"We are all villains, in one way or another..."
A sentence carved onto the stone wall of the temple, while an unparalleled dread enveloped the place...
The inscriptions were ancient, seemingly etched in a hurry... as if their author had carved them while on the brink of his grave.
The little girl contemplated the inscription carefully, before turning to the sound of her mother from behind her: "My little girl! What are you doing? We must pass through the market quickly!"
The girl was lost in thought. She didn't return to reality until her brother nudged her: "Vhoenix? What is wrong with you?"
She didn't answer.. she just stared at her brother in silence... and whispered: "Felix... who are the villains?"
Confused by the question, he replied: "I... I don't know. Why don't you ask Mom?"
Walking behind them, a single question consumed the mother's mind: 'How could she read it?! When it was carved in Cuneiform?!'
Her eyes widened, muttering: 'Even as an adult, I still struggle to read it!'
Her train of thought was abruptly severed when the passersby rushed to both sides of the street like a raging herd, some screaming in terror: "Run! They have come again!"
A group emerged from among the crowd, in imposing military uniforms.
Their commander shouted in a tone that silenced the clamor: "We have received a report that they were spotted here, is that true?!"
Several people whispered: "Are they looking for those cursed ones?!"
"Impossible! Does he mean the Children of Demons?"
"Has one of them actually appeared?"
Amidst the noise, an old woman stepped forward from the crowd toward the commander, her eyes gleaming with malice.
The commander noticed her and barked: "No one dares to approach!"
Yet, she headed towards him, grabbing the collar of his cloak, and in a greedy tone, she said: "Sir! Is it true that we will get a reward if we catch one of them? And how muc—"
(BANG!)
The gunshot shattered the noise, declaring silence over the place, and the old woman collapsed to the ground, pooling in her own blood...
The commander returned his pistol to his pocket with a swift motion: "I warned you! Do not touch me, you filthy wretch! All of you are filthy! Lusting after money like dogs! Caring nothing for duty!"
As soon as the mother saw what happened, she rushed to her two children, making sure to cover their features, while tightening her veil with her trembling hands.
'Damn it! We must leave now!'
Suddenly, a man lunged in front of her, shouting and pointing at her: "I found them!"
The crowd surged and the man fell to the ground, the mother's face turning pale as she turned around in despair.
She was about to run, before his rough fingers gripped her foot tightly, drawing the gaze of the soldiers who rushed toward her.
She screamed in panic: "Let go of me!!"
'Must we run all our lives? What sin did we commit?!'
This frantic thought spun in her head as she stomped on the fingers gripping her, and ran with her two children, weaving through the crowd.
Amidst her continuous running, and her fading breath, the little girl asked from beneath the covers: "Mom... what is happening? Can I open my eyes?"
Followed by the boy's crying: "Mom! Who are they? I'm scared!"
She held them tightly after hiding in a dark corner, trying to reassure them: "Do not worry, my little ones, and know well, that the villains are those who hurt others."
...
'The villains... Aah, what is happening?!'