Chapter:20 Mysterious figure

[GIRL'S POV]

"ARGHHHH—GAHH!"

BAM!

The pig-like man's agonized screams filled the chamber as a mysterious figure emerged from the shadows, draped in black from head to toe.

With one swift motion, the figure slammed the man's grotesque face into the stone floor, silencing his cries for a fleeting moment.

"Where do you think you're going, you wretched swine?" the figure asked, their voice smooth and honeyed yet carrying an undertone so cold it sent shivers down my spine.

My eyes remained fixed on the enigmatic figure. Their attire, a form-fitting black ensemble, concealed their features, save for their hands.

It was those hands that captured my attention. They were unnaturally beautiful, pure white and smooth, a stark contrast to the chaos around them.

The figure crouched beside the man, effortlessly withdrawing the daggers embedded in his hands.

Blood gushed from the wounds, pooling on the stone floor. The pig-like man's attempts to scream were muffled by his face being pressed harshly against the ground.

The figure then did something I couldn't comprehend. With the dagger now slick with blood, they made a small cut on their finger.

A dark, viscous liquid began to trickle from the wound, blood, but not like any I had seen before. It was deep and unnatural, almost black.

Gripping the man's greasy hair, the figure wrenched his head back and forced his mouth open.

"W-Wha—" the man tried to resist, but the figure's strength was absolute. A single drop of that dark blood fell from their finger into the man's mouth.

SIZZLE!

The sound of something burning echoed faintly, and my jaw dropped as the cut on the figure's finger closed, leaving their skin flawless once more.

The man, now writhing on the floor, managed to croak, "W-what… did you… feed me?" His face contorted in pain, his skin turning an alarming shade of blue.

"Nothing much," the figure said casually, their tone almost conversational. "Just a little bit of my poisonous blood. Soon, it'll seep into your nervous system. First comes the pain, then the seizures, and within ten minutes, you'll die an unpleasant death, unable to even scream."

The man's horrified groans filled the chamber as the figure continued, mockery lacing their every word.

"But," they said, holding up a small vial, "there's good news. I have the antidote right here."

The man's eyes widened, his face twisted in desperation. "W-what… do you… want? Please, I'll g-give you anything… just spare me!"

"Good." The figure crouched beside him, their voice sharp and commanding. "Tell me the location of all your secret vaults and their keys. And don't forget the keys to these cages. If you lie or stall, you'll die faster. Now, hurry up."

The man whimpered as the poison coursing through his body left him no room to argue. Through gritted teeth, he divulged the locations of his hidden treasures and handed over the cage keys.

The figure disappeared momentarily, presumably to retrieve the loot. When they returned, they tossed the vial of antidote to the man, who immediately grabbed it with trembling hands and drank it.

Relief washed over him as his color slowly returned to normal, though his reprieve was short-lived.

As the antidote worked its magic, a sinister grin spread across the man's bloodied face. "You bastard!" he spat, his voice gaining strength.

"Just you wait. The guards are on their way to this chamber right now! I triggered the alarm in my pocket the moment you appeared. When they get here, I'll cut you into pieces and feed you to the Danger Beasts!"

The figure stood still, silent, as the man's threats filled the chamber. Seconds passed, then minutes, yet no one entered the room. The guards were nowhere to be found.

"Ha… hahaha!" The figure's melodious laughter broke the tense silence. Their shoulders shook as the sound grew louder, reverberating through the chamber with an eerie, almost unearthly quality.

The fat man's bravado crumbled. His shaking hand reached for a revolver hidden in his pocket. Desperately, he fired at the figure.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Some shots missed, but others struck the figure directly. The chamber echoed with the sound of gunfire. Yet, to the man's horror, the figure didn't falter.

"But… how?" the man stammered, his voice trembling. "How are you moving?!"

The figure stepped forward, entirely unfazed. "Did you really think bullets could stop me?"

The man's eyes widened in sheer terror as the figure continued. "Your guards are dead. Fancy guns or not, they were no match for me. I disposed of them all. Their skulls were quite fragile."

As they drew closer, their imposing presence made the fat man shrink back in fear. The figure leaned in, their masked face mere inches from his ear.

"Surprise, surprise motherfkr," they whispered, their voice dripping with malice.

The man, trembling, croaked out, "Why… why are you doing this? Did I harm your family? Or are you one of those Revolutionary bastards trying to ruin the market?"

The figure tilted their head slightly. "A mix of no and yes," they replied smoothly. "No, you didn't hurt my family. But the people you serve? They're a different matter. And yes, I have ties to the Revolutionary Army, though I wouldn't call myself one of them. We merely… share goals."

The man's breath hitched as he processed the figure's words. "Then why give me the antidote? Why let me live even a second longer after getting what you wanted?"

"Ah," the figure said, their tone suddenly playful. "Three reasons, really. First, I keep my promises. You cooperated, and I honored our deal."

The man's face twisted in confusion, his fear giving way to disbelief.

"Second," the figure continued, their voice turning icy, "I needed answers. You're a lapdog of the Empire, and I want to know everything you do. And third…"

The figure reached into their pocket and took out a small pill, a blood-red capsule with silver edges. "Where did you get this?"

The air in the chamber grew colder as the man's eyes locked onto the pill.

Before the man could respond, the figure crushed the revolver in his trembling hand with ease. Gripping his collar, they dragged him toward a nearby door.

I could only watch, paralyzed, as the man's terrified screams filled the chamber once more.

"ARGHHHHHHHH!"

Whatever the figure was doing in that other room, the cries of agony stretched on for hours.

I sat frozen in my cage, clutching the remnants of my mother's cloth, unable to tear my gaze away from the darkness beyond.