When Janice awoke, she was already home, carried by villagers. Enraged, she prepared to confront Yvette, but at the Jacobs' entrance, she encountered Soren, his expression unfriendly. A single look from him made her falter; trembling, she lowered her head and remained silent. Only after he passed did she look up, glancing at the bustling Jacobs residence before deciding to return home. She resolved to wait until Sheldon no longer cared for Yvette, then she would act.
Throughout the day, the east room buzzed with activity, finally quieting at dusk, after a sharp shout from Sheldon. At 10 p.m., Dungo Village was eerily silent, every house plunged into darkness.
Yvette’s door stood ajar, the wind whistling a chilling tune. She sat in the yard, idly propping her chin, stifling a yawn. Her gaze shifted to the nearby wall where she heard movement and voices, Andrew's particularly loud.
“Charles, can you lift your shoulder higher? I can’t reach… No, higher still. Emmett, move a little to the side. That’s it! Emmett’s the smart one. Charles, you’re too slow,” Andrew directed. “I’m up here! Hurry up!” he called from atop the wall, hands on his hips.
Below, Jeremiah, Emmett, and Charles exchanged helpless glances. Jeremiah, with cold indifference, murmured, “Move over.” Andrew stepped aside, astonished as Jeremiah, Charles, and Emmett effortlessly scaled the wall, joining him in an instant.
Andrew rubbed his eyes incredulously. Before he could comprehend their agility, Jeremiah and Charles jumped down. Andrew turned to Emmett. “They’ve gone down,” he stated.
Emmett calmly nodded. “Yeah, close your eyes. Count to three, then open them.”
Andrew obeyed. He felt Emmett's hand, and before he could reach three, he opened his eyes to find himself in the yard. Yvette stood in the center, all in black, her brow raised, her gaze lazily sweeping the group before settling on Andrew.
She paused, then pointed at his white outfit. “Why is he wearing all white?” she mused, silently questioning his poor judgment.
Jeremiah stepped forward, his presence commanding respect. “He thinks it looks cool,” he stated. Andrew, proudly lifting his chin, added, “Yvette, do you like my outfit? It’s custom-made! I’ll wear it for Bonnie.”
Charles and Emmett exchanged a twitching glance. Yvette, raising an eyebrow, simply replied, “It’s nice. Just stay away from me later.”
Andrew remained unconvinced. Charles, Jeremiah, and Emmett were all clad in black.
Charles spoke. “Yvette, how do we proceed? Jeremiah has prepared insect repellent clothing. Emmett and I scouted; three patrol teams just changed shifts, this is the best time.”
Yvette replied coldly, “Jeremiah, you, and I go to Holden’s study. Emmett provides backup. Andrew, two choices: change clothes and follow Emmett, or stay inside and wait.”
Andrew changed into the black outfit Emmett provided. Only Yvette could manage him; her single sentence ensured his compliance.
At 11 p.m., Yvette, Jeremiah, and Charles slipped into Holden’s study while he visited Sheldon. Yvette moved a book, revealing a hidden passage. Jeremiah activated a flashlight, illuminating the long tunnel. Five minutes later, they reached an ornate door.
Yvette nodded. “Holden’s secret lies behind this door. The smell… and insects are plentiful,” she stated. The stench was overwhelming.
Jeremiah grimly nodded. Charles sensed Jeremiah was more than a general. Yvette merely raised an eyebrow. Charles offered to open the door.
With slight pressure, the door creaked open, releasing a wave of stench. Inside a large room, hundreds of jars, many filled with blood, stood in rows. In the center, three heads poked from jars, alive but lifeless-eyed, infested with insects and surrounded by venomous snakes. Even Charles felt a wave of discomfort. They all wondered, 'What in the world is going on here?'