𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 - 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘱𝘯

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘟𝘟𝘟𝘝𝘐𝘐𝘐

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐂

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓
___________

"Stupid prick." The demon's voice was laced with irritation as he counted the coins, his eyes narrowing. "Sixty dollars short." he growled. He poured the coins back into the bag. He tossed the bag across the fire to Tanzuna as he caught it with ease.

Tazuna's grunt was barely audible as he set aside his stick of sizzling meat— human. His eyes locked onto the bag, his expression grim. "We'll settle the score tomorrow." he said, his voice firm.

"Kill him?" one of them asked, the words muffled by the meat he was chewing, his eyes fixed on Tanzuna. He pulled the skewer out of his mouth, the juicy human flesh glistening in the firelight.

Tanzuna's expression remained, his voice firm. "What else? He's sixty dollars short. He knows the consequences."

The other demon swallowed his food, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. "I thought we were just gonna rough him up a bit like we always do."

Tanzuna shook his head, his dark hair rustling against his shoulders. "Roughing him up won't get us our money back. He needs to be made an example of."

The demon nodded slowly, his eyes returning to the meat in his hand. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Tomorrow, then."

Tanzuna's gaze lingered on him for a moment before he turned back to the fire.

A whistle cut through the forest silence, its sharp pitch making The Reaper pause and stop their chatter. They turned as one, their gazes scanning the darkness, searching for the source of the sound.

Then, three bottle came hurtling down from above, its glass shattering on impact, releasing a dense cloud of smoke that enveloped them.

For a moment, the Repares stood frozen, their minds racing to process what was happening. The smoke swirled around them, sweetly scented, but its effects were quick.

The Repares' eyelids grew heavy, their vision blurring as they stumbled and fell, succumbing to the sleeping gas that filled their lungs. In moments, they were unconscious, lost in a deep, forced slumber.

_

A gentle drizzle of rain fell through the forest. Delicate droplets clung to Tanzuna's face, slowly coaxing him back to consciousness.

As the rain's soft touch persisted, his eyelids fluttered open, and he snarled, "Damn it!" Memories of the sleeping gas and his capture flooded back. He struggled against the ropes, but they dug deeper into his skin. "Son of a...!" he growled, teeth clenched.

He paused when he noticed that the rest of them were tied up as well. A twig snapped and Tanzuna's head jerked forward, his eyes locking onto a pair of cold eyes. His own eyes widened in a flash of anger and surprise, his pupils constricting as he took in the familiar features of his captor.

"Do you remember me?" You asked, your voice low and even.

"You." Tanzuna growled, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger. "I should have killed you."

Your expression remained stoic, but your words dripped with malice. "You didn't." you said, taking a deliberate step closer, your eyes boring into Tanzuna's. Your voice was low and even, like a predator's growl. "And now, you'll pay the price."

You crouched down. "But first, I have a question for you." you continued. "Why did you spare my life? You could have devoured me, just as you threatened, but you chose to let me live."

Tanzuna's lips curled into a sly smirk, his eyes glinting with a mix of defiance and curiosity. "Maybe I just wanted you to suffer." he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Or maybe I knew you'd come back." He chuckled and the rain intensified. "I knew you'd come back and I thought I'd have my fun with you when you did."

You stood up slowly, your eyes still fixed intently on Tanzuna. As you extended your hand, Steven placed a machete in your palm, its worn wooden handle fitting snugly into your grip.

You closed the distance between yourself and Tanzuna. Tanzuna's jaw clenched, his teeth gritted in a visible effort to contain his fear.

With both hands gripping the machete, you unleashed a flurry of blows, the first striking Tanzuna's neck with precision and force. Your anger and pent-up rage fueled each subsequent hit, every swing a cathartic release of the pain and trauma he had inflicted upon you.

Memories of that day flooded your mind, the atrocities he had committed etched into your psyche like a scar: such evil didn't deserve to exist.

You didn't stop your relentless hits until Tanzuna's head was completely severed, his lifeless body slumping further into the ground. The aftermath was a gruesome tableau, blood splattered everywhere, coating your skin and clothes.

Exhausted, you sank to your knees, gasping for air as the rain continued to hit you. The downpour slightly washed away the sticky, crimson residue from your skin.

With eyes closed, you inhaled deeply, feeling a weight lifted from your shoulders.

Max, Steven, and Jess followed your actions. Before long, you had claimed a grim trophy: a collection of severed heads.

The Reaper's reign of terror had finally been brought to a bloody, decisive end.

_

The demons gather together, their eyes wide with horror as they took in the scene before them. Just outside the entrance of their town, the lifeless bodies of The Reapers lay slumped, their severed heads mounted on spikes like twisted trophies.

A low, anxious murmur spread through the crowd as they exchanged fearful glances, a single, burning question hanging in the air: Who did it?

The atmosphere was heavy with tension but also relief.

With gentle care, you laid the flowers on Salvus' grave, your hands coming to rest in your lap as you gazed at the words engraved into the headstone.

The whisper slipped from your lips like a sigh, "It's over." The words hung in the air, as a warm wave of closure washed over you.

Your hand rose, hesitated for a moment, then came to rest on the cool stone of Salvus' headstone. "You can rest easy now." you murmured. "You're free."

The moment hung, a pause in time, as you let the weight of it settle, sink deep into your bones. "I hope you've reunited with your daughter. Thanks for everything."

Then, with a quiet sense of farewell, you stood up, turned, and walked passed by Steven, Max, and Jess. You can leave this all behind now.