Beautiful night

Ruan tried to calm her with a reassuring touch on her shoulder. "Monica, my dear, don't worry. Stay by my side, and everything will be fine. We've been through tough situations before, remember?"

Monica's eyes were filled with concern. She knew that what they were facing was unlike anything they had ever experienced. "I know, Ruan, but this feeling... It's as if destiny itself is conspiring against us. That dream I had... I can't get it out of my head."

Inside the carriage, Monica and Ruan listened to the footsteps of the mercenaries they had hired for protection. The warriors were stationed outside the carriage, ready to face any approaching threat.

"Who dares to stop our path!" The firm voice of one of the mercenaries echoed in the night's darkness. Monica and Ruan exchanged relieved glances. The presence of the mercenaries brought them a sense of security, a hope that they would be protected against any approaching danger.

Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Five abrupt explosions resounded, shaking the ground and the air around them. Each one was like a distant thunder, followed by an unsettling tremor that shook the surroundings. The carriage's passengers, Monica and Ruan, were thrown into a whirlwind of panic as the explosions reverberated in their ears.

Ruan swallowed hard, uncertainty weighing on his shoulders as the explosions echoed.

"What is this?" Monica asked with concern, her voice trembling.

Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! Pow! The sounds of the explosions continued, mixing with distant cries of agony.

Despite the tension in the air, Ruan tried to offer some reassurance to Monica. "It's the sound of our mercenaries taking on the bandits! Savor the cries of despair," he said with a touch of determination, trying to infuse courage into his voice, even though fear still lingered.

Monica squeezed Ruan's hand, both unable to see what was happening outside but finding comfort in his words and the hope that the threat was being faced by those they had hired to protect them.

Monica felt her breath grow heavier, and her heart raced as if it were about to leap out of her mouth. Anxiety enveloped her, causing her hands to tremble, and her body filled with apprehension.

"It's a monster! It's a monster!" Unfamiliar cries echoed from outside the carriage, increasing the panic that enveloped the couple.

Ruan held his wife tightly, his own heart hammering in his chest. He cursed in his thoughts the terrible luck that had placed them in this situation. Even amid the darkness and fear, he tried to convey calm to Monica.

"It's going to be okay, dear!" Ruan said, his voice filled with determination, as the explosions continued to shake the surroundings.

Pow! Pow! Pow! The relentless sounds still filled the air, but the couple held onto the hope that their mercenaries would protect them and that the nightmare would soon come to an end.

"Clear! All clear!" The voice, now coming from outside, broke the prevailing tension inside the carriage.

"Anyone inside the carriage can come out; it's all safe now!" Another unfamiliar voice assured, gradually dispelling the fear that had consumed Monica and Ruan.

Ruan breathed a sigh of relief, releasing the tension of the embrace he held on to his wife. He looked at her, wanting to convey confidence and security.

"See? All sorted!" Ruan said with a smile, hoping that peace had finally returned to the dark night.

When Ruan opened the carriage door, he was met with a gruesome scene that made his expression shift from shock to horror.

The area near the carriage was littered with debris, remnants of explosions and marks that told the story of a violent confrontation. Brains and human fragments were scattered on the ground, mixing with numerous pools of blood reflecting the moonlight, creating a terrifying sight.

But the worst of all was the pungent, metallic smell of spilled blood that hung in the air, hitting Ruan forcefully. The sweet and nauseating aroma infiltrated his nostrils, making him instinctively cover his nose with his hand to block the disturbing odor. It was a disturbing reminder of the violence that had occurred there, leaving a trail of destruction and death.

"What a horror!" Exclaimed Ruan, his voice trembling with disbelief. He was a humble merchant, accustomed to peaceful business and safe journeys. Never in his life had he imagined that he would witness such a brutal and gruesome scene.

As he took in the shocking landscape of destruction around him, Ruan realized he was not alone. In the moonlight's dimness, amidst the dark shadows, he saw the faces of a man and a child staring at him. Their gazes were unwavering and enigmatic, as if they had witnessed unspeakable horrors.

"You were right, Luiz. These mercenaries proved to be very weak. They are mere peasants, much weaker than your former boss!" The child said, their words revealing an understanding and knowledge far beyond their childish appearance.

The child pointed at Ruan, their accusing finger hovering over him, while offering two grim choices: "As for you, you have two options. You can surrender all your belongings or face death!"

Ruan felt his heart racing at the ultimatum, and the vision of the carnage he witnessed weighed heavily on his mind. He found himself facing a distressing choice, as both his life and that of his beloved depended on a clever response that could satisfy the psychopathic villain.