…. Has it been a month since I've been thrown into that dark cell?
All I ate was rotten bread and a cup of water that tasted like piss. The rats were a rare snack, but the raw meat wasn't something I wanted to have after I puked my guts out once.
…I never thought I would break this easily. And all for what? Killing a rapist? The woman he raped—I didn't know her much. She was new and kind. She gave me a bit of extra food whenever she could, and when I saw her gaze, it was lifeless. My first thought was, "Ah, I guess I wouldn't be getting that extra food."
…Maybe, I deserve this.
'I'll kill them, I'll kill them.'
And when I got on the carriage, I thought I could escape. But escape with what? A scrawny body that would die out after taking a few steps? And from whom? A group of soldiers with healthy horses?!
But not trying….
I'm scared. I'm scared of death.
'I'll kill them! I'll kill them!'
Stop it! It's getting to be too much!
Entering the rift…it's unknown what happens after. Mark, that guy, no matter what he says, no one could confirm his words. Maybe the rift only takes the bodies and leaves the soul. And I could enter Anu's great wheel of reincarnation.
Maybe the rift is actually Anu's embrace, and the monsters are people who are rejected by him!
…How pathetic did I turn into?
Are you happy, Marla? I saved you from that monster. Are you happy…entering reincarnation, leaving me here?
I—
'I'll kill them! I'll kill them! I'll kill them all!'
…How will you kill them?! Beg them to die?! They're awakened! Lords with armies!
'...'
See?! Even you don't have—
'We can…'
…..
"Hey! What are you daydreaming about?!" Mark barked at Victor, who seemed to be in a daze. His dull red eyes turned to the soldier, glancing at him for a moment before he looked away, to the front.
They have reached the gates.
The gates themselves were massive in size. Thick doors with a height of five adults standing atop each other.
Ten guards guarded the gate, each holding a long spear twice their size.
The commander, getting off his horse, walked over to them. Handing Iverson a worn paper to a guard.
The guard read the paper, his eyes flickering for a moment before he nodded to the commander. He then turned to the rest of the guards and nodded again.
With the signal given, five of the ten guards left their posts and walked over to the glint door and began pushing it open.
The creaking sounds of the gate sent shivers down the prisoners' spines, who gulped audibly. This was it. This is the end. There's no escape now. Before, they could've tried, but now...it's a death sentence.
The carriage rolled inside once the gates were sufficiently opened. Surrounding the carriage were dark buildings, each of its windows closed, with black smoke clinging to the glass.
The carriage soon came to a stop in the middle of a small square. A few shops littered around them, the people gazing at them with interest.
"Get down," the commander ordered, turning to the prisoners. But none of them did. Their bodies shivered in fear as realization finally dawned upon them. They're doomed.
Frowning, the commander glared at them, his face twisting, "Get down!" He roared, causing the prisoner to flinch out of their fear.
Reluctantly, one by one. They got down from the carriage, their quivering eyes roaming all around the place. The woman, too, got down from the carriage, pulling her hood over and covering her face.
Victor then followed, his weak feet pressed against the cold, hard stone. His back was bent and his eyes were facing down.
And the moment he stepped down from the carriage, a melodious voice boomed through the crowd, followed by an immense pressure, "My, my, I was told a special guest is arriving today."
"Ugh," Victor let out a painful grunt as he was forced on his knees; his breathing became labored while his bruises ached and his wounds bled.
The prisoners, too, went on their knees, their faces turning red in horror as they had trouble breathing.
The people surrounding the square immediately stopped their work and stared at the source of the voice, "It's the Major!" One among the crowd exclaimed in astonishment.
Murmurs grew among the crowd as a beautiful woman walked in. She wore a slit, bright red gown that showcased the side of her plump thighs, causing the soldiers to ogle at her.
Her bright red hair waved down to her slender waist, while her bright blue eyes gleamed with amusement.
The commander, who stood in front of the prisoners, pressed his fist against his chest as he lowered his head and greeted, "Commander Wallus greets Major Alicia!"
"Oh, Commander Wallus, no need to be so stiff." The woman muttered with a smirk as she walked over to him. Patting his shoulders, she leaned close to his ears and whispered, "I heard there's a special package here. Where's it?"
Commander Wallus sighed internally; he then turned his face, his gaze travelling towards Victor, who was struggling at Alicia's pressure.
"Oh dear!" Alicia exclaimed as she followed Wallus' gaze. She quickly rushed over to Victor, her pressure increasing with each step, "Oh Anu! Look what they have done to you!" She exclaimed in fake worry as she crouched beside him, clutching his jaw.
"Ugh!" Victor squealed in pain; his face turned blood-red as he couldn't handle the pressure. The wounds began to bleed profusely while his knees shuddered. It felt like a boulder was pressing him against the ground.
Victor struggled as he looked up into her eyes, which were glinting with amusement. Surely, she was feigning worry.
But just then, the pressure seemed to have suddenly increased as Victor's body got slammed to the ground, letting out a painful shriek.
But he wasn't alone; the prisoners, too, were slammed to the ground, blood leaking out of their lips. Even some soldiers surrounding them struggled at the new pressure.
If Alicia let out a pressure akin to a large boulder, this was a large mountain ready to crush the earth!
"Alicia, why aren't you in uniform?" Then, cutting through the pressure, a thundering voice echoed.
