenched in fury.
"Stop," he said, voice shaking.
"That's enough, Doctor."
Edwin smiled.
"What can you do, Mikael?" he hissed.
Mikael dropped the tray.
His right hand reached beneath his coat.
He pulled out a narrow 7-inch blade.
Held it like a soldier.
"I won't hesitate," he said low.
"I swear—I won't."
Edwin laughed.
A mischievous, broken sound.
"Then I won't hesitate either."
From his pocket,
he pulled a gun.
The sheriff's.
His finger slid onto the trigger.
Lillian screamed.
"No!!! Doctor—!!"
Then BANG!
The gun had already fired.