The Wanderers [Old Version]

Chapter 6: Hardened

The Beneficiary's POV

I woke up on the damp, hard ground. My hands were in chains, as well as my ankles. My shirt was torn badly and my head was throbbing. My mouth was dry and all I wanted was water.

I had come accustom to this over the years. Some days I would wake up in here, and he would give me a task. I would complete it, and be payed. I never questioned it.

Suddenly a light turned on. It took my eyes a few seconds to adjust, but when they did I could see I was in a small cement room. An old chair sat in the corner and a drain was in the middle of the floor. Other than that, the room was bare.

I heard a voice, a man's voice, but he was using a voice changer. I could never tell who he was. "You, in the room. Stand up."

I did as he commanded.

"Your friends, how long have you known them?"

"My friends?"

"Yes. How long have you known them?"

"A long time. I don't keep track."

"Unfortunate. But you see, I have another task for you."

"What is it?"

"Your friends are good people in your eyes, yes?"

"Yes. Without them I would have been killed already."

"I see. Over the years you have completed tasks for me. You have traveled the world, stealing, killing, doing as I desire. But why? Why did you do it, all this time?"

"You payed me. I made a living this way."

"But why? Why not just ignore my requests? You knew the consequences on your humanity after completing these tasks yet you still completed them without asking why. Was it fear that motivated you?"

"Fear? Of what?"

"Your life. Your family's life. Your mother, your sister. They depended on you."

"They died two years ago. I just did these tasks for money. Not for joy. I did what I had to do."

"But after your mother and sister were killed, you no longer needed as much money to support them. Yet you still took the money."

"Where are you going with this? Just give me the task and let me leave. Why are you playing mind games this time?"

"Very well. Your mother and sister, are here. Alive."

"What!?"

Two lights turned on in rooms beside me, windows separating us. To my right, my sister, Sasha. Her she was chained just like me. Her pale blue eyes stared back at me, her blonde hair was cut to be chin-length. She had a long scar coming from the corner of her mouth, down her neck. How did she get that? Had this man attacked her?

To my left, was my mother. Her golden eyes stared through me, her beautiful white hair was long and flowing. She looked just like I remembered her. She was unchained. She walked forward and put her hand on the window, tears flowing down her cheeks.

The man spoke, "They were not killed two years ago like you thought. They were kidnapped, and brought here. They have been in the cells alongside you the times you were here after their disappearance. Your sister became another one of my pawns. I gave her tasks, just like you. However, your mother, being too old and frail to fight, she simply stayed here all this time. I have but two tasks for you, then you are free to live the rest of your life."
"What are they?"
"Task one. Choose. Who will survive? Your mother? Or your sister? I will only let one survive, you must be hardened for your final task."
"What!? I'm not choosing who lives and who dies! I'm hardened enough! I can take your last task without having to kill a member of my family!"
"No. You show too much emotion. In that outburst alone, you showed emotion. You need to be cold to be able to complete the final task."
"What if I choose myself? Kill me and let them both go."
"No! You are the one to complete the task! If you choose yourself I will kill both members, leaving you to suffer in this world, alone. Now choose! I will count down from ten. Choose! Ten!"

How was I going to choose? My sister, or my mother? I couldn't do this. My mind was racing. Why did one have to die? Why couldn't I save them both? What was the point of this? I couldn't choose.

"Nine!"

All my life, I had defended them both, from the cruel world. Now I would have to choose one to die? This wasn't fair. I wished I had never completed the first task to begin with.

"Eight!"

I couldn't. I felt sick. Tears poured down my face. I wasn't ready for this. I'm a human. Not a cold blooded killer with no remorse for my family. I loved them both. And knowing that they had been here all that time made it harder on me.

"Seven!"

If I chose my mother, it would be horrible. I would kill the woman who brought me into this world, and raised me. She nurtured me. She cared for me. She taught me everything I know.

"Six!"

If I chose my sister, it would just as bad. Her being a three years younger than me, I basically raised her. I taught her to hunt, to fight, when and when not to speak. She was my only sibling. I couldn't let her die.

"Five!"

If I killed my mother, my sister would hate me for the rest of our lives. But if I killed my sister, my mother would be devastated. This was the hardest choice I would ever have to make.

"Four!"

I looked to my mother, barely being able to see her through my tears. She was sitting on the ground, crying.

"Three!"

I looked to my sister, she looked calm, but still had tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Two!"

I had to choose or he would kill us all.

"Sasha I'm sorry!"

My sister looked up me, tears in her eyes. She dropped to her knees. "I know..."

The light in her cell went out. The man spoke again, "So it is done. You chose to kill your sister and let your mother live. I assure you her death was swift and painless. Now for your final task. I hope you are ready. This will truly test your limits."

Through tears and vomiting, I muttered with clenched teeth, "What is it?"