Feb realized it hurt him to suspect this woman just because she was being kind. Maybe she was simply lonely and looking for a bit of warmth.
While he was lost in these thoughts, the woman—how she knew he was thirsty was a mystery—brought him a large bowl of water.
She looked into Feb's eyes with a disturbing calm. Her gaze seemed to say, "Drink as much as you want."
Feb pushed his doubts aside and took the bowl in his hands.
But just as he was about to drink… he saw a reflection in the water.
Where his own reflection should have been, the woman's face appeared instead. And this time, instead of a warm, kind expression, there was a sly, dark look staring back at him.
Feb thought it was just a trick of his thirst. He closed his eyes and drained the bowl in one go.
Now he could finally sleep peacefully.
Even though the woman's snoring fought against his sleep all night, he eventually managed to drift off.
But her wish for "sweet dreams"… didn't turn out so sweet.
In his dream, Feb saw the ruins of the town and the corpse of a gigantic insect. In its mouth was a pale, colorless flower.
From the distance, an ominous whisper reached him:
"Bring it."
Feb woke up drenched in sweat at those words.