- 2 days ago
Curse Of The Red Mole
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Short filmTranscript
00:00There's a custom in our village. When a man brings his girlfriend back,
00:03we'll first ask her to remove her pants, to check and see if there's a red mole on her hip.
00:07When Samuel comes to me happily with his fiancée, I look at his hopeful gaze,
00:11and tell him coldly, that he can marry anyone, just not someone with a red mole on her hip.
00:15Samuel swears to me delightedly, that his fiancée has no mole on her hip,
00:18but she complains about the rule and asks why. He can't marry someone with a red mole on her hip.
00:22She wonders why the grants act like, we're picking a concubine.
00:25My gaze turns sharp instantly, she has a red mole on her hip.
00:28She seems defiant, as she turns to look at Samuel. Rosalie thinks I'm too nosy,
00:31as I actually care if she has a red mole. She thinks the two of us.
00:34Samuel breaks into a cold sweat. He stops Rosalie from condemning me,
00:36as I'm the one who raised him. I don't care how unreasonable she is,
00:40I just stare at her. I ask her to remove her pants, so I can see it myself.
00:42She explodes in rage. She thinks I have no right to see her hip.
00:45She asks whether I'm the judge or police. Why am I interrogating her like that?
00:49She threatens not to marry Samuel, if his family does that.
00:51Samuel falls into panic. He really likes Rosalie, and quickly clarifies to me.
00:55He says he saw it, and that, there's no mole on her hip.
00:57He wants me to stop asking, but I'm still doubtful.
00:59If there's no mole on her hip, why is she panicking? She'll never be allowed in.
01:02If she doesn't let me see it, I'll kick Samuel out of the Grant family.
01:06If he marries her, the neighbors come after hearing the commotion.
01:09Some of them advise me, not to make things hard for them.
01:12Rosalie instantly flashes a smug look. She thinks,
01:15I'm asserting my authority before she joins the family, but no one cares about me.
01:18I pretend I heard nothing, and insist on checking her body.
01:22I need to have a look, and I mean what I said.
01:24Samuel has to change his name, and is never allowed to come home.
01:27Rosalie wants to leave. Before she leaves, she scolds Samuel.
01:29She refuses to marry him, because of a sister-in-law like me.
01:32Someone quickly stops her. She tells Rosalie.
01:34We watched Samuel grow up. He's a good guy.
01:37She asks Rosalie to let me have a look.
01:38We're both women. I only need to take a look.
01:40Rosalie shouldn't give up marrying Samuel, because of a small matter.
01:43Samuel's eyes turn red as he begs Rosalie.
01:45He tells her I've always been kind. I'm just particular about the custom.
01:48I won't make things hard for her once I confirm it.
01:50Rosalie's convinced, so she goes into the house reluctantly, and let me check her body.
01:54I check carefully. Her skin is fair and smooth.
01:56There's no red mole, and I'm finally relieved.
01:59I take out an emerald bangle, and put it on for her.
02:02Since there's no red mole, it's fine. I wish her and Samuel happiness.
02:06Only then does Rosalie soften up. There's a glint in her eyes.
02:09When she sees the bangle, Samuel is overjoyed.
02:12I turn around and tell the neighbor that all of them will be invited to the banquet,
02:16when they get married. Then everyone leaves gleefully.
02:19Samuel leaves happily with Rosalie, too, staring at their retreating figures.
02:23I can't help feeling troubled. I can't tell them that there's a horrifying story behind the rule.
02:28If he marries someone with a red mole on her hip, all the villagers will die.
02:31No one believes this ridiculous saying.
02:33But I saw how Grant Village almost got wiped out.
02:36Since I never stop them and spoil them with gifts,
02:39Samuel and Rosalie's wedding preparation goes well. Soon.
02:41It's the day of the wedding. As soon as Rosalie sets foot in our house,
02:44the bright sky turns gloomy. I'm shocked. Something is about to happen.
02:48My heart sinks, and I blow the flute. Owned by the guardian of the village,
02:50the guardian is in action as the flute sounds. A group of men in black appears behind me instantly.
02:55I lead them to block in front of the bride. I announce that the woman with the red mole is
02:59here.
02:59I question the bride. All the guests are shocked to see my grim look.
03:02I stare intently at the red veil covering the bride. I order Samuel to lift the veil.
03:06The people from the bride's side start questioning our action.
03:09The bride hasn't entered the house, but we're lifting her veil. They think we take her family lightly.
03:13Samuel is panicking. He keeps persuading me that it's his wedding and that we shall talk after
03:19the ceremony. He begs me. I raised Samuel. I might be his sister-in-law, but I'm also like his
03:24mother.
03:24Usually, I would have agreed if he begged me like this, but it's different today. One slip up will
03:30cost the lives of all villagers and her family. I shout to summon the people. I'll kick out anyone
03:34who refuses to cooperate. All the guests try to persuade me. I shoot them a sharp look and say,
03:39if we lift the veil now, no one will die. Once the person with the red mole gets in,
03:43none of us will survive. Lift the veil. The men in black sees the people around us.
