Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 944: Impermanence

The resuscitation for the old madam went smoothly, and, at the same time, Mr. Issam’s child in the village had also recovered from a high fever. These were both comforting pieces of news.

However, due to the effects of the medication, the old madam hadn’t regained consciousness yet. But Chalty’s expression had relaxed considerably, as if a weight had been lifted off her heart.

"Chalty, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back now," Mr. Issam said, coming into the room. "I’ll come back to pick her up once she’s discharged."

“Thank you so much, Mr. Issam,” Chalty said gratefully.

Mr. Issam chuckled warmly, “It was no trouble at all. By the way, if there are any issues with the costs, don’t hesitate to let me know. I’ll find a way to help.”

Chalty smiled, “No worries about that—I’ve already been in touch with the church here, and the cathedral agreed to cover the treatment costs.”

“Oh… that’s wonderful.” Mr. Issam nodded, reflecting, “Faith does seem to have its benefits.”

Chalty smiled, “If we lose the spirit of mutual support, perhaps we would have vanished long ago.”

“That’s true.” Mr. Issam nodded thoughtfully.

Chalty rose and placed a gentle hand on Mr. Issam’s forehead, offering a small blessing—not the kind that Bucky might give but a simple, heartfelt gesture.Before leaving, Mr. Issam suddenly said, “By the way, that child is still sitting outside… should I take her back? She seems a bit odd—would you like me to watch over her for a few days?”

Chalty replied, “She can’t stray too far from me or the madam. It’s all right; I’ll go find her shortly.”

Not fully understanding her response, Mr. Issam assumed the child might simply get anxious without company—as she had been rather troublesome back at the village clinic.

“Alright, then. If you need anything else, just call me,” he said. “I’ll be there right away.”

A genuinely good person, Chalty thought, watching Mr. Issam’s figure as he departed.

Good people will be rewarded… the old madam always said so.

---

Smoking wasn’t allowed in the hospital, but Mr. Issam, a habitual smoker, had walked out to the parking lot to light a cigarette.

Taking a long drag, he glanced at the sky… It would be quite late by the time he got back to the village. With his child recovering and the old madam safe, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

He suddenly longed for his wife’s hearty soup.

As he headed toward his parked car, he spotted Lucifer, still seated on a bench in the lot. She hadn’t moved an inch since he first saw her there.

Mr. Issam frowned slightly, instinctively walking toward her. The things she’d said at the clinic… they seemed far too cold and unsettling for a young girl, pushing his mind to its limits.

Then, suddenly, Lucifer lifted her head… just enough to reveal her eyes, and a strange smile spread across her face.

A chill gripped Mr. Issam, a deep, primal fear triggered by what should have been an innocent child’s smile.

“What’s with this kid…” He shivered, accidentally dropping his cigarette.

Shaking his head, he laughed off his nerves and bent down to pick up the cigarette butt. But at that moment, he felt a sharp pain in his back.

One stab, then another—two fierce slashes!

Mr. Issam’s pupils widened as he let out a scream, yet his sturdy frame kept him standing. He swung his arm back, catching a hint of resistance before clutching his bleeding back—stabbed, twice, with blood pouring out.

Then he saw who had attacked him.

A man in his mid-twenties, wearing hospital clothing, stood there. His face twisted with despair and terror, gripping a blood-stained knife.

“What are you doing?! Why did you attack me?!” Mr. Issam roared, sinking to his knees in pain, drenched in cold sweat.

“I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die…” The young man trembled, muttering to himself, “I’m so young… why… why… why…”

“You…!” Grimacing, Mr. Issam struggled to maintain consciousness. He needed help; he needed to stop the bleeding, and he needed someone to subdue this deranged patient. “Help! Someone, please help! I need help!”

Thunk!

Suddenly, the man—a patient—lunged again at Mr. Issam with his head down, clutching a small knife in both hands. This time, he drove the blade directly into Issam’s abdomen.

