28 ... 27 ... 26 ... 25...
Youtab was fighting with all her strength to stay alive, her body trembling, and from the sudden surge of nervous pressure she began to seize, violently shaking as her eyes rolled back.
For a moment, Marcus's face shifted into worry. He slowly stepped toward Youtab and looked into her eyes, trying to judge whether the seizure was serious.
A few seconds later, Youtab lost consciousness, her body went still. Marcus began checking her vital signs, and once he was certain she was stable, he left the room...
Tap!
As the door closed, Marcus's appearance began to change — his hair and eyes turned black. It was Charles all along. He had been disguising himself as Marcus so Youtab would believe Marcus was the real killer.
Outside the door, Vantias was leaning against the wall, his fists clenched, his eyes full of tears, his face showing pure exhaustion.
Charles let out a deep breath, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and handed it to Vantias to wipe his tears.
Vantias took it and began to dry his eyes. Charles sat down beside him on the ground, and after several minutes of silence said:
"She had a nervous breakdown and a seizure... it's nothing serious, she just needs some rest."
Vantias nodded, kept wiping his tears, and replied:
"The screams... her cries... they're still echoing in my head. The sounds won't stop..."
Charles lifted his head and stared at the ceiling.
"Just enough to make her believe Marcus is the killer... it might take a week, maybe longer. After that, you can find a lead on her whereabouts and rescue her... and then you and I can finally reach our goal."
He turned to Vantias and tried to reassure him:
"It's only for a short time. She'll return to her warm home and her normal life. Maybe the fear and anxiety will linger for a while, but it'll be temporary."
Vantias lowered his head and whispered:
"She'll never be the same person again... don't lie to me."
Then he stood up, said nothing more, and walked away.
Charles watched him leave, understood his feelings, then glanced down at his own bloody hands.
A wave of sorrow struck him. He had already accepted that he'd become a monster — but now, he was turning into the monster among monsters.
...
The next morning, before sunrise, Vantias was still awake. He had spent the entire night staring at the ceiling, his mind scattered like drifting clouds — jumping from one thought to another. Worries and dark, unsettling thoughts kept him from closing his eyes even for a moment.
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
The rooster's call broke the silence as the sun rose. A pale, gentle light shone through the window. Exhausted, Vantias dragged himself out of bed and looked outside.
The blue sky with drifting white clouds... the white smoke curling from chimneys... stone houses with wooden roofs stretching as far as the eye could see.
People slowly began to emerge from their homes. The air was still caught between night and day, painted in a deep bluish hue. Women carrying baskets headed out to buy bread, tired workers returned home from their shifts, and soldiers finished their long night of guarding the city.
Some soldiers extinguished the street lanterns, while others banged firmly on doors — paid to wake people at sunrise so their slumber wouldn't keep them from their daily tasks.
Vantias drew a deep breath, stepped away from the window, and walked to a small wooden basin on the table filled with clear water. He splashed his face, then looked into the mirror.
His reflection showed a weary face, visibly marked by worry and anxiety — the kind that could be spotted even from afar. Under his breath, he muttered:
"This is for everyone... you don't have the right to back out."
Hannibal slowly opened his eyes. His vision was blurry, and he drowsily noticed Vantias awake, talking to himself. He sat up carefully, trying not to wake Anna, and said quietly:
"Vantias! You're up early... and you didn't look well last night when you came back... Did something happen?"
Startled, Vantias turned, forced an artificial smile, and replied:
"Yeah, I'm fine... nothing happened... I was just thinking a little. No need to worry."
Hannibal looked unconvinced. It was clear Vantias wasn't acting like himself. With hesitation, he said:
"You're hiding something... but if you don't want to share it with me, just know I'm always here for you. You can trust me."
For a moment, Vantias stared at him, his expression softening into a mixture of calm and sorrow — a look of compassion worn down by fatigue. He exhaled deeply and said:
"Thanks, brother. I was just thinking... maybe we should spend more time together. What do you think?"
Hannibal's face lit up with a warm smile, as if he had been waiting for this.
"Of course! I have the day off, so we can spend it together. Actually, I was planning to visit a close friend today. How about you come with me? You can get to know him too."
"Perfect. I'd love that " Vantias replied.
The sound of their voices woke Anna. Her hair was messy, her eyes heavy with sleep. She rubbed them tiredly and asked:
"What are you two talking about so early in the morning?"
"Uhh... we were just deciding what to have for breakfast," Vantias said.
Anna smirked and replied:
"Just wait and see what I'll make. You'll be licking your fingers after..."she said with pride and confidence.
Half an hour later, breakfast was ready: steaming hot tea and seasonal soup, fried eggs with sausage, and a spread of butter and strawberry jam laid out on the table.
Vantias and Hannibal ate happily. They always enjoyed Anna's cooking, every bite filled with warmth.
They talked, laughed, and shared stories — a happy family, with Anna as its heart and Hannibal as its pillar.