My body descended from the ceiling in a sharp, controlled slash, the air hissing as my dagger cut through the priest's torso. His grotesque body splits in two, each half crumbling lifelessly to the ground. I landed gracefully, crouched low, the dark blade dripping with his blood.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Hina stepping out from the room, her arms holding a small, frail child. Seven others followed her, their tiny bodies trembling as they clung to each other.
"It's over..." I said, my voice low.
Hina nodded, though her expression remained guarded. "Yeah... I guess it is."
She let out a long sighh, the tension visibly leaving her shoulders. "That was... scary," she admitted, her usual confident tone replaced by sothing softer.
"Can say so," I replied, scratching the back of my head. My gaze drifted to the children. Their frail bodies had horrific signs of torture—missing limbs, hollowed-out eyes, scars too deep. "Poor kids, though..."
Hina's eyes softened as she followed my gaze. Her lips quivered, and unshed tears glistened in her eyes. Without a word, she crouched down and pulled the children into a gentle embrace, her arms wrapping protectively around all of them.
"It'll be okay now," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Don't worry. I'm here for you all."
A little girl without eyes hesitated before reaching out, her tiny hands fumbling until they found Hina's face. She gently rubbed Hina's cheeks, her lips curling into a faint smile.
"Sister, you feel cute," she said, her voice soft but sincere.
Hina smiled back, her tears finally spilling over as she wiped her face with the back of her hand. "Awww! Thank you so much, but you're way more beautiful than ," she said, patting the girl's head.
Another child, a boy with only one arm, stepped forward hesitantly and wrapped his small body around Hina's thighs. "Thank you, sister," he whispered, his voice filled with gratitude.
The rest of the children followed, their timid voices rising in unison as they said, "Thank you, sister!"
Hina chuckled softly, brushing her tears away. "Hehe... Thank you. But you know what? More than , you should thank this lazy yet sohow strong guy over here." She gestured toward with her hand, sticking out her tongue playfully.
"Oi! I'm not lazy!" I protested, throwing her an exaggerated glare. "Sigh..."
"You are!! ~Bleh" She teased again
I shrugged as there's no point in arguing. She isn't going to listen and will keep escalating it.
The children turned to , their wide, innocent eyes brimming with gratitude. "Thank you, mister," they said, their voices shy.
I wanted to smile and warmly comfort them in the way Hina did...but I couldn't even smile...more like the emotions didn't co to . How many tis have I been through all this? How many tis have I seen all this? I lost count & I can't even rember. As if rembering it will change anything. What's done is done. What's gone is gone.
Just like their lost limbs won't return. Just like their lost eyes won't return and the dead children won't co back ever again.
Sighhh*
I knelt down to their level. "You're welco. Just stay safe from now on, alright?" I said.
Hina stood, dusting herself off. "Let's leave this place," she said, looking around the ominous chamber. "It's creepy."
"Yeah, you're right," I agreed, rising to my feet.
We turned and began walking out of the chamber, our steps echoing in the eerie silence. The narrow staircase ahead was dimly lit by flickering torches.
"Stay close," Hina instructed the children, her tone firm.
Two of the children clung to my hands, their small fingers gripping mine tightly as we ascended.
And then, I stopped.
The air suddenly felt heavier the farther we ascended, an unsettling tension creeping into my senses. My eyes narrowed as a strange sensation washed over .
Hina noticed my hesitation and stopped, turning to look at . "Esther, What's wrong?" she asked in a concerning voice.
Before I could answer, a sudden gust of wind brushed past my legs. My eyes widened in realization, and I locked eyes with Hina.
"He's alive," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
*Fwoosh*
As if on command, the torches along the staircase extinguished, plunging us into darkness. The ground beneath us began to tremble, and a low, guttural growl echoed from the chamber behind us.
The red aura we thought had died flared to life once more, brighter and more nacing than before. Massive flas erupted from the chamber.
The children scread, their cries filled with terror.
"RUN!!!" I commanded, my voice cutting through the chaos. "Hina, run!!"
"But—" she started, her hesitation clear.
"Go! Get them out of here!" I barked, my tone leaving no room for argunt.
Hina nodded, her face pale but determined. She gathered the children, urging them to follow her. "Stay close to ! Don't look back!"
As they began to run, I turned back toward the inferno consuming the chamber. The priest's grotesque form erged from the flas, his body now twisted beyond recognition. His red aura burned brighter than ever, his eyes glowing like molten lava.
"You should have stayed down," I muttered, as I summoned my dagger once again and tightened my on it.
The ground quaked violently as I leaped toward the blazing chamber. The priest's twisted laughter echoed through the air.
"Where do you mortals think you are going??!!" he roared.
I smirked, the adrenaline surging through my veins as I prepared for the final clash. "Now you won't be flaring any more of those borrowed flas," I said, my voice cold and resolute.
With that, I plunged into the inferno, determined to end this once and for all.
I leaped straight toward the priest, my dagger gleaming with the black aura surrounding flared like a dark star, twisting and coiling as I closed the distance between us.
The priest tilted his head back and let out a booming, guttural laugh. "Hahahahahahahaha!" His voice reverberated through the chamber, rging with the roaring flas around him.
Reviews
All reviews (0)