Several disappearances and unexplained events have been registered shorty after the commercialization of an ancient statue linked to some legends from a mysterious place called "Reich der Finsternis" in eastern Germany, there is no know route leadin...
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The execution
Liz took a deep breath, releasing the air sharply. The grotesque images disturbed her; not even her previous mission—investigating a strange mass attack at a triple African border—had been as bloody or terrifying as what she now faced. The cult leader's threats and the horrific scene lingered in her mind, making it impossible to assess her situation calmly. The man stood next to the executioner, waiting for Liz's response, who found herself cornered. The only thing clear to her was that revealing the location of the blue gem would not only destroy all the progress they had made in the investigation, but would also condemn Ulrich and the German officers to certain death. On the other hand, refusing meant she was walking straight into a cruel fate.
The cemetery workers remained focused on their supreme leader's sentence, their deformed faces impossible to read. The grotesque positions of the impaled bodies were a testament to the morbid creativity these beings employed in their idea of justice. Liz could already imagine herself among them; she shuddered at the chilling mental image.
She sought solace in the most comforting memories of her life: the fresh scent of grass and the rhythmic beat of her horse's hooves as she galloped through the green pastures on her grandfather's land in spring; the soft music playing in the background and the warmth of her first love's hand entwined with hers during their first kiss at the high school dance; the gentle sound of waves, the warmth of the sun on her skin, and the salty smell of the sea during her stay on the beaches of Phuket—the best vacation of her life. These images calmed her, as did the trust her colleagues had placed in her.
After some thought, Liz made up her mind. She looked Mr. Holzmann dead in the eye, her voice steady but laced with challenge.
"I don't know what the fuck you're after, but if it's that important to you, maybe you should go find it yourself," she shot back. "And if dying means I don't have to join your shitty army, then bring it on."
"YOU INSOLENT WRETCH!" Mr. Holzmann barked, pressing his disfigured hand to his chest in a mock display of offense.
Liz didn't flinch. Her face remained hard with fury as she threw a sideways glance upward, making it clear she didn't care what they did to her. She could feel the hot breath of the hunters behind her. Mr. Holzmann smiled again, rubbing his hands together as he tried to reason with her.
"You see," he began, "anyone who meddles with our creed and our plans is sent straight to the courthouse. My dear wife and children are the ones who decide their fate. But as I've told you, you're no longer part of that world. It's your duty to serve our blood. Your duty," he emphasized, his voice dripping with self-righteousness.
"Why should I give you what you want? I know you'll kill me anyway," Liz fired back, locking eyes with him. "I haven't forgotten how your servant wanted to feed my friend and me to his pets. You're just trying to get rid of me—what are you waiting for?"
