The Dark Night

"Brother, please don't let go of my hand!"

The urgency in her voice was heart-wrenchingly discernible as she felt the jolt of the train hurtling forward. Each passing second seemed to amplify her fear.

"The train is going too fast! I'm going to fall...", she cried, her heart racing as she clung to him with all her strength.

"Please, brother. I don't want to die!" Tears streamed down her cheeks, blurring her vision. The rush of the wind felt like it was tearing her apart, and every lurch of the train sent panic surging through her body.

"I promise I'll never sing again. Just don't let me go.", desperation filled her voice as she gazed up at him, pleading for understanding, for compassion.

"You should've thought about the consequences before you took part in this ridiculous reality show, all for the sake of singing and chasing your so-called dreams.", his expression remained cold, a mixture of anger and monstrous satisfaction contorting his features.

"A woman from a family like ours should be at home, embodying grace and propriety, not parading herself in front of the world like some attention-seeking bitch!", he resumed.

"The fate of women like you should be to serve their husbands, birth babies, and nurture a family- not seeking the limelight or indulging in your selfish desires. From this day forward, you are dead to the Rong family!" His words hung in the air like a dark cloud, suffocating and heavy.

"Go die!" he spat, his face twisted with contempt.

Each syllable struck her like a physical blow, deepening the chasm between them. She had once looked up to him and admired his strength, but now he seemed like a hideous shadow of what she had imagined a brother to be.

Her heart raced, caught in a whirlwind of disbelief and despair. How could the person she once trusted turn into someone so cruel? In that moment, she realized that the bond of blood that once meant safety had turned into a harrowing betrayal. The world around her blurred into a cacophony of sound and motion, and all she could think about was the abyss waiting for her if he let go.

He hesitated for just a heartbeat, the air thick with tension. Then, with a sudden, ruthless shove, he pushed her off the moving train, a devilish smirk spreading across his lips like a dark cloud swallowing the light.

The moment he released the girl's hand, she felt her eyes widen in shock, the world spinning around her in a blur of colors and sounds.

With a sickening thud, her body collided with the cold, unyielding railway tracks. Instantly, blood began to seep from her wounds, pooling beneath her like a crimson halo, each drop a reminder of his ruthlessness.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Shock coursed through her veins, numbing her senses, making it impossible to voice the anguish that clawed at her throat. She lay there, gasping for breath, the pain overwhelming, but it was the depth of her helplessness that cut deeper than any physical wound.

In that dark, lonely night, as the stars glimmered mockingly above her, she felt an all-consuming hatred swell within her. Hatred not just for her cousin, who had pushed her to this fate, but for her entire family—the very people who were supposed to protect her. They had betrayed her, their love twisted into a weapon against her dreams.

No one came to her rescue, not throughout the long, agonizing hours that passed like an eternity. The darkness wrapped around her, suffocating her, whispering doubts and fears into her mind. She thought of her dreams, of the life she had envisioned for herself, and the crushing weight of abandonment pressed heavily upon her heart.

As dawn broke, spilling golden light across the railway tracks, a group of locals came across her unconscious, almost lifeless body. Their faces filled with shock and concern as they rushed to her side, their voices a distant echo in the space. They carried her to the nearby local hospital, where the scent of antiseptic and the sounds of urgent murmurs enveloped her frail, unconscious form. 

"She is alive!" the doctors exclaimed, their eyes wide with disbelief as they stared at the excruciatingly disturbing wounds covering her small frame. Each laceration told a story of unimaginable barbarity, leaving them grappling with a mix of shock and fury. What kind of monster could inflict such agony on an innocent child?

"Please contact the patient's family," the assistant doctor instructed the receptionist urgently, handing her Rong Xinghe's phone. With a swift nod, he vanished into the operation theater, his focus now entirely on the task of saving her life.

The receptionist took a deep breath, her fingers trembling slightly as she switched on the phone. The screen illuminated, revealing an emergency contact list that held Six names—Six names that belonged to men whose influence extended far beyond the borders of Xanvoria.

Her Six Tigers. Her Six sworn Brothers, they were: Lu Wei, Zhi Xi, Zhi Bo, Zhi Al, Mo Zixuan, and Su Rogguang

Unbeknownst to her, these were not just ordinary individuals; they were some of the most powerful figures in the world. Each one held a reputation that could sway nations, control fortunes, and command respect in every corner of society. She scrolled through the contacts, her mind racing as she contemplated the urgency of the situation.

Her finger hovered over the first name. Lu Wei. She hesitated for a moment, realizing the weight of the call she was about to make.

With a determined exhale, she pressed the call button, sending a ripple of anticipation through the sterile hospital air. As the phone connected, she felt a rush of nerves. What would she say to them? How much could she tell them? A part of her wished for more time to prepare them for the shocking news she was about to deliver. But there was no time to waste.

On the other end of the line, the call was answered, and she could sense the solemnity in the voice that greeted her, though it carried notes of affection. Clearly, this person was quite attached to whoever this little girl was. "Hello?"

"Mr. Lu? This is the hospital next to Rukawa Railway Station in Ilveria. The owner of this phone has been found in an extremely dire condition by the locals here. We cannot guarantee her survival. Would it be possible for you to visit?", the receptionist stammered, as she delivered the devastating news, clenching her fists to gather some strength.

A few seconds of heavy silence lingered in the air before the voice on the other end erupted into a flurry of urgent questions and commands. The tone was sharp, yet beneath it lay a current of deep concern. After a moment, he issued a single order, his voice distant and aloof but tinged with worry. "Ping me the location of this hospital.", he instructed, the weight of his authority unmistakable.

As the receptionist continued to relay the details, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was not merely providing information; she was igniting a chain reaction that would ripple through the very fabric of Ilveria. These six men, bound by their fierce connection to this little girl, were poised to shake the nation to its core with their protective instincts. Though she was unaware of their true power, it was clear to her that they held a deep love for her.

In that moment, she had unwittingly opened a door to a realm of influence, responsibility, and potential danger. Every decision they would make henceforth would revolve around her well-being and contentment, and every action would be fueled by a singular mission: to safeguard one of their own at all costs.