03:47As soon as they hear my order, Samuel is being held back and can't move at all.
03:50I lift the bride's veil, revealing Rosalie's furious look.
03:53A tight slap strikes my cheek. Samuel instantly stops Rosalie. But I don't even care. I seize her
03:58wrist before she can slap me again and question her identity. The guests become impatient. They say
04:03that's Rosalie, and that I already checked her body the other day. Why did I stop them from marrying?
04:06I simply sneer and ask them to see if the wedding can still go on. And they finally notice something
04:11amiss. Everyone is shocked and starts screaming. It's a wedding, but the place is covered in white
04:16cloth. It isn't even noon, but the skies turn dark. The sky was bright just now. Someone looks around
04:20and notices something. His house is right beside, but it's become an empty land. With a solemn look,
04:25I question Rosalie her identity. If she refuses to tell the truth, everyone will die today. At this point,
04:30there's nothing I can say. Things have come to this stage. Everyone will have to accept the terrifying
04:34truth. The people keep asking me to make things clear. Rosalie grits her teeth and stares at me
04:39resentfully. It's as if I'm the one who's gone too far. She throws the crown on the ground and leaves.
04:44The people erupt into chaos. Everyone throws their flowers and name tags on the floor. Then they leave
04:49with Rosalie. Suddenly, Rosalie's scream cuts through the air. She stands rooted to the spot,
04:54her pupils constricting. The crowd is terrified by her scream. They go to the door and look around
04:58carefully. Thick fog blurs their vision and they can't see anything. Rosalie shivers as she points
05:03toward the fog. Someone is sticking out his tongue at her. Everyone panics. A man steps forward.
05:07And suddenly, a pair of hands appears and grabs his neck. He gets lifted and keeps struggling.
05:12Soon, he's gone. With a thud, the body is thrown into the fog and disappears. Everyone is so shocked
05:17their faces turn pale. All of them hold their breath. I wear a frosty expression. My voice cold.
05:21Rosalie, I'm asking you one last time. Who are you? If you don't tell the truth,
05:24everyone will die. Someone shivers and asks what's happening. All of them stare at me,
05:29waiting for an answer. The ghost the Grants have been suppressing. Kills women who have a red mole
05:33on their hips. If such a woman marries into the Grants, the whole family will die. I sweep my gaze
05:37across the crowd, trying to identify the problem from their expressions. Something isn't right.
05:42Rosalie entered the Grants' house last time, but nothing happened. My gaze is cold. And my voice
05:46is chilly. That's because she wasn't married to Samuel yet. Once she marries him, people will die.
05:50No one believes something like this now. Someone asks about the person who died just now.
05:54He thinks the Grants planned all this to scare the bride. I warn them. That we must find the
05:58woman with the red mole. So that we can all survive. With that, I bring the crowd to a well.
06:02I stare intently at Rosalie. And force her, to tell the truth. I question her identity.
06:06Her face is red as she claims that she's Rosalie. Whether I believe it or not is my choice.
06:09I scoff. She's the only one marrying into the Grants. If she doesn't have a red mole,
06:13why would that thing appear? I'll throw her into the well since she's so stubborn. Everyone gasps.
06:17For they haven't expected me to do that. Rosalie shouts furiously, claiming that it's a murder.
06:20She wants to file a report, and sends me to jail. The first time we met, I warned her that
06:24women,
06:24with a red mole, could never marry the Grants. She'd be courting death if she insisted on coming.
06:28I don't care if she wants to die. But don't drag all the villagers along. I scan the crowd and
06:32ask
06:32them to choose. It's either she dies, or everyone dies together. Everyone falls silent. No one says a
06:36word. It's a matter of life and death. No one dares take a risk. Samuel dashes forward,
06:39and kneels in front of me. He grips the hem of my dress, and begs me not to kill Rosalie.
06:44He believes I have
06:45other solutions. That's a life. His forehead has turned red. I look at his bloodshot eyes,
06:50and relent. The next instant, all the bloody memories flood my mind again. I stand by my
06:54decision and shake him off. No way. I can't risk the villagers' lives. I can only appease the ghost's
06:58wrath, with a life. The villagers panic and push Rosalie to the ground. They ask if she has a red
07:02mole, and if she wants to get everyone killed. Rosalie's eyes are red as she shrieks, claiming she
07:06doesn't have a red mole. She accuses me of setting her up, saying that I hired actors to play the
07:10ghosts.
07:10Samuel thinks of something, and asks me to check again, to confirm if Rosalie has a red mole.
07:15I can throw her in after confirming. I sneer and order the people to take Rosalie to an empty room.
07:19A few strong women pin her down. I wipe her hip a few times, with a cloth soaked in tonic.