Mr. Issam’s eyes widened in shock—wider, and wider, and wider.

The knife in the man’s hand withdrew, then plunged in again, and withdrew once more. His face twisted into a mad, desperate grin. “Why me? Why me? … Why did I have to get AIDS? Why! I don’t want to die… You should all die! Hahaha… hahaha… hahahahaha! Die, die, die, die, DIE!”

He was laughing, tears streaming down his face. “Die, die, die!”

Finally, Mr. Issam collapsed in a pool of blood. Somewhere in the parking lot, someone screamed. Moments later, a few people rushed over and forced the crazed patient to the ground.

All Issam could feel now was cold. His vision blurred as he saw Chalty standing at the entrance of the parking lot.

Chalty covered her mouth, eyes wide in horror, then she ran toward him. Issam looked instinctively toward the child sitting on the bench.

The child was still there, smiling that strange smile at him. In that moment, Mr. Issam realized what that smile meant.

Despair.

“Mr. Issam! Mr. Issam! Sir!! Somebody… somebody, help!”

Chalty rushed to him, cradling his blood-soaked body, crying.

Issam’s lips moved as if trying to say something, but in the end, no words came. He passed out.

---

The sky had completely darkened, and the parking lot felt chilly. Lucifer was still sitting alone, gazing up at the stars, seemingly in good spirits.

Suddenly, Chalty approached slowly. She held her left elbow tightly with her right hand as she came to stand in front of Lucifer.

Chalty’s face was pale. “The doctor said that Mr. Issam’s heart was stabbed multiple times… there was nothing they could do.”

“Oh, is that so?” Lucifer replied calmly. “What a shame. Such a good man, with a kind and upright heart… what a pity. But watching that light snuff out before your eyes, isn’t it… delightful?”

Chalty stared at Lucifer, unblinking, her voice low. “The killer was apparently an AIDS patient who had been in treatment for a long time. It didn’t help, and he eventually lost his mind, developing a hatred for the world.”

“Isn’t that a common story? Nothing out of the ordinary.” Lucifer shrugged.

“It was you, wasn’t it…” Chalty suddenly asked.

Lucifer didn’t answer, just looked up at her.

Something seemed to snap in Chalty, and she lunged forward, grabbing Lucifer by the collar, screaming, “It was you, wasn’t it! It was you! You’re the reason this happened, aren’t you! You did this! You!”

The grip tightened on Lucifer’s collar, pulling the skin on her neck taut, but she continued to look at Chalty expressionlessly. Coldly, she replied, “Did you see it with your own eyes?”

“It was you! Back in the village clinic, you almost drove the doctor insane with your words… it was you! You demon!”

“I am a demon,” Lucifer sneered. “I always have been. Haven’t you known that for a while? And tell me, did you actually see me do anything?”

“No one but you!” Chalty cried in anguish.

“No one but me, huh…” Lucifer replied calmly. “Alright, let’s say I am the true culprit. After all, humanity loves to create targets for their grief, pain, and rage. And if that target happens to be me… a demon, I’d say that’s perfect, wouldn’t you? But…”

Lucifer suddenly narrowed her eyes, mocking. “Does your God allow you… to take out your anger like this?”

Chalty suddenly raised her hand.

“Oh, violence too?” Lucifer said calmly.

Chalty’s body trembled, her arm froze, shaking. She bit her lip, staring into Lucifer’s eyes—eyes that held a child’s innocence, yet a chilling cruelty. Suddenly, she collapsed to her knees.

“Tell me…” Chalty clutched Lucifer’s collar again, pressing her head against it. “Tell me… why! Why… Issam was… he was such a good man… why, why!”

“Who… can tell me!”

“Who told you that good people don’t die?” Lucifer whispered. “This is the human world, not the church filled with holy light and the Virgin Mary where you used to stay… this is reality.”

Chalty’s hands released their grip, and she sank, defeated, to the ground.