Translator: AlfredoPoutineSoup  Editor: DesTheSloth
Milk-strawberry-flavored candy seemed to fit Lenaâs taste.
âBig brother, can you tell me a story?â Lena suddenly asked.
âStory?â
The little girl nodded, âEvery night, my mother tells me a story to coax me to sleep.â
Luo Qiu suddenly remembered someone asking him for a request. It was when he met those little monster children at the Taoist temple of Yang Taizi⦠Unconsciously, he thought of something weird.
Was it because he looked like a story-teller to those naughty kids?
âWhat kind of story do you want to listen to?â
Lena thought for a moment, âBig Brother, do you know the ending of the story that my mother told me in the train?
Luo Qiu said, âDidnât your father ever tell you that?â
âLena didnât believe the ending my dad told me!â The little girl pouted, âI want to listen to the real ending!â
âWhat do you think the real ending should be?â Luo Qiu suddenly asked.
The little girl bowed her head and thought for a while, âWellâ¦Poor Mr. Monster, he should marry the little girl and have a happy life together!â
âWhat Mr. Monster?â Allie suddenly interrupted⦠She started to talk, perhaps due to staying silent for too long.
âIt was a very kind but ugly monster.â Luo Qiu looked at Allie, and told her the first half of the story he heard from Mrs. Maggie in the morning.
âOh, it turns out itâs this story!â Allie revealed a look that she understood. She saw the gaze of the little girl, and smiled, âIâve heard this story in my childhood⦠Well, it has been passed down in this area.â
Lena suddenly went to Allie.
Allie touched her head and said, âBut at the end of the story, Mr. Monster didnât marry the little girl or live happily with each other.â
âAh? Why?â Lena suddenly said with disappointment, âDid Mr. Monster really eat its bride?â
âWait⦠Why did it suddenly jump to the part of a bride? Luo Qiu was amazed at the little girl.
âNo,â said Allie. âOn the contrary, it was that the little girl that ate Mr. Monsterâs heart!â
âWhy did she eat Mr. Monsterâs heart?â Lena showed a sad look.
Allie said indifferently, âAt the end of the story, the little girl grew up and left Mr. Monster. She went to the outside world, saw a lot of people and learned a lot of things. After that, she fell in love with a noble boy. However, the little girl didnât become beautiful and the boy didnât like her. However, she met a wizard, who told her to eat Mr. Monsterâs heart, which would make her beautiful and everyone would love her.â
Allie sighed, âMr. Monster was sad since it knew the situation; but it still dug out its heart because it liked the little girl very much. Even if the girl grew up, and didnât like it, it still hoped to see her have a happy life. Therefore, Mr. Monster dug out its heart, passing it to her, and left alone.â
âThen, did she marry the noble boy?
âNo.â Allie shook her head, âAfter eating its heart, she didnât turn beautiful, but uglier, just like the monster. So the boy didnât like her at all. Even her parents abandoned her. In the final part, she had to go back to the forest and avoid seeing people. She lived alone without Mr. Monster.â
Lena felt sad, âDid Mr. Monster die?â
âI donât know, the story ended here, but it said that Mr. Monster wandered out in the world after it dug out its heart.â
Allie said slowly, âPeople say that a monster without heart was like a walking corpse; however, it wanted to find it back, so it attacked innocent little girls everywhere to obtain its heart again. Nevertheless, it failed even if ate many many girls. In the end, Mr. Monster walked to a lake and jumped in. Since then, it has never appeared.â
âWhat a poor monster!â Lena said with sadness.
Ellie had to touch Lenaâs face and softly comforted her.
âIs this a local legend?â Luo Qiu suddenly asked.
Ellie nodded and smiled wryly, âI donât know the intention of the story writer, but when I grew up and thought about it, I feel that itâs not suitable for children.â
But didnât you just told the original tale in its entirety?
Boss Luo shook his head, he didnât know Ellieâs thoughts, but he looked outside and softly said, âThat lakeâ¦â
âRight here, Lake Ladoga.â
â¦
â¦
The three men opened the car windows. Flashlights shone at the tree shades on both sides of the road, while they called the name of Mrs. Maggieâs husband.
But they didnât hear any response the whole the way.
âLogically speaking, there shouldnât be houses at such a remote place. The closest place is at least 30 miles away from here⦠Did he meet some wild beasts?â
Branham suddenly raised his hypothesis. Len had to elbow this guy.
âMrs. Maggie, donât worry, itâs not a danger zone where brown bears would appear. This place probably has more squirrels.â Len quickly comforted her.
âRight here, I parked my car here just now.â Maggie stopped the car at this time.
âThen letâs get off and check carefully.â Arex suggested.
Mrs. Maggie nodded, then pointed at one direction, âMy husbandâs cellphone was found in front.â
Several people then walked towards the direction into the forest; they stepped on the dry branches and leaves, which gave an extremely loud sound.
âI have a feeling.â
Branham walked at back, lowering his voice, murmuring at Lenâs ear, âWeâll meet her husbandâsâ¦dead body!â
Len gave a start, saying quickly, âDonât talk nonsense!â
Branham smiled, âDonât you feel excited? When we found the dead body, then he suddenly says âwow!â and stood up! After that, you run in front, and he keeps chasing after you! Whatâs wrong? I just wanted to make up a story, are you scared? If you are so timid, how can you go f*ck Allie?â
âBranham, are we⦠lost?â Len swallowed saliva, and his flashlight shone the front.
Nobody was there.