Chapter 116: Fate Like a Rushed Contractor
Alice checked the time after failing to fall back asleep at 4 AM. She wondered if it would be strange to go out at this hour, though the answer was obvious. Abandoning further thought, she got dressed and went out in search of a night-shift carriage.
Meanwhile, in an ordinary-looking house in Beckland's Queen's District, Charlie King suddenly sat up in bed, gasping and trembling uncontrollably. After calming down, he dressed and looked at himself in the mirror, seeing his pale, fear-stricken face. He had been having the same nightmare ever since sending the report to the Night Church - dreams of fleeing, being caught, and dying in various ways.
Charlie recalled the intense terror of escaping, the genuine fear before death, the realistic pain of dying, and the despair of falling from one dream into another. He also remembered the sound that always preceded his death: "Clatter clatter—"
He wondered about the purpose of these seeming omens from fate. The dreams felt like a showcase of death scenarios for him to choose from, with a sense of urgency. Charlie was unsure whether to believe his interpretation, as it would mean he should seriously consider how he wanted to die.
As Charlie pondered this, he heard a faint but distinct sound in the quiet night - the doorknob turning.
Alice had found a night-shift carriage driver through divination. Reflecting on the plight of night workers across eras, she gave the driver her destination address. The nighttime streets were quiet and empty in this era lacking nightlife and overtime culture.
When Alice arrived, she approached her target house and contemplated how to deal with the locked door. Meanwhile, inside, Charlie watched the turning doorknob, took a deep breath, and opened the door to find Alice crouched outside.
Seeing her innocent eyes, Charlie felt a profound sense of helplessness. It seemed fate truly intended for him to choose his preferred way of dying.
Alice, having come this far, considered picking the lock but lacked the skill. She even contemplated using her hair before giving up and trying the doorknob again. Finally, she crouched down, hugging her knees and questioning her late-night venture.
When Charlie opened the door, Alice looked up in confusion. Charlie's eyes reflected complex emotions, reminiscent of someone having an epiphany before death. He invited her in with a bitter smile, turning his back and leaving the door open.
Charlie reflected on their contrasting attitudes towards fate - his resignation versus Alice's desire to control it. He wished her success and offered her a drink.
Alice, puzzled by Charlie's behavior and the lack of spiritual warnings, cautiously entered. When asked about her drink preference, she hesitantly inquired about ice cream instead.