566 William and Hayden
As Hayden approached the room where Pierre and Sophia were held captive, the malevolent stench became increasingly unbearable, almost causing her to retch if not for the mask covering her face.
Upon reaching the room, she peered through the iron bars on the door, but the sight inside was so repulsive that she almost vomited on the spot.
Quickly lowering her head and covering her mouth, she managed to suppress the urge. After a moment of recovery, she reluctantly raised her head to look inside.
The floor was littered with excrement, and countless rats scurried around. Two figures in the room,one lying on the floor like a corpse, the other leaning against the wall with hollow eyes fixed on the ceiling's incandescent lamp.
Hayden, struggling to discern between Pierre and Sophia in their filthy and emaciated state, called out, "Sophia" to confirm their identities.
At the sound of her familiar voice calling her name, the figure by the wall slowly turned her eyes towards the door, trembling all over. Gradually, she began to shuffle towards the door like a dying person, weakly and hoarsely pleading, "Let me out, Hayden, let me out, let me out."
It was indeed Sophia. Hayden watched her inch closer with a harsh frown creasing her brow, then swiftly turned and walked away.
The repugnant odor was just too much to bear. One more glimpse of Sophia and she might have indeed vomited.
Exiting the basement, Hayden removed her mask and took in deep breaths of fresh air. If possible, she would have wanted to clean herself from head to toe and discard all her clothes right away.
It was utterly revolting!
"From tomorrow onwards, there is no need to provide them with water and food anymore. Let them perish inside," Hayden ordered, forcefully suppressing the nausea churning in her stomach.
"Understood, Ms. Hayden," the ward director replied with a respectful smile.
After expressing her gratitude, Hayden left.
Returning home, Jocelyn caught sight of Hayden and moved to embrace her, but Hayden quickly stopped her, maintaining some distance.
"Hayden, what's wrong?" Jocelyn asked sadly after the rejection.
Chuckling indulgently, Hayden replied, "I'm dirty and smelly. Let me take a shower and change clothes first, then you can hug me."
"Alright," Jocelyn nodded and watched as Hayden headed upstairs.
"Where did Hayden go?" Jocelyn asked Tom once she had gone upstairs.
Tom hesitated for a moment but met Jocelyn's sharp gaze and answered truthfully, "Ms. Hayden went to the psychiatric hospital in the western suburbs."
"Are Pierre and Sophia dead?" Jocelyn immediately inquired.
"Not yet," Tom replied, "but Ms. Hayden has ordered that they no longer receive water and food from tomorrow onwards, allowing them to slowly perish."
"Understood," Jocelyn nodded, instructing, "After they pass away, dispose of their bodies by feeding them to the dogs."
"Of course," Tom agreed, increasingly perceiving Jocelyn as ruthless and unyielding, far from the demeanor of a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl.
Observing Tom, Jocelyn smiled contentedly. Then, with an air of superiority, she settled into the sofa and picked up the landline to call Daniel, exiled in Woodland.
Sophia was nearing her end, and Jocelyn had to relay this news to Daniel.
"Tom, I'm begging you. Please put in a good word for me in front of my father, so I can come back. Tom, I can't take it anymore, I can't stay here." The moment Daniel answered the phone, his pleading voice resonated clearly.
