11 Chapter 11: Loyalty

Emory's POV:

The darkness was strangely comforting. I had a feeling I might be more afraid of what I would see than what I would hear or felt on my skin.

"Don't open your blindfold whatever happens."

"I understand."

Thud.

The door closed.

I have no idea if the people that brought me here stayed or gone.

They made sure their step stay soundless.

I have no idea where they took me, I was blindfolded before they brought me here.

They might want to hide something so they need me to wear this blindfold.

Luckily, they didn't tie my hands since I came here by my own free will.

Once again, I should become the king's loyal pawn... or at least pretended to do so...

But...

Giving my loyalty to the king is the last thing I would do in my life.

I agreed to pull out an infiltration mission to kill the king from the inside.

But to do so, I'm sure they would test my loyalty.

After all, I did betray the King.

Tap

Someone came...

I have no idea if this is the same person who brought me here, or was he a completely different one?

"Darin, could you hear me?"

I know this voice, the tone has gone deeper, several years have passed after all. Yet the arrogance in that tone of voice was still there.

This person is one of the princes.

"..."

"Darin?"

"I don't go by that name anymore."

"I don't care. I'm not here to play friends with you."

To prove my loyalty, I should not deny him, it's a bad first impression.

Yet I cannot help but denied my dead name.

"What do you want me to do?"

"I prefer if we could have a long talk though, It's been a while since we saw each other."

"I'll listen to you as much as you want later, but aren't you busy?"

"You're no fun."

"I'm sorry..."

"But you're right, I'm busy right now. It will be ideal if we can finish this as soon as possible."

"So, what do you want me to do?"

"Simple, I just want to make sure that you are serious about coming back to us."

Tap

I could hear his footstep came closer to me. He held my hand and passed me a gun.

The moment I held the gun I instantly know what he wanted.

And I didn't like it at all.

"You know what you need to do, don't you?"

I nod

Obviously, it's either to shot someone or me myself.

"Relax, I won't make you do a meaningless suicide. I can be funny, but this is not the right time."

I won't trust his words.

"I'll even be generous this time. I only need you to kill someone who hurt you. You should thank me for making it easier for you."

"Who?"

"Caron Dvail"

"Caron?!"

"Don't bother calling for her, she's unconscious. She's here, in front of you the whole time. You can't see her due to the blindfold."

No! no! no! no! no! no! no!

Why?!

This is cruel, I can't do this!! I should stop, I'll kill him instead!!

I almost tried to open the blindfold that covered my eyes, but then someone grabbed my arms to stop my movement."

"I never said you're allowed to open your blindfold. Besides, I know you hate to see people bleed, the blindfold doing you a favor."

This is not his arm. This might be his bodyguard's arm. I had no idea how many guards there were in this room, but if there's more, then neither I nor Caron could get out alive from here.

Killing Caron might be the only way to ensure my survival right now...

But I don't want to!!

I tried to struggle until I felt there's a gun pointed at my chest.

"What is this? Could it be you don't actually hate her?"

"Don't play dumb! You know I never did! You want me to kill her knowing exactly that!"

BANG

"ARGH!!"

Despite the impact of the shot, I did not fall back, the guards held my arms which prevented me from run or resisting.

It hurts...

But at least...

It was me that got shot, not Caron...

"Don't resist, unless maybe you want another one of these?"

Again, I could feel the tip of the gun on my chest.

I could stand, but the sudden blood loss made me lose my strength to resist.

"Good to know you finally understand. To prove your loyalty to the king, you need to kill the person who made you betray him."

"..."

"But sure, if you choose to be loyal to Caron instead of the King, then you can both met in the afterlife."

"...I'm okay now, I was just getting emotional. Caron is my one and only friend left, but I was able to stay alive only because of the King's mercy."

It was an obvious lie. I'm hopeless at lying.

"I'll kill her, do I still have my chance? Or is this it?"

I almost made both of us died a meaningless death.

I should not back down now, because If I did, all their death would be meaningless!

"You are a bad liar, Darin, just like old times."

"Then is this it?"

"No, it's even better that you decided to shoot her even though she's still very important to you. After all, if you could kill your most important someone for the king, then I could guarantee your loyalty."

"..."

"Now, back to the main event, hold your gun tight, Darin."

I pointed my gun at Caron.

Caron...

How I wish we could just switch our position...

Why was it always me who hurt you in the end?!

I could feel my arms shaken...

"Ten seconds..."

"Huh?"

"Nine... eight... seven..."

I could feel three to four guns touched my back, This is my last chance...

"Six... five... four..."

"Caron..."

"Three... two..."

"Goodbye..."

"One..."

BANG

Caron died...

I could feel the warmth of her blood at the tip of my arms...

"Caron..."

Until a moment ago I was hoping this was just another one of my many nightmares...

But maybe...

Maybe this was a nightmare after all...

"Do you know that inside a nightmare, dying will forcefully awaken you?"

Right...

I might still be able to wake up...

It's still not too late...

I should wake up...

"DARIN, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!"

BANG

I failed I failed I failed I failed I failed I failed

I failed to wake up!!

"Darin!! Stop it!!"

"LET ME GO!!"

I can't move! I can't move! I can't move!

Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!

I refused to be trapped in this nightmare forever!

"KILL ME!!"

"Stop resisting!!"

BANG

"ARGH!!"

"I won't kill you, but I will make everyt_i_g wo_se for y_u if you ke_p at it!"

What...

did...

he...

said...?

"He's n_t mov_ng?!"

"Br_ng h_m to th_ car!"

I...

have...

no...

idea...

what...

they...

said...

"....!!!"

I...

Can't...

hear...

anything...

anymore...

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