Alicia flinched at the voice, a flash of fear passing through her before she masked it with a smirk. "General!" She greeted as she stood up, pressing her fist against her heart and lowering her head.
It was an old man, clad in a military uniform, his gaze filled with utter indifference.
"I'm on leave, sir!" Alicia answered.
The general didn't reply to Alicia; instead, he looked over at Victor. And sensing his gaze on Victor, Alicia quickly added, "He's the one being sent into the rift!"
Alicia then quickly glanced at Victor as an idea went off in her mind, "General! I wish to personally escort him to the rift!" she requested.
The man narrowed his eyes on her before replying, "...Do as you wish," and walked away.
"Thank you, general!" Alicia exclaimed with a beaming smile as she saluted at the departing man. While the people in the square drew a sigh of relief, their gazes never left the man and were filled with awe and respect, with a hint of fear.
Alicia's face turned ecstatic as she turned to the men in the square. "Guys, who here wants to watch a spectacle?!"
Almost everyone answered immediately, raising their hands. Most of them were noncombatants, and the ones who were can delay it an hour or two; Major Alicia is asking, after all.
"Then what are you guys waiting for?! Quickly, clear a path for our guest to the rift!"
The men scrambled as they left the square. They might not be combatants, but they sure can clear a path when those abominations aren't invading!
As the men left, Alicia turned to Victor, saying, "Don't worry, I'll make sure you safely enter the rift!"
Rushing to the far end of the castle, where there was another gate, similar to the one that Victor entered through. The soldiers rushed out. And after almost an hour, a guard ran towards Alicia and informed her, "Major, the path has been cleared!"
"Perfect!" Alicia exclaimed happily with a clap. She then turned towards Victor, her hand reaching the back of his neck, clutching it tightly, "Let's go, shall we?!"
She then began to drag Victor towards the gate while humming cheerfully.
Victor's entire body trembled, clenching his fists; his nails dug into his palms while he struggled to gain a footing, his feet being dragged against the cold stone.
The prisoners who accompanied Victor all held their breaths in shock. Their hearts thumped against their chests, as they had never seen anyone being humiliated to such an extent.
But when they turned to the people surrounding them, their faces twisted in astonishment; everyone was…smiling.
"T-This…!" One of them exclaimed, words stuck in his throat.
"T-They are all mad!!" Another screamed, but none seemed to care.
"Hah! Try fighting those abominations every day while losing everyone you know!" Mark sneered from behind, justifying.
Walking outside the gate, Alicia was met with two rows of soldiers, standing in a line on each side.
Releasing Victor at the gate, she walked a few feet further before she stood under the sun, her gaze travelling to the walls. "Men!" She exclaimed, addressing the curious onlookers on the walls.
"Today is a special day!" She continued before pointing her finger at Victor, "Today, this guest here…is entering the rift!"
"Ohhh!!!" The soldiers went mad as they listened to Alicia, banging their spears and bows against the walls while the soldiers on the ground slammed their spears.
Alicia grinned at their reaction. Pleased, she turned to Victor, who stood with his head held down. "Go on."
Victor stared at the ground, tears swirling in his dull red eyes as he heard the crowd cheering him on. Holding back his tears, he glanced at Alicia, then at the crowd surrounding him, and finally, at the rift. And took a step.
'I'll kill them all!'
Alicia followed Victor, walking a few steps behind, and was followed by the soldiers, with their line collapsing behind Victor as he passed by them.
By now, word had spread, and people all over the castle had turned up on the walls, crowding them as they cheered, "Rift! Rift! Rift!"
And as Victor approached the rift, the purple lightning roared as it fell on the ground. Yet it seemed to purposefully ignore Victor as it fell all around him.
And the cracks too, which were only a few inches thick, seemed to widen to accommodate him, and the deep gash hanging in the sky seemed to tremble as it welcomed its new resident.
The prisoners, who followed behind Victor along with the soldiers, didn't know what to feel. "We have to work with these guys from now…?" One of them asked, his expression one of abhorrence as he gazed at the soldiers.
"Well," Mark shrugged with a grin, not caring for the guy's feelings. "Once again, welcome to the rift!"
"This seems to be the end for you, special package," Alicia mumbled as Victor reached the rift, standing just a few feet away from the cracks. "Any last words?" She asked with a smile.
The whole crowd turned silent as the cheers died down. Everyone seemed eager to listen to his response. Will he beg for mercy? Or will he curse at them?
Victor stood in his tracks, his dull red eyes slowly gaining color as they turned deep blood-red. His chest flared as he turned to Alicia, glaring at her in hatred.
"I'LL KILL YOU ALL!!" He roared at the top of his lungs before he pushed his feet against the ground, turning around and jumping into the rift.
"...." The whole crowd was left a little dumbfounded at Victor's sudden outburst. They had expected it, but this?
"Hahahaha!" Suddenly, Alicia burst out in laughter as she clutched her stomach, followed by a few men in the crowd chuckling, which turned into mocking laughter, "Hahaha! What a mindless bastard! I'll kill you all! Hahaha!" they mocked.
Soon, the rest of them followed; even the general, who stood on top of the wall, curled his lips.
But soon, all their laughs would fade. For they themselves have unleashed…an eternal nightmare!