This time, the duration of the pain was nearly half of the last.
Gavin Graves was drenched in sweat and, as usual, went to the bathroom to wash up.
After washing, he stood in front of the mirror examining his arm. The blackness had receded to the middle of his forearm, becoming more active compared to before. If it used to sway gently like water plants, now it squirmed and writhed like bugs.
They covered the surface of his skin, changing shape, no longer the stationary vine-like patterns of before, but weird things resembling both bugs and snakes, utterly chilling.
This change made Gavin feel uneasy.
It was originally lifeless, but now it "lived."
...
Gavin returned to the room. Cherry was not asleep, sitting on the bed waiting for him.
What kind of look was that? Uneasy, longing, cautious, and timidly flattering...
