7
506words
He seemed to remember something, ignored the gloves, and frantically scrubbed grime from my thigh, revealing a distinct scar.
I'd gotten it saving him years ago, pushed down stairs.
He'd been devastated then.
The scar ached terribly in damp weather.
He used to massage it late at night, applying ointment.
He'd say it was his fault, swearing he'd never let me get hurt again.
But he broke that promise.
He collapsed to his knees, lips trembling in disbelief.
Then he scrambled up, bolting for the door.
"Captain!" colleagues called after him.
"She can't be dead! She's lying! I'm going to find her!"
He ignored them, hailed a cab to my workplace.
Stumbling inside, colleagues greeted him warmly.
"Captain Rhodes! Not home with Anna? What brings you here?"
My husband grabbed his arm, eyes bloodshot.
"Where is Anna?"
The colleague jumped. "Anna's on maternity leave. She hasn't been in for a month."
"Actually, been meaning to find her. She left something. Could you take it?"
He handed my husband a small box from under my desk.
My husband took the lightweight box.
Hands shaking, he opened it. Inside was a handmade dreamcatcher I'd crafted.
And tiny baby clothes and a rattle.
Gifts I'd bought for our child.
My husband held the tiny outfit, remembering my pregnancy claim.
A tear escaped him.
He bent his head, hiding his face.
Leaving the building, his legs gave way.
He collapsed onto the sidewalk.
Slapping himself hard across the face.
"Anna... I was wrong. Please come back."
"I'll take anything. Hit me, yell at me. I'm a monster!"
Watching his breakdown, I realized... maybe he still loved me.
But it was too late. We were past that point.
If he'd trusted me, my baby and I wouldn't be dead.
How could I not blame him?
"Captain! We found footage on Anna's hidden camera. You need to see it."
My husband was brought back. David arrived too, reeling from the truth.
David locked himself in the morgue.
Refusing to let go of Nora's body.
Finally pulled away, he broke down completely.
"It was me... If I'd cared, our baby would live! She'd be alive!"
"She hated pain... how did she endure it?!"
Everyone wept.
Later, techs recovered a file I'd sent David before death.
It had been deleted. Clearly by someone.
David looked devastated, regret washing over him.
Once restored, everyone watched.
It showed the killer binding me to a table.
Shattering my bones with a bat.
Pouring acid down my throat.
Sealing my mouth with glue so I couldn't scream. Blood seeped from torn skin.
I couldn't make a sound, tears of despair falling.
Every frame was harrowing. Then Nora woke.
Covered in blood, she looked at me, mouthing words.
She said: "Anna... don't be scared... I'm here. I'm coming with you."
Next life... we'll still be best friends.
Here is the continuation of the English translation and localization for parts 8 and 9, maintaining the localized Western names, settings, and cultural references:
