6 Awakening 'The Devil' Part 2/2
AUTHOR'S RAMBLİNGS:
1) This chapter is kind of dark, don't read it if you are affected by such stuff.
2) I wanted to write more action this chapter but story got in the way. So... All the action and power ups will be in next chapter.
3) I am trying to develop good characters without boring you. What do you think about it so far? Have you got any issues with pacing or character development? Let me know in the comments.
4) I plan to end this arc in 1 or at most 2 chapters. Sorry for the late chapter, I will try to post another chapter today if I can. Hope you enjoy it :)
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[Howling Woods,Midnight,İnside The Hut]
Drip.Drip.Drip. This is the only voice that rings out in the small room for a while. A boy can be seen tied to the roof from his arms while there is blood dripping from every part of his body. He has various injuries including some fatal ones, but the worst injury that this boy has, is in his lower body. Because this boy does not have his legs anymore.The place where his legs should be present, only contains 2 gaping holes. This boy, who is around 15 years old is Robert, brother of Ethan and Callisto. There are 15 other people crowding around him inside the room, they watch the boy with cold eyes. The one at the very front is a figure known by everyone in this village. His name is Bernard, leader of the Ruckus Pirates and 'The Ruling God' of this town. He looks towards the boy that is hanging from the roof by his arms, and speaks with a ruthless tone:
''Look at the results, young Robert. This is what happens when you try to play the hero.''
At the end of his sentence he stabs the knife in his hand into Robert's hand, making him scream. Who knows how many times he has screamed today, making his naturally soothing voice as hoarce as it can get. Bernard takes out a map from his pocket and lays it to the floor. He takes out the knife that was inserted into Robert's hand, making him shake with pain. He points out towards the various text and markings on the map with the tip of the knife.
''You choose a path that avoids both the Tiger King and our night watch.'' He moves the knife upwards to showcase another area. ''This is the Green Valley Town, closest village from here. You were going to take some sort of transport there, then you would go towards your destination with full speed... Marine Branch 12. Warning the marine and coming back with an army, truly a good plan. I must congrulate you... You nearly managed to escape, unfortunately for you we have changed our night watch 3 days ago. Truly a play of the fate.'' He ends his explanation with a mocking sneer.
''People such as you are needed now and then... to be an example. You lived examplery by working hard and your death will also be a lesson for the others, isn't this great? I just wonder... Do you regret it?''
Robert takes a deep breath and manages to force out a calm smile despite his painful state. He looks at Bernard in the eyes and sneers:
''There is nothing to regret when you fight against scum, submitting them however would indeed be shameful.'' ' I only regret not being able to give my brother and sister the freedom they deserve' he thinks inside.
''...'' There are a few seconds of silence before pirates start to laugh uproarously.
''Bwahhahaha, did you hear him, you guys!? He says he doesn't regret it!''
''Wrahahaha, what an idiot, he is still smiling even now!''
Their crazed laughs cames to an end as Bernard turns around to face Robert with a chilling expression.
''... That smile on your face... is indeed a little annoying. I will be sure to carve it out of you.'' He brings the knife closer and closer towards his right eye ,as he is saying the last sentence.
''Do your best.'' Robert replies with the exact same calm smile as if mocking him, he is as stubborn as ever even while facing death.
[Howling Woods,Midnight,Outside The Hut]
I look at the sight before my eyes in terror. 'This is not real, this must be a nightmare' I take a step towards the hut but I froze after in my tracks after I see a pirate stab my brother's hand. 'N-No' they start laughing madly, mocking him. After a few moments the same pirate brings the knife slowly towards his face.'No,Stop it. Stop it please' As the knife gets closer and closer I ran towards the hut,while screaming. ''STOP IT''
I am hit by something as I fly away from the door and crash into a tree. ''You idiot!'' I look towards my left to see a familiar orange fox with Crow on his head. 'Grumble... Crow must have summoned him here.'
''G-Grumble you must help me, we must save brother-''
'' Who is outside?'' a voice shouts from the hut.' No, they must have heard my scream earlier.'
''We can't. Ethan... Listen to me, run towards the village as fast as you can. It is too late for Rober-'' Bang! A gunshot interrupts his speech as he coughs blood.
A pirate screams with a rifle in his hand ''Damn, there is a beast and a kid hidin outsi-''
''ROAR'' He can't complete his sentence as his throat is ripped open by Grumble.
''Ethan, run now. I will gain you some time.''
''G-Grumble I can't leave-''
''LEAVE NOW! You can't help me here! What do you think will happen to your sister if you are also caught? Don't worry about me and go... If I can't make it out alive... Look after Golden in my stead.
''Fuck, this damn beast killed Matt! Don't let him escape.''
Bang! Bang!
''ROAAARRRR!''
The Pirates chase after Grumble as he lures them towards the depths of forest. And, I do the only thing I can in this situation... I run towards the opposite direction with tears and snot covering my face.
[Forest Entrance,A Hour Past Midnight]
Smash! Smash! Smash! That is the only voice that could be heard as a kid 7 years old, slams his bloodied fists against the tree over and over again. The barks of the tree cuts his already injured hands as more blood gushes out. He takes a breath to a breath to stop his shaking body. He has never felt this much pain in his life. He has never felt more furious. He has never felt so much hatred. And certainly he has never felt more useless in his life. A crow on top of a tree is watching the kid with sorrowful eyes, there is a map perched in his talons. He managed to steal it from the pirates when they were busy dealing with Grumble. As the kid with dead eyes raises his fist yet again to smash it towards the tree, Crow can not handle the sight anymore:
''ETHAN, THİS İS ENOUGH. ARE YOU TRYİNG TO KİLL YOURSELF!''
'' ... '' 'Smash' The boy ignore Crow as he smashes his fist again to the tree at his full power.
'' Stop this nonesense, even if you want to die, you can't! Think about your sister that waits for you at home. Think about Golden, you promised you will look after him.'' The boy flinches and stops for a moment, this finally got his attention. The Crow sighes in relief at this and continues:
''Also... Don't you want them to pay...? You won't let them get away with this, will you?''
''... OF COURSE I WON'T '' The boy roars with all his might. But then starts to cry again as he remembers something.
''...B-But *sob* I am so weak... What can a weakling like me-'' The boy replies on the verge of breaking down.
'' You will give up, just because of this? This is a weak's mentality, if you are weak you need to be smarter and more ruthless.''
''Crow... I want to kill them, each and every one of them. Will I be able to do that... if I am smarter and more ruthless.'' The boy asks in doubt.
''Maybe... If this is still not enough, you need to be The Devil itself. Devil is not rash ,nor Devil is merciful... And Devil won't die before his pray. So... You can't die.''
The Boy takes a deep breath and then looks at his bloodied hands as he thinks 'The Devil...'
''I will become'' he answers with a cold voice that only contains one emotion now... Bloodlust.
--- 3 Days Later ---
[Morning,İnside The House]
3 days passed from my brother and Grumble's death. The pirates decided to hang his corpse to a tree at the entrance of the forest as a warning. I banned Callisto from going outside... I don't want her to know the truth yet. Something hugs me from behind,my sister Callisto.
''What's wrong, Callis?'' '' Brother, when will big brother come back? Is he still doing that job you told me about?'' This is the third time in a row as she askes me this, and I answer her with a smile third time: ''Yeah, he will be back in a few days. Don't worry... I am here aren't I?'' I turn back and take her in my embrace, she hugs me back as she answers:
''... I know. I just miss big brother so much.'' 'Me too' I think inside, before breaking the hug and going out for to work while thinking 'Tomorrow will be the last day I am working for this scum'
[Night,İnside The House]
There is a map layed on the floor as me and crow intently research it while whispering to each other in a heated fashion.
''They already completely changed the night watch, they always wander around in 5-man groups. There is no way you can ditch all these groups. There is no opening in their formation'' Crow states.
''If there is no opening... We should just create one by ourselves.'' I answer. He gets what I'm hinting and whispers back furiously:
'' Are you still thinking about that plan!? This is crazy...''
''... This is the only plan I can think of''
''May I know, what plans you are discussing?'' A voice interrupts us, I froze and look behind me to see a fox through window, he stands out from the surroundings with his golden fur.
''G-Golden...'' I can't look at him in the eyes as guilt overwhelms me. He looks at my expression for a few seconds before closing his eyes, sighing. A few more secons pass before he starts speaking with a sorrowful voice:
''... So, it is true that father is dead. I was suspicious when he didn't come to see me for 3 days. So I started to search him... This morning I heard a rumour from the villagers about a fox beast being killed by pirates. I wanted to learn the truth from you... But based on your expression, everything is true, isn't it?''
''I am sorry'' I answer him forcing myself to look into his deep blue eyes.
''... Don't apologise. This is not your fault.'' His expression twists in fury as he starts walking away '' I will kill them, even if it is the last thing I do.''
''Wait!'' He stops in his tracks , looking at me with a look that prompts me to continue. I look into his eyes and say with a determined voice:
''I will kill every one of them, I swear. But... I need you to do something else for me. Please,trust me with this.'' He looks at me for a few moments before he comes back to the window, appearingly trusting me.
'' So, what is the plan?''
--- Tomorrow ---
[Evening,İnside The House]
I came back from work and enter the house. I prepare some food for my sister as I call her name:
''Callis, the diner is ready.'' I get no answers as I frown. ''Callisto? I am back'' I hurriedly check her room panicked. She is sitting on the bed sobbing, not answering me. ''Callis... What's wrong?''
''... I got out today. B-Big brother *sob* won't come back, isn't he ?'' My heart feels heavy as I realize she learned the truth.
''... ''
'' YOU LİAR! Y-you told me *sob* he would come back, you... I HATE YOU.'' She screams towards me. I force her into a hug as she keeps screaming and crying to my chest, she calms down after a few minutes while hugging me. She raises her head to look me with her innocent eyes while saying:
''B-Brother *sob* you won't also leave me ,right?''
''... I am sorry.'' İs the last thing I say to her before hitting her at the back of her head, making her pass out. I lay her down while looking at Golden who has been hiding outside.
'' You will hide her as we discussed yesterday... Get as far as you can from The Huts and the village.''
He nods towards me before getting lost in darkness taking my sister with her. 'This is necessary. They might target her after I escape.'
''Have you prepared the cheese?'' I ask towards Crow.
''Yeah... Do you even know how to use that things?'' He asks me doubtful.
'' We will figure it out today.'' I reply as we walk towards the coast.
[2 Hours Before Midnight, Coast]
I wait in a spot with a cheese in my hand. Watching the pirate's ship intently.
'' Are you sure he will come?'' Crow asks me impatiently
'' ... Probably?'' I reply with a doubtful voice.
'Wick, Wick' 'There he is...' A mouse comes running towards me. He stoppes before me and drops a thing that he has been holding with his mouth. A pistol, the reason I came here in the first place. I take the pistol and give the cheese to the mouse. '' It was good, trading with you'' I whisper as he takes the cheese and runs off.
''So... everything is ready. Are you sure you want to continue with this plan?'' Crow asks me.
''Yeah. Tonight, I will show them the Devil'' I answer with my cold voice as we walk towards the forest.
