When they reached the private cell, André could no longer control his fear and anger. He bit Enzo's hand hard, making him scream in pain, then pushed him violently inside until he crashed against the wall.
Enzo yelled in rage, his eyes blazing with fury:
"Are you a dog or what?
What the hell is wrong with you?"
He slammed the door behind him, leaving the echo of shock and threat lingering in the air.
André sank to his knees, burying his face in his hands, tears mixing with despair:
"Why? Why is this happening, Dad?"
A putrid smell filled the air, and his body shivered with disgust and fear. Slowly, he turned to find a decaying corpse in front of him. Crawling back in terror, his heart almost stopped, until a faint voice echoed from a dark corner:
"He's dead."
He spun toward the voice, his eyes wide with panic. In the darkness, a blonde girl stood there, the small hanging lamp trembling above, revealing piercing blue eyes cold and merciless, like windows to a world without compassion.
She stepped closer, slowly, her presence heavy, suffocating the air around him. Her voice was icy:
"He's dead , because he disobeyed my master's orders , or so they say."
His hands trembled, his heart pounding wildly. His voice shook as he struggled to control himself:
"Who are you? What is this place?"
She smiled, a fleeting, cold smile that seemed not of this world.
"You can call me Armenda.
And ,welcome to Hell, the land of no return."
Another figure appeared behind her a handsome boy wearing an eye patch. His steps were calm, less threatening than hers.
"Armenda, don't scare the new boy,"
He stepped closer, placing a hand on André's shoulder, his purple eyes scrutinizing him intently.
"This is the Black Beast gang headquarters, and we're just tools of death."
André's voice rose with determination, the fire inside him refusing to yield:
"I won't stay here!"
Armenda remained still, her gaze fixed on the corpse:
"Don't even try. Someone else tried before you , but he left life behind instead of this place."
André's expression stiffened at her terrifying words. At that moment, he realized there was no escape , only death.
The boy with the eye patch extended his hand toward him, his voice oddly calm and reassuring:
"You can call me Logi."
Suddenly, the moment was interrupted by the turning of a lock. Daniel entered quietly, followed by Enzo, his face sharp and menacing, making André feel threatened even by his mere presence.
Daniel approached the corpse, glanced at it, then sighed impatiently, his voice calm yet commanding:
"I told you to remove this corpse from here, Enzo."
Enzo replied with mockery:
"Ugh… I won't do it. Let these fools take it out. I won't soil my hands!"
Daniel composed himself and addressed them:
"Armenda, Logi, and you , take this corpse and follow me."
Armenda and Logi approached the corpse, examining its cold features with a strange sadness, while André stood frozen, his eyes fixed on the body. Shock enveloped him from every direction.
His mind drifted, plunging into darkness. This place felt like another world, a world with no room for humans only beasts.
They carried the corpse cautiously, their footsteps trembling along the dark corridors. André's gaze swept across other rooms, filled with children, their faces marked by fear and bodies bruised.
At that moment, he understood the cold truth: he was in the Beast's Den no, in the very lair of the devil.
They emerged into the compound's garden. The cold air bit at their faces. André saw several small graves, meticulously arranged a chilling cemetery for victims, where anyone who opposed them was buried without mercy.
Daniel's voice was flat, devoid of emotion:
"Bury it here."
They lowered the corpse to the ground, the cold wrapping around them like a dead hand, then began covering it with soil in eerie silence. Each scoop of dirt fell like a mournful drum, recalling every small loss that had occurred in this place.
Despite his usual composure, Logi felt a heaviness in his chest. His hands trembled with every movement, throwing dirt over his friend's body. Grief, anger, and fear intertwined, as if the place was consuming every part of his soul.
André stood frozen, eyes locked on the scene, silent. Everything seemed like a distorted picture, displayed mercilessly, each movement, each shadow, a reminder of the cruelty surrounding him.
Armenda remained silent, staring at the ground with empty eyes. No tear glimmered, no shiver crossed her body. For her, death was no longer shocking it was just a repeated scene she had grown accustomed to.
Once they finished, Daniel turned to them, his voice calm yet firm, cutting through any sense of comfort:
"And now , to the training yard."
They entered a wide courtyard, surrounded by gang members with hard faces, their eyes void of any warmth. Scattered across the ground were wooden weapons some long sticks, others sword-like heavy enough to intimidate any beginner.
Daniel led the way, where Lord Dante stood in a corner. His voice boomed with authority:
"I am Daniel Vitali, alongside Lord Dante Damian. I will be supervising this training."
Enzo smiled wickedly, raising his hand toward André, signaling him to step forward:
"Today, your first test begins."
André hesitated, glancing at the scattered weapons. His heart raced violently. Fear coursed through every muscle. He didn't know if he could even lift one, let alone fight.
Enzo approached, holding a thick wooden stick. His sinister smile widened, relishing the fear that radiated from André, making every part of his body tremble before the real challenge began.
Suddenly, Enzo lunged, pushing André to the ground. His body shook from the impact. Pain shot through his bullet-wounded leg, engulfing him in a moment of helplessness. Enzo placed his foot on André's chest with disdain. His voice cut through the air like ice:
"Rise ,and choose your weapon if you dare to fight me. I am Enzo Vierri."
André grimaced in pain, but determination filled his eyes. Blood boiled within him as he thought:
I told Dad I would become strong and I will.
Slowly, he pushed Enzo's foot away, rising with effort but steady, eyes locked on his opponent with defiant resolve.
He trudged toward the scattered weapons. Picking up a wooden sword, he examined its weight and purpose.
There's no other choice , this path has no return, an endless maze forcing you to live with darkness and be consumed by it, like a pack of raging dogs.
He raised the sword, tested its weight, and fixed his gaze on Enzo, eyes burning with challenge:
"Come on , I will show you, Enzo Vierri."
Enzo erupted in a mocking laugh that echoed coldly:
"Ha! Look at this wretch. You think you can stand against me?! How amusing let's see how long your bones last."
He gripped the thick wooden stick and charged at André, steps heavy and brutal. André braced for the blow.
The strike met his sword, shaking his hands under the force, nearly causing him to lose grip. Yet he steadied his breath, eyes burning with concentrated hatred.
Enzo struck again, but André blocked once more, almost dropping the sword, digging his feet in to maintain balance.
Nearby, Daniel approached Lord Dante, who watched the fight with evident pleasure.
Daniel smirked:
"Why so engrossed? Seems you enjoy the fight."
Lord Dante's gaze was cold and evaluating, observing André as he deflected Enzo's strikes:
"That boy ,has potential. My choice to put him in the private cell was correct."
Daniel replied calmly:
"Hmm, not surprising."
André parried each attack with difficulty. His body tensed, sweat beginning to break despite the cold. His eyes followed Enzo with every movement.
Armenda and Logi watched nearby, faces awestruck. Luigi whispered:
"Amazing , I didn't expect this."
At one point, Enzo found no opening and created one, pointing to the other side of the yard:
"Look there!"
André tilted his head, exploiting the moment, and lunged. His head struck the stick, launching him through the air, colliding violently with nearby columns. Dizziness engulfed him, ringing filled his ears, and blood streamed from his head.
Pain shot through him, but he gripped the sword tightly, despite blurred vision and intense agony. He whispered with cold fury:
"I'll kill you."
Enzo laughed mockingly, waving his hand toward André's ear:
"Ha! I can't hear you!"
Raising his head, veins bulging:
"I will destroy you!"
He charged again, André swaying from the previous blow. Enzo struck another heavy blow to his head, blood splattering, yet André remained standing, body recoiling but unbroken.
He tried raising the sword again, but Enzo pressed on, striking from every angle. His body staggered side to side, face covered in blood, yet he did not give up.
Suddenly, someone grabbed the stick unexpectedly. Enzo turned to see Daniel holding it, calm as always:
"Stop now, or else "
Enzo hesitated, fury barely contained, raising the stick toward him.
But Lord Dante's voice rang out, firm and commanding:
"That's enough, Enzo. The duel is over."
André collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted, muscles trembling from fatigue and pain.
Daniel approached him, gaze a mix of surprise and concern:
"Oh my ,take him out of here and tend to his wounds."
Lord Dante glanced at André seriously, then looked at Enzo with contempt:
"You pathetic fool , you won to a child by cheating."
Enzo shivered, voice broken, trying to defend himself:
"T-This… wasn't cheating! I just… I just wanted to teach him to fight!"
Lord Dante replied coldly, without raising his voice:
"Shut up . I don't want to hear you. Shame on you."
He turned and left the yard calmly, leaving Enzo standing in shock and helplessness, kneeling as he watched his master depart.
Meanwhile, the guards gently lifted André, carrying him carefully, every motion cautious not to worsen his injuries.
Enzo kicked his stick in frustration:
"Damn , that bastard!"
Daniel remained nearby, smirking with arrogance:
"Oh bro , calm down, maybe you'll win next time," he said lightly.
"Or maybe not."
The smile never left his face as he enjoyed the humiliation he inflicted on Enzo.
As he exited, Enzo shouted in rage, eyes burning with hatred:
"Daniel , that bastard! I'll kill him one day!"