Magic Space: Struggling to Survive in the Apocalypse-Chapter 118: The Death of Miss Holloway

The work of tilling the land was in full swing. On Evelyn Ford’s second day off, Serena Lynch, after three days of being chewed out by Dr. Lawrence, finally had a breakthrough. She not only became diligent and hardworking, but also much braver.

Perhaps this was growth—from timid to brave, from clumsy to skilled.

As usual, Evelyn Ford took Ronan Kendrick shopping. This week, Ronan’s points had reached three thousand, allowing Evelyn to buy even more.

"Let’s buy twenty trays of eggs. We can make them into soy-sauce eggs and tea eggs."

"Okay."

A tray held thirty eggs, and each egg cost four points. Twenty trays came to 2,400 points. Evelyn Ford spent the remaining points on bok choy and napa cabbage.

The two returned once again, fully loaded. On the way back, Evelyn Ford saw several people dragging Dr. Miller and Dr. Lawrence onto a snowmobile.

The next day, Evelyn Ford learned that Dr. Miller and Dr. Lawrence had been taken to treat Miss Holloway. Apparently, Miss Holloway’s mouth had started to ulcerate, and a foul stench emanated from it whenever she spoke. The Holloway Family had now confined her to her home, summoning doctors daily. They promised a luxury apartment to anyone who could cure her.

Dr. Miller asked Evelyn Ford if she was interested in trying. Evelyn refused.

"I’m afraid if I can’t cure her, I’ll just end up in trouble. Mr. Miller, you know my temperament."

Dr. Miller thought about it and felt Evelyn had a point.

"That Miss Holloway has a temper no ordinary person can stand. Yesterday, Lawrence and I each got a slap in the face, and then her bodyguards threw us out."

"That must have been rough."

Dr. Miller waved his hand dismissively. "I have no desire to go back there and suffer again. But I don’t think she has much longer."

Evelyn Ford’s brow twitched.

"Many parts of her body are festering, her limbs are swollen, and her hair is falling out. People really should conduct themselves with integrity. Look at how many young people she’s ruined. Now her karma has come for her. The Holloway Family’s power and influence can’t buy her life."

’This isn’t karma,’ Evelyn thought. ’It’s just someone dealing out justice where it’s due.’

The corners of Evelyn Ford’s mouth curled up as she went back to work.

"The sun has been out longer these past few days. I expect the snow will melt in a few more days."

"More animals have been coming out to forage lately. I hunted two wild boars today."

"I think you should just maintain this level. If you stand out too much, you’ll become a target for everyone. It’s best to avoid trouble whenever possible."

"Then I’ll just beat anyone who isn’t convinced into submission. Why be so cautious and timid? The weak have the gall to cause trouble, so why should the strong have so many reservations?"

Ronan Kendrick had his own logic, and Evelyn Ford had hers. She preferred the middle way, always liking to stay at an average level. For a person, this was the safest and most comfortable state.

In the past, a difference of opinion would immediately lead to a physical fight. Things were much better now. Instead of fighting, they just gave each other the cold shoulder.

Evelyn Ford wouldn’t concede to Ronan Kendrick’s logic, and Ronan wouldn’t accept Evelyn’s views.

Two days later, the snow on the ground began to melt.

Evelyn Ford had Quincy relay her thoughts to Officer Graham and his team: although the snow and ice were melting and things seemed to be coming back to life, it was precisely at times like this that they needed to be most careful.

Serena Lynch had been doing very well these past few days. As a temporary nurse, she had made the grade. Just as Evelyn Ford had said, in the right environment, a person’s potential can be unlocked. With enough effort, there was nothing one couldn’t learn.

What Evelyn Ford didn’t expect, however, was that Miss Holloway’s bodyguards came to the medical department to grab doctors again. This time, Evelyn didn’t avoid them and was taken to the villa along with Dr. Miller. Before she even stepped inside, a sour, putrid smell hit her.

In just half a month, a beautiful young woman had been ravaged into this state. Even Evelyn Ford was a little startled.

Miss Holloway lay on the bed. Beneath her wasn’t a mattress, but a plastic sheet. Yellowish pus seeped from the pores of her swollen skin, and the sheet had to be replaced every so often.

"Wade Holloway is dead. The moment he stopped breathing, his body deflated like a balloon. Should we get a doctor to take a look?"

Two people were whispering nearby. Evelyn Ford overheard them and began to doubt the medicine she had concocted.

She had only intended to make Miss Holloway itch all over and vomit, to make her suffer a little. But this series of after-effects made her reconsider.

Miss Holloway had swollen into a giant. Her intact skin was shiny and taut, looking like a corpse in the bloated stage of decomposition, ready to explode at any moment.

Dr. Miller’s expression was grim. Evelyn Ford knew he wanted to vomit, but under the circumstances, he would surely be beaten by the bodyguards outside if he did. So he had to desperately hold it in.

"Hurry up and treat our Miss! Give her your best treatment! If anything happens to her, neither of you are leaving here today."

Evelyn Ford hated being threatened more than anything. She hadn’t been planning to do anything, but hearing those words made her hands itch to act.

Just then, with a GURGLING sound, Miss Holloway suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood. When Evelyn Ford saw the white, thread-like worms squirming in the blood, her scalp began to tingle.

"Mr. Miller, get back."

Evelyn Ford pulled Dr. Miller back quickly. Miss Holloway’s eyes bulged as she continued to vomit blood, as if trying to expel every last drop from her body. Evelyn saw several young men cowering in the corner, two of whom looked to be only sixteen or seventeen.

They watched Miss Holloway numbly. But when they saw her vomiting blood, a flicker of joy and excitement appeared in each of their eyes.

After spitting up a few more chunks of black flesh, Miss Holloway stopped breathing entirely. Her body decomposed rapidly, turning into a puddle of mush within minutes.

The worms that had been living in her blood excitedly crawled out to devour her remaining flesh. Evelyn Ford and Dr. Miller watched it all, pressed against the wall, their faces masks of utter horror.

The eldest daughter of the Holloway Family had died in such a gruesome manner, and it was a scandal. Evelyn Ford and Dr. Miller received a sum of hush money and a warning. As for the young men Miss Holloway had abducted and tormented, Evelyn never saw them again. Perhaps they had gained their freedom, or perhaps they had been "freed" against their will.

"Evelyn, I’ve never seen anyone die like that. In all my years as a doctor, I’ve never witnessed such a disgusting scene."

As soon as they left the villa, Dr. Miller threw up several times. His steps were unsteady as he walked, his face pale, and his hands trembled.

"Throw away the clothes you’re wearing today when you get back. They might have bacteria on them."

Evelyn Ford nodded in acknowledgment, and Dr. Miller shuffled off unsteadily in another direction.

Back in 601, Evelyn Ford took a shower and threw away the clothes she had been wearing.

When Ronan Kendrick returned, Evelyn Ford told him what had happened. To her surprise, his expression remained unchanged.

"Good."

"Did you put something else on my sewing needle?"

Ronan Kendrick lifted his gaze to meet Evelyn Ford’s. The two of them simply stood there, scrutinizing each other.

"Yes, I added something."

"Did she not deserve to die?"

Evelyn Ford had no rebuttal. Miss Holloway did deserve to die. She just hadn’t expected Ronan Kendrick to be even more unfathomable than she had imagined.

How many more secrets was he hiding? Evelyn Ford had no way of finding out.