07:23There
07:23isn't even a single mole. Rosalie is finally relieved. She smiles after escaping her fate.
07:27But the next instant, her smile freezes. Killing the wrong person is better,
07:31than sacrificing all villagers. I summon the people to drag her to the well again.
07:34Samuel immediately runs toward me, and says he can't live without her.
07:37Holding my back, I look at his determined gaze, and let out a long sigh.
07:41I suggest to let well deity decide. The man in black steps forward, slits Rosalie's wrist,
07:45and drips her blood into the well. Once the blood drops into the well,
07:48the cold wind stops blowing, and the fog disperses. Everyone instantly feels relieved.
07:51Rosalie is the one. The crowd asks to throw her into the well.
07:54Samuel stares at Rosalie, and asks why she would lie to him. Everyone wants her dead at the moment.
07:59Rosalie finally bursts into tears. She apologizes for throwing a fit, and asks me to let her go.
08:03She says she isn't the one, but no one listens to her. I say nothing after a long time.
08:06I merely look at the sky. Someone keeps urging me. Something is wrong.
08:09The dark energy hasn't vanished. The fog is growing thicker again.
08:11If she's really the one, the dark energy would have been gone.
08:14When her blood fell into the well, my heart sinks.
08:16Another woman with a red mole has entered the village.
08:18Who is also holding a wedding today? Everyone turns pale instantly.
08:22I wear a solemn look. More and more men in black appear behind me,
08:25as if they're part of the fog. I coldly order them.
08:28To find out who else is holding a wedding today.
08:31The men in black follow my order, and disappear into the thick fog.
08:34An elder asks nervously, and he looks horrified.
08:37Today isn't a good day. Only the Grant family is holding a wedding,
08:40and Rosalie is the only bride. No one else is holding a wedding.
08:43Just as I want to say something, a colder and thicker fog.
08:45Gushes in from all sides, wrapping everything in darkness and silence.
08:50I see nothing. Cries and screams are being drowned out.
08:53They sound low and distant. All the villagers disappear in the fog in an instant.
08:57Everyone can't see a thing. They can only hear each other's panicked cries,
09:00and the faint, sorrowful sobs. I sense something wrong with the fog.
09:05Samuel grips my sleeve. His voice is shaky, as he asks what's going on.
09:09Rosalie slumps to the ground in shock, but no tears come.
09:12I gather myself, and try to sense the source of the fog.
09:15The Guardian's blood surges through my body, and my senses heightened.
09:18After some time, I finally detect a faint energy. It's coming from the east.
09:22I ask Samuel to come with me, and tug at him. Then, I navigate through the thick fog,
09:26with my faint senses, and a flicker of memory. A few men in black appear behind me silently,
09:31like a strong backing. The other villagers hear our voice, and follow us.
09:36It becomes colder, as we move toward the east. The vengeful energy swells.
09:40A deathly, sickly atmosphere hangs over the place.
09:42In the end, we stop in front of a hut. This family is poor. There's only one sickly man,
09:47Adam Grant, and his old mother, Janet. They're almost non-existent in the village.
09:50Just then, the same fog that envelopes us, is seeping through the gaps of the door,
09:54and window. There's a small, crumpled red paper on the door.
09:59The colour of the paper is dull, and it looks extremely strange.
10:02My heart sinks. I push open the wooden door. Everyone gasps at the sight inside.
10:07The hut is lit up by two broken oil lamps. It's really dim inside.
10:10A frail and sickly young man, who's wearing an old robe, that doesn't fit him,
10:15sits on a broken chair. His eyes are hollow. There's a scrawny old woman standing next to him.
10:20She is about to cover the head of a young lady, with an old, tattered red veil.
10:24The lady seems like she's just come of age. She looks haggard, and she's wearing a red dress
10:28that's too big for her. Fear and despair fill her eyes. There are traces of tears on her face.
10:32She struggles to leave, but Janet holds her back. It isn't even a proper wedding,
10:36but an absurd ritual. I shout at Janet, and question her. Janet is shocked when we rush in suddenly.
10:42Seeing that she's been exposed, she slumps to the ground, and starts crying.
10:45She thinks she's doomed, and that Adam is going to die. Turns out, Adam is really sick, and can't be
10:50cured. Janet loves her son too much. She heard about a method. They said if she could find a
10:54lady born on a specific date, to marry her son secretly, on the most ominous day, then he could
10:58survive. She searched around, and finally found a suitable orphan. When we were holding the wedding,
11:03and all the villagers were distracted, she did the ritual secretly. She knows nothing about the red
11:07mole. She doesn't know. She almost dragged, the whole village down with her. I can't help shaking in
11:11rage. Does she know what she's summoned? Just then, the orphan, who's been silent,
11:16screams and tears her dress. As she does so, everyone instantly spots, a bright red mole on
11:21her pale skin. At the same time, a loud noise comes from the well, as if something is about to
11:27break out.
11:28The village is shrouded in fog, and the temperature drops. Terrifying cries echo in the air. An
11:33overwhelming wrath surges like a storm. A few contorted, pained faces are vaguely visible. The red mole on the
11:39orphan, seems to glitter under the dim light. The red glow seems ominous. It's her. I stare at the
11:44young lady, and finally fathom the situation. When the young lady, who seemed weak just now,
11:48sees me. She flashes a sinister grin. She stands still, and a faint red glow flickers in her eyes.
11:53You're here. She parts her lips, speaking softly, yet she exudes a commanding presence. I take a deep
11:58breath. My thousand year wait has come to an end. I raise the ritual tassel, and the surrounding fog
12:02slowly disperses. Everyone, take shelter in the ancestral hall. Magic carries my voice across the village,
12:07reaching everyone clearly. The village's tenses, then they evacuate at once. Janet drags her sickly
12:11son along, and they stumble into the ancestral hall. Once the village square clears out, I stare at her,
12:16and speak softly. I stayed here, so I could end this centuries-old grudge. Hundreds of years ago,
12:20Grand Village used to thrive, and produced several offices. But chaos struck, bringing disaster after
12:25disaster. To save the village, an ancestor had no choice, but to strike a deal with a mysterious
12:29woman, who wielded mysterious powers. She actually drove off the bandits, and ended the plague. All the
12:34villagers worshipped her. At first, she did not make any demands. The village lived in peace. Years
12:38later, several Grants, working in the capital, returned home for the new year. Things suddenly
12:42changed. The woman unleashed a secret power. She killed all 171 people in the Grant Village,
12:46and threw them into a well, setting up the seven formations. She wanted to take lifespans and become
12:49immortal. From the moment she saved them, she was scheming to take their souls. I owed one of the
12:54Grant ancestors a favor. On his deathbed, he begged me to end the formation and free the tortured
12:58spirits. I agreed to be Grant Village's guardian. I never expected to guard the place for over 100 years.
13:03But lately, the formation shifted, and I knew she was about to return. If she didn't restore it,
13:08her demonic power would weaken. All these years, I've forbidden strange women, with red moles from
13:12entering the village. Samuel got married today, and the woman used Janet to slip into the village.
13:16Her shrill laugh cut like an owl's screech. Black and red mist swirls around her. The clear night sky,
13:21darkens with vengeful energy. You're just a feeble guardian. You can't stop me. She spreads her arms,
13:25and the whale suddenly shudders. Countless black, twisted arms, reach for me. As they screech,
13:30the biting wind carries centuries of their hatred. I dare not hesitate. I bite my fingertip,
13:34drawing blood. Then I use the ritual tassel to trace the sigil. Golden light bursts out,
13:38colliding violently with the black-red mist, and sizzling loudly. It managed to push back the first
13:42wave of spirits. Blood rises in my throat, but I hold it back. Her power is far more terrifying
13:47than I'd imagined. Hm. Keep struggling. She sneers, her fingers turning into claws. The hatred in the well
13:52becomes a huge, snake-like shadow. It pierces through the light, and hits my chest. I stumble back,
13:55holding the tassel. The force slams me, sending me flying. I crash to the ground, pain shooting
14:00through my ribs. Even the tassel's glow dims slightly. She floats down, looking down on me.
14:05Her eyes glow even redder. Your soul is the last fragment I need. In despair, I look at the
14:10ancestral hall. I've guarded the villagers for centuries. I can't let the last of the grants fall.
14:14I force myself to stand. I channel all my power, into the tassel, and drive it into the ground,
14:19using my blood. I call upon the souls. Where are the grant ancestors? If you don't settle your grudges
14:23today. When will you do it? This is my last resort, and my final signal to the ancestors.
14:27I use my soul as the village's guardian to awaken the grunt's battle spirits, who have been tormented
14:31by the formation for centuries. The ground trembles violently, and the vengeful energy suddenly freezes.
14:35Faint golden figures emerge from the well, radiating relentless fighting spirit.
14:40They remain silent. Their faces blurred. Yet I can feel centuries of grief, and resolve,
14:44surging through them. It merges with the last of my powers, and hits the demon. Her expression shifts,
14:49claiming it's impossible. The golden and black forces clash again. But this time,
14:52she's the one pushed back. Amid her piercing screams, the golden light tears her body apart.
14:56As the glow fades, the sky clears, and silence falls over the well. I collapse to the ground.
15:00I can feel my life draining with my magic, and my vision blurs. What a surprise, my soul is damaged.
15:05I'll probably never be reborn. Still, I keep hearing faint sighs. The spirits are drifting with the wind,
15:11as if they've been freed. The sunlight breaks through the fog, and shines down on Grant Village again.
15:15It's so warm that it almost feels unreal. The door to the ancestral hall creaks open.
15:19Samuel's the first to rush out. He looks around, and sees me collapsed in the courtyard.
15:24Lynette, he dashes over. His voice breaking with tears. He trembles, afraid to touch me.
15:29Lynette, wake up. How did you end up like this? I force myself to open my eyes. My vision already
15:33blurry.
15:34Up close. I can barely make out his worried face. What used to be dark hair now?
15:38Falls across my face in white stripes. The skin on my hands have grown wrinkly. Etched by time.
15:42I used up the last of my life. To awaken the Grant ancestors' battle spirits. Centuries catches up with me.
15:48And my youth vanishes. I force myself to smile. My hoarse voice is barely audible.
15:52I'm not your sister-in-law, but you really are the last of the Grants. By protecting you, I've repaid
15:56the Grants.
15:57I no longer owe them. I struggle to breathe. As the last of my strength rapidly drains away,
16:01the demon is gone. I've repaid the debt the Grants carried for years. My time is up.
16:05I look into his eyes. Trying to pass on my final message. Samuel. From now on, take care of yourself.
16:11I die before I can finish speaking. And sobs break out around me. I feel myself drift upward. As if
16:16weightless. I watch everyone sob over. My rapidly aging, fading body. Then, a strange force gently
16:21sweeps through the village. And the crying stops. Their grief turns into confusion. As if waking from
16:25a dream, they remember nothing of the ordeal. Even I, who had watched over them for centuries,
16:30have been forgotten. My soul floats in mid-air as I watch. Grunt village settle into calm again.
16:34Sunlight bathe their faces. They look at each other. As if just waking from a long afternoon nap.
16:39Samuel massages his temples. His eyes filled with confusion. Then Rosalie's laughter brings
16:43him to reality. And she playfully pokes him. Why you daydreaming? It's our wedding today.
16:47Samuel murmurs those words to himself. That fleeting sense of loss vanishes at once.
16:51He looks at the courtyard, where guests are taking their seats. Everything seems normal,
16:54and festive. But the old well in the yard, seems to have a thin new crack along its rim.
16:58I float closer. The well no longer radiates resentment. All I see is bottomless darkness. The curse
17:03that has hung over the village, is truly lifted. Janet helps her son, Adam Grant, out of the
17:06ancestral hall. Both look just as bewildered as everyone else. Adam's cheeks are slightly rosier
17:11than usual. Although he's still frail, there is a spark in his eyes. They blend into the crowd.
17:15As if the ridiculous ritual had never taken place. I notice one of the two emerald bangles,
17:19resting on Rosalie's wrist. My gaze sweeps across the room, and finally settles on the altar. At some
17:23point, someone has actually set the other bangle there. Back when I was alive, I never separated the
17:28bangles, and would never put one there. The wedding ceremony begins again. Everything
17:31is done according to tradition. They pray to the gods, and say their vows. After that,
17:36it's time for dinner. Rosalie changes into a red dress, making the bangles stand out even more.
17:40She smiles sweetly, accepting the villagers' blessings. When she steps into the corridor to
17:44take a break, her smile fades away. She lifts her hand, studying the bangle on her wrist. As her other
17:49hand unconsciously traces it, that makes my heart skip a beat. Back when I gave her the bangles,
17:53she accepted them happily. She didn't even inspect them at all. Now it looks like,
17:57she's recognized something. Maybe she's recalling the past. Rosie, you must be tired.
18:01Samuel walks over, and hands her a glass of water. Rosalie smiles again. I'm not tired. I'm really
18:05happy. She takes the glass. As she turns her wrist, the bangle catches a glint of sunlight. In that
18:09moment, I seem to see a pattern, flash across its inner surface. Impossible. These bangles are my family
18:14heirlooms. They're smooth on the inside, and have no engravings. Did I see it wrong? Or is this no longer
18:18the same pair of bangles? The banquet continues until sunset. Soon, the villagers gradually begin to leave,
18:24and Samuel and Rosalie see them off. I hover above the courtyard, watching everyone leave.
18:28They look at ease, laughing and chatting, about the food served, the couple's compatibility,
18:32and the future. No one remembers the thick fog, the standoff at the well, or even my existence.
18:37Their memories have been rewritten. But that takes immense power. Whoever cast the spell,
18:41must have mastered the laws of time and perception. The demon's already gone. Who would have such power?
18:45Unless, my gaze lands on the old well again. The crack along its rim, seems to have grown by an
18:50inch.
18:50As dusk falls, the last of the guests are gone too. Only Samuel, Rosalie, and a few other women remain,
18:55tidying up the place. What a lovely day it was. A woman says while wiping the table.
18:58Yes. It's been ages since it felt this lively. Samuel added with a smile. His gazes lands on the
19:03altar again. The emerald bangle is still there, shimmering in the candlelight. Samuel suddenly asks,
19:08Who put that there? The women look at each other. Samuel nods, and does not press further.
19:12Late at night, once everyone has fallen asleep, he returns to the hall, alone. The candles have gone out.
19:17Moonlight streams through the window, casting shadows across the floor. Samuel doesn't light a candle.
19:22He walks toward the altar, and stares at the bangle in silence. Then he reaches for it and picks it
19:25up.
19:26He turns the bangle over, and looks at its inner surface. His breath hitches. And I see it too.
19:30On the inner surface, two tiny words are engraved. The delicate handwriting is clearly a woman's.
19:34The two words are, never forget. He traces the engraving with his fingers. His brows furrowed.
19:38He doesn't remember where the engraving came from, or who the bangle used to belong to. Still,
19:42a deep-seated emotion stirs within him. I see his eyes become slightly red. He murmurs to himself.
19:46Why do I feel like I've forgotten something important? He grips the bangle, and turns to
19:50the old well in the yard. Then he stands next to it, and leans over. The well is in complete
19:54darkness,
19:55reflecting nothing. At that moment, he hears a faint drip echo from the depths. He straightens
19:59immediately, and steps back. Shock and doubt cross his face. Then he quickly recomposes himself.
20:03I heard wrong. He shakes his head, and walks to the house. But as soon as he turns away,
20:07a faint black mist rises from the well, almost invisible in the moonlight. It drifts toward the bangle
20:12Samuel just set down. The next morning, Grant Village is calm once more. While Rosalie prepares
20:16breakfast, Samuel returns to the hall. The emerald bangle is still on the altar. It's engraving
20:21perfectly clear. This time, he doesn't pick it up. He stares at it, as if trying to figure out
20:25the secret behind the engraving. Later, Samuel and Rosalie eat quietly. The moment feels warm,
20:29but I know things have already changed. After breakfast, Samuel says he needs to check on the
20:32crops. He grabs his hoe and leaves. He walks past the old well and pauses. The crack along its rim,
20:37seems to have grown, and is already spreading. Across the stone surface like a dark vein,
20:42Samuel crouches and touches the crack. It feels cool to the touch, and has a strange dampness to it,
20:47as if something's seeping from below. He looks at it with a frown before leaving.
20:50Rosalie goes into the bedroom, and shuts the door. Then she walks to a dressing table. It used to be
20:54mine, but now it's hers. She opens the bottom drawer, and reaches inside. She finds a tiny item,
21:00wrapped in red cloth. She unwraps it, and sees another bangle. It's identical to the one I gave her,
21:05but this has an engraving. On the inside too, one is never forget, and the other, the truth.
21:09Rosalie stares at both bangles, her expression flickering in the morning sun. A shadow creeps
21:13in from beneath the door. Someone is outside. Rosalie quickly wraps up the bangles, and shoves
21:18them into the drawer. She walks to her bed and lies down, her eyes closed. Samuel opens the door,
21:21and sees Rosalie asleep. He gently tucks her in, then his gaze sweeps across the room, and it lands
21:25on the dressing table. The drawer is partially open, and a red cloth peeks out. Samuel walks over,
21:30and gently pulls it open. He sees a bundle wrapped in red cloth, but doesn't touch it.
21:33He only stares at it for a long time. Then he closes the drawer softly, and turns to leave.
21:37Once the door is shut, Rosalie opens her eyes, clearly wide awake. As a spirit, I can feel that
21:43something's really wrong. These newlyweds have their own secrets, and they seem to involve me,
21:48those bangles, and the old well. But weren't their memories already altered? Why are they acting this
21:53way? Why hide things? Unless, the memory alteration isn't complete, or something is resisting the
21:58changes. My soul drifts toward the old well. The crack on the well is already visible. A stranger
22:03came to the village. He's a traveling peddler. The villager surrounds him. Even Samuel's drawn over
22:07too. The peddler scans the crowd, before settling on Samuel. His smile widens, and he pulls a small
22:13wooden box from the bottom of his pack. You look like a nice young man. Take a look. The peddler
22:16opens the box, revealing a pair of moonstone earrings. They're ordinary, but finely carved.
22:20My wife should see this. Samuel takes the box. He's about to head home to call Rosalie. When the peddler
22:24stops him. I have something else. It might be more interesting. He pulls out a package wrapped in paper,
22:28and unwraps it. Revealing a thread-bound old book. Samuel frowns. What is this? The peddler
22:33smiles meaningfully. It's an old book full of old stories. I can tell you're educated. You'll like
22:37it. Samuel has studied a few years, and is considered educated in the village. He takes the book,
22:41and casually flips it open. The manuscript is filled with neat, elegant handwriting. The first line is,
22:45Tales of Grant Village. The Weldy 80 story. Samuel's hand trembles slightly. This book. The peddler
22:49interrupts him. It came with a clay doll. It's worthless. If you like it. Take it. Samuel stares at the
22:54page.
22:54The handwriting is familiar. Just like the bangle engraving. It's as if someone once taught him
22:58how to write in such handwriting. Samuel comes home with the book and earrings. He walks into the parlor,
23:03and sits at the table. He opens the book. It's really thin and has over 10 pages. The first page
23:07tells a story. A century ago, Grant Village used to have a well deity, and she wasn't a grant. No
23:11one
23:11knew her name. All anyone knew was that she guarded an old well to protect the village. She never married,
23:15and dedicated her life to the village. Later, she died of old age and was buried next to the well.
23:20Grateful, the villagers erected a tombstone for her. Three generations later,
23:22the tombstone disappeared, and her story was gradually forgotten. Samuel flips through the
23:26pages, his frown deepening. The book's descriptions, strangely echo. His subconscious, fragment images,
23:31begin to resurface in his mind. A woman's back, the candlelight at night, and the murmurs by the well.
23:36He flips to the last page, and sees only one line. On the day the well deity died, the well
23:39water turned
23:40red for three days. The sentence ends there, but he sees a dark brown stain on the bottom of the
23:44page.
23:44It looks like dried blood. Samuel brushes his finger across it. A sharp sting jolts his fingertip,
23:49as if he's been pricked. He pulls back his hand, and a drop of blood seeps from his finger.
23:52It lands directly on the stain on the page. Then something odd happens. A new line appears in red
23:57on the page. She's back. Samuel closes the book, abruptly. He hears footsteps outside. Rosalie's
24:03awake. Samuel shoves the book into a drawer, and piles other things on top. He turns to her,
24:07trying to stay calm. Rosalie still looks pale. She walks to the table, and glances at the drawer.
24:12What were you reading? You seem engrossed. Nothing much. Just some junk. Samuel poured her a glass of
24:16water. Rosalie turns her gaze to the window, and looks at the old well. She suddenly asks,
24:19She'd recover the well. Samuel is taken aback. Why? Rosalie shakes her head. It just doesn't feel
24:24safe. Especially once we have kids. Kids? Samuel widens his eyes. Rosalie lowers her gaze,
24:29and rests her hand gently on her stomach. She smiled at him gently. It's not certain yet,
24:32but I'm ten days late. A surge of joy drove away Samuel's unease. He holds Rosalie's hand,
24:37his voice shaking with excitement. Really? I'm going to be a father. Rosalie blushes. I'm not sure yet.
24:41We should get a doctor to check me. Samuel stammers in agreement. He sweeps Rosalie into his arms,
24:46full of hope for the baby inside her. Out of his sight, Rosalie's smile fades.
24:50Over the next few days, Grant Village is at peace. Samuel is lost in the joy of becoming a father,
24:55and tends to Rosalie with care. He doesn't go through the old work, hidden in the drawer. He's
24:59even forgotten the bangles, and the crack on the well. It feels like life is back to normal. On the
25:04third night, a strange noise rouses Samuel from his sleep. The noise comes from the yard. It sounds like
25:09nails scraping against stone. Rosalie is fast asleep and doesn't stir. He gets out of bed quietly,
25:13puts on his clothes, and goes out. The sound's coming from the well. He goes closer and inhales
25:17sharply. A dark red liquid oozes from the crack across the well, and the scratching is from the
25:22bottom of the well. It's as if something is scraping the walls of the well. Trying to get out,
25:27Samuel freezes on the spot, shivering all over. He remembers the line in the book. She's back.
25:31Who's back? Rosalie's voice comes from behind. Samuel turns around immediately and sees her at the
25:35doorway, looking half asleep. Well, why are you spacing out here? He hurries over and blocks her view.
25:40I couldn't sleep. Let's go back to bed. He leads her to the house. He looks at the well before
25:44closing the door. In the moonlight, more dark red liquid oozes from the well. The next day,
25:49Samuel decides to meet the peddler. He wants to know the truth. He goes through the village,
25:53and asks around, but no one's seen the peddler again. Is it possible he's not even a peddler?
25:57He goes home in a daze. Rosalie is hanging clothes outside. The sun is radiant, and her cheeks are much
26:02rosier. What is it? You look really pale, Rosalie says worriedly. Samuel shakes his head in silence.
26:06His gaze falls on Rosalie's wrist. The emerald bangle glints under the sun. He suddenly asks,
26:11Lynette gave you the bangles, right? As soon as he speaks, both freeze. His parents died young.
26:16He's the only son, so the village elders raised him. Everyone knows that. Yet he says all that.
26:21So effortlessly. Rosalie pales slightly, but recomposes herself quickly. What do you mean?
26:26Didn't you give me these bangles? I did that? Samuel is bewildered. She walks to him,
26:30and raises her hand. Exactly. See that? Our names are engraved on the inside. Samuel lowers his gaze.
26:34On the inner surface, he does see Sam, and Rosie. The engraving is elegant,
26:38matching the style in his memory. Still, he doesn't remember engraving them,
26:42or giving Rosalie these bangles. At night, once Rosalie is fast asleep,
26:46Samuel leaves quietly. He lights a lamp, and pulls out the old book from the drawer.
26:49The red words are still on the page. She's back. Aside from that, nothing seems off.
26:54He flips to the page about the world deity, and reads carefully. At some point, his finger freezes.
26:58The book mentions that, the world deity never married. But she did raise a young grant boy.
27:02He was like her son. They were really close. Like mother and son.
27:05Samuel's breathing quickens. As he continues reading. After the guardian died, the boy grieved
27:09for three days without eating. Later, he grows up, marries, and starts a family.
27:12Everyone forgets about the world deity. But strange sounds still echo in the old well.
27:16Still, the villagers grow used to it. In reality, the world deity is still guarding the village.
27:20Samuel snaps the book shut. Fragmented images of a woman surface in his mind. If the book records
27:24are well. If the guardian did exist, and was connected to him. Where is she now? Is her soul really
27:29still in the old well? Samuel walks to the window. And looks at the old well. A strong
27:32instinct tells him. Something's in the well. And it's about to climb out. At this moment,
27:37Rosalie screams in the bedroom. Samuel rushes back to the room. The oil lamp flickers.
27:42Rosalie sits on the bed. Clutching her stomach. She looks pale. What is it? Is our baby okay?
27:46Samuel asks anxiously. Rosalie's voice trembles. My stomach hurts. Samuel pulls the covers off her.
27:51And inhales sharply. The hem of Rosalie's nightgown is stained red. I'll get a doctor.
27:55Samuel's about to rush out of the room. But Rosalie grabs his hand. Her nails digging into his skin.
27:59Don't leave me. Someone's by the well. Samuel freezes and slowly turns. To the window. A woman
28:04is standing. Next to the well. Her long hair flowing. Her back is facing them. As she looks
28:09at the well. They can't see her face or clothes clearly. All they see is a still. Eerie silhouette.
28:13Samuel's voice catches in his throat. As she slowly turns around. Moonlight falls on her face.
28:17She has no features at all. Her skin is smooth. Blank. It's like a mask. With no expression.
28:21Samuel's blood runs cold. The figure raises her hand. And points at the bedroom. Then
28:25she leans back. And falls into the well. No splash or any sound of her falling. He seems
28:29to hear her sigh on the wind. Samuel comes to his senses. And looks at the bed again. Rosalie
28:34has already passed out. Blood spreading quickly across her dress. Samuel doesn't care about the
28:39eerie figure. He skips up Rosalie and runs out. Late at night. The village is pitch black. He bangs
28:43on the doctor's door in the east end. Mason opens the door. Half asleep. Seeing Rosalie's condition.
28:47He snaps awake. After treating her. Mason sighs in relief. And explains what happened. Samuel thanks
28:51him profusely. And pays the fee. After getting the medicine. He carries her home. On the way.
28:55He deliberates. Avoids the route to the courtyard. And takes a detour. But when he walks past the
28:59ancestral hall. He stops. The door is actually left ajar. And candlelight flickers inside.
29:03Samuel sets Rosalie on a stone bench outside the hall. He opens the door softly. The hall is empty.
29:07Yet three freshly lit candles burns on the altar. In front of them. Lies the emerald bangle. It's the same
29:12one from his family altar. Engraved. Never forget. Why is it here? Samuel walks to the altar.
29:16And picks it up. This time. There's a new line. Of tiny text below the engraving.
29:21Samuel leans in to read the words. Open the well. And reveal the truth. Why open the well?
29:25The well is actually no longer functioning. And he had seen the eerie figure. By the well earlier.
29:29He hears Rosalie screaming outside the hall. He darts outside. And sees that she's awake.
29:33She's pointing at the sky. Looking terrified. The. The. Samuel looks up. And his blood instantly runs
29:38cold. The clouds hung low. Almost touching the rooftops. What's more frightening. Is that all the dogs.
29:43In grant village don't make a sound. No barking. No whimpering. It's just complete silence.
29:47Even the insects are quiet. The world is muted. Samuel scoops up Rosalie. And rushes home. On the way.
29:52He saw many villagers open their doors too. Staring at the sky in terror. Back at home. Samuel settles
29:57Rosalie in bed. And gives her medicine. She falls asleep quickly. Her brows are furrowed. As she sleeps
30:02uneasily. Samuel sits next to her bed. Holding her hand. He can't help but look outside. Samuel remembers
30:06the bangle engraving. Open the well. And reveal the truth. Then he remembers the words. She's back.
30:11A terrifying thought formed in his mind. Perhaps the truth is at the bottom of the well. Maybe
30:15she's been waiting down there all along. She's been waiting for someone. To release her. Samuel
30:19makes up his mind. He's going to open it. He'll open the well. No matter what's down there. No matter
30:23how scary the truth is. He'll face it for Rosalie. Their unborn child. And grant villagers safety.
30:28That's right. My soul is watching from above. I've repaid my centuries old debt. It's time I settle. The
30:34centuries old grudge.
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