Published at 27th of December 2020 03:38:26 PM
“Oi, Girlie . This the fella you’s looking for?” says the swarthy-skinned man, striding back into the hut while dragging something behind him .
Wait, not something . Someone…… Is that Gilles?
I’m too shocked to speak .
He’s completely covered in blood . The top half of his clothes have been torn to shreds and blood is just pouring out from a huge gash on his head . In sharp contrast to all the red, his face is ghastly pale . In this state, he’s nearly unrecognizable . Is that really Gilles… . . ?
Weakly, he manages to meet my gaze . His eyes are completely devoid of fear . But they look desperate, like he’s begging me to escape from here .
Slowly, I force myself to sit up .
“Ya can move already?” laughs the biggest of the three men, stooping through the door .
“Ali… . . run… . . !” Gilles whimpers . His voice is so weak, it sounds like his consciousness might just slip away at any moment .
The swarthy-skinned man’s eyes slide from me onto Gilles . Before I can say a word, his fist flies into Gilles’s stomach .
“Tenacious little b*stard ain’t ya . ”
“Gah-haah… . . ” Gilles gasps, doubling over . A deep wrinkle etches itself between his brows as he tries not to cry out in pain . But throughout it all, his eyes remain strong as he glares hard at the man .
I have to do something . I have to save Gilles…! But how? I just barely managed to drag myself to a sitting position, so what can I do?
“Thud!” The whole floor of the hut vibrates on impact as the thug tosses Gilles to the ground in front of me like a piece of discarded garbage .
I can’t believe what I’m seeing . I can’t fathom it . Are these men even human? How can they be so cruel to such a small boy… . . ?
“Ali, are you okay?” Gilles asks me feebly . A tiny, weak smile trembles on his lips like he’s trying to reassure me . Even though he’s the one that’s literally drenched in blood, I’m the one he’s worried about…?
Even in his state, he’s somehow keeping his eyes open and focused on me . They stare at me desperately, but they aren’t the eyes of someone asking to be saved .
“Gilles, I can’t leave you,” I say down to him where he lay at my feet, my voice low enough so that only he can hear .
I can’t leave him, but I still don’t have a plan . Now that I can see Gilles up close, I notice he’s not just covered in blood . Bruises are also blooming all over his skin . Just how much did they hit him before they brought him in here… . . ?
I can’t bear to see his tiny body covered in so many gruesome wounds .
“This b*stard’s not long for this world . He’s just trash now,” the swarthy-skinned man spits out .
… . . What did he say? What did he just call Gilles?
I’m seeing red, and not from pain this time . For the first time in my life I truly want to kill someone .
Somehow I find the strength to pull myself up off the ground and onto my feet .
I absolutely won’t let you off . You’ve got guts, daring to enrage a villainess . Even if you beg, I won’t show you mercy . You three and your employer… . . I swear I’ll kill every last one of you .