Behind Aki stood a dark figure — human-sized — but wearing a black crown. It thrust its hand into Aki's back.
Its arm passed through his flesh, reaching straight for his heart. With a slow, deliberate motion, it pulled its hand out — holding Aki's heart in its grasp.
Aki gasped for air, choking as pain ripped through him. His body trembled… then collapsed to the ground with a dull thud.
The Queen — smiling faintly — held his heart in her palm.
Blood dripped from her heart, soaking the path and staining the grass a deep, dark red. A terrifying smile danced across her lips.
Slowly, she squeezed the heart, forcing more blood out of it. With a powerful grip, she crushed it into pulp. Turning her hand, she let the mangled remains fall to the ground.
Everyone stared at her in horror as she brought her bloody hand to her lips and licked the blood off.
"I expected more from you," she said, her eyes scanning their frozen faces.
