Chapter 17 - HEARTLESS 2

🌧️ The Tears of an Innocent Girl 🌧️

They say the tears of an innocent girl can summon storms... and bring down wrath upon the wicked.

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Whispers grew louder.

"Hurry, Ethan, before she wakes up!" a woman hissed, clutching the young boy's trembling hand.

"Shh—keep quiet! We have to move!" a man's urgent whisper cut through the night.

The three figures crept past the rows of sleeping slaves sprawled on the cold ground. Their breaths were shallow, hearts pounding, as they slipped into the darkness of the forest.

From a distance, Haven lifted his head, his silver eyes glinting in the dim firelight.

"Foolish," he muttered. "These hunters won't let you off easily."

He watched their silhouettes vanish into the trees and sighed. "I pity your souls."

"Are they escaping?" Ariel whispered beside him.

"Yeah," he replied coldly. "But not for long. They're new here—don't know the rules. The hunters will find them before dawn."

---

By five in the morning, murmurs rippled through the camp. Ariel woke to find everyone gathered around the fire, their faces pale with dread.

She pushed her way through the crowd, her breath catching at the sight before her—

The same elves who'd fled hours ago were now on their knees, trembling before the flames.

"Such a lucky day for them," Haven said dryly.

"They were caught?" Ariel asked, her voice quivering.

"Unfortunately," he replied, folding his arms. "And luck won't save them now."

---

A tall man stepped forward, his shadow stretching across the fire. His eyes were cold, his grin darker than midnight.

"Listen well, all of you," he began, his voice sharp and venomous. "Name's Joe. Killer Joe. Leader of this camp. You belong to me now. There is no escape. Cross me…" —his gaze burned into the crowd— "and you'll meet the fire."

He circled the trembling elves like a wolf among prey.

"These three thought they could outsmart me. Let's remind everyone what happens to traitors."

He raised his hand. "Throw them into the fire."

"No—please!" the woman screamed, clutching her child. But the hunters showed no mercy.

The flames roared higher, greedily consuming the air as the hunters dragged the elves closer. Their cries echoed through the camp, piercing and raw.

The boy tried to resist, but his tiny body was too weak. Within moments, they were hurled into the inferno.

Ariel gasped, her stomach twisting in horror. One of the elves stumbled out, flesh charred and blistered, shrieking in agony—only to be shoved back into the fire with a long stick.

Ariel clutched Haven's arm, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Stop it… please stop…" she choked, but her voice was lost to the crackle of fire and laughter of the hunters.

Her chest tightened. The pain inside her swelled until she could no longer contain it.

Then—

The sky darkened.

A rumble of thunder tore through the heavens, and rain began to pour violently, drenching everything.

Within seconds, the fire was drowned.

"Damn it!" Killer Joe cursed, glaring at the sky. "What the hell—this rain came out of nowhere!"

Ariel wiped her tears, her heart pounding. For a moment, she felt relief… until she saw the ashes. The elves were gone—nothing left but dust and smoke.

Her trembling hands clenched into fists. "Heartless monsters…" she hissed.

"They're dead," Haven said quietly beside her.

Ariel tilted her face upward, whispering through tears, "This is unfair."

"Why are you crying?" Haven asked, his tone softening.

"I… I just can't stand it," she replied, voice breaking.

"The rain came too late," he murmured.

---

"Boss—your phone," a hunter said, rushing forward.

Killer Joe snatched it. "Yeah, boss… No, not yet. There are still plenty of them here." A wicked smile curled on his lips. "Of course, boss." He ended the call and turned back to the crowd.

"Who wants to visit Demise?" he sneered. "Who wants to serve in the Castle?"

The slaves gasped in horror. Ariel blinked, confused.

"Demise?" she whispered.

Haven leaned close. "The southern part of Country R. Home of the Lycans."

"Lycans?"

He nodded. "Legend says their king was ruthless. But his grandson—the Alpha—he's worse. A brutal ruler… and now the head of both the supernatural council and the business world."

Ariel gasped—but at that exact moment, an insect flew straight into her mouth.

She coughed violently, drawing everyone's attention.

The camp went silent.

Killer Joe turned slowly, his gaze narrowing like a blade.

"Who did that?" he growled, his voice low and deadly.

Ariel froze, her knees trembling, lips quivering.

Before she could speak, a calm voice cut through the silence—

"I did," Haven said.