(Inside the Katoran Fortress)
Ethan fell hard to the ground, resulting in minor scratches on his arm and some snow getting into his eyes.
Ethan quickly rubbed his eyes, trying to remove the dirt from them. He slowly opened his eyes to find himself in front of a group of dilapidated huts made of dirty plastic and random scrap, each hut far apart from the others, with faint sounds of conversation.
While he was taking in the place, Jenny extended her hand toward him, helping him stand. Her hand was trembling, and her face was pale, bearing traces of exhaustion and fear, but she tried to hide those feelings.
She scratched her head calmly before whispering in a weak tone, "Are you okay?"
Ethan glanced at his fresh wound on his left arm for a moment, but he signaled to her that he was fine.
A faint smile appeared on Jenny's face as she replied, raising her thumb in imitation of Ethan, "Good then!"
As for Nicholas, he was staring intently at the place with wide eyes mixed with astonishment, whispering to himself, "Since when has this place existed?"
Joseph responded by slapping him on the back in a joking manner, "Nothing stays the same for long, as you know."
Nicholas advanced further into the place, looking left and right cautiously.
He stopped in front of one of the huts, taking a more scrutinizing look at the area, directing his gaze toward one of the corners where the sounds of conversation were coming from.
He tightened his grip on his rifle, the veins in his hand visible, his eyes overflowing with hatred, saying to himself, "I have to calm down. Letting my emotions control me will only bring us extra problems. Based on the shadows, there are at least 3 of them. Using my rifle will only draw attention, and I won't be able to kill 3 people in time without one of them alerting the others. Not to mention there might be more than 3 that I can't see."
He sighed in worry, then turned toward Joseph, who was sitting on the ground, leaning on his fist, looking at Nicholas with tired eyes.
Nicholas turned to him and whispered, "Follow me, and tell the others to do the same."
Joseph sighed in annoyance, but he turned to Jenny and Ethan, signaling them to move.
The four began advancing further and further, hiding behind the huts with cautious steps. Everyone was disturbed by the foul smell, covering their noses with their hands—except for Nicholas, who was used to it.
Joseph whispered while waving his hand to ward off the smell, "Ugh, I'll suffocate from this stench!"
Nicholas replied while scanning the safety of the place, "Just shut up and keep moving."
Nicholas drew closer, sneaking beside the hut's wall until he was only a few meters from the corner. Through a narrow crack in the weathered plastic wall, he finally managed to see their true forms.
Suddenly, his eyes widened in shock, and his heartbeat began to rise, as if he had seen a wonder of wonders.
He backed away from the opening in terror, the features of shock not leaving his face, which prompted the others to worry.
Jenny approached him, placing her hand on his shoulder, saying with astonishment mixed with fear, "Nicholas! What happened? Is there a problem?"
But Nicholas remained silent without uttering a word, which increased her worry.
Joseph approached him, saying with a mix of tension and annoyance, "What's wrong with you, man? Has the cat got your tongue? If there's danger, tell us before they find us."
Suddenly, Nicholas began walking forward toward those he had previously thought were his enemies, ignoring Jenny's and Joseph's worried warnings.
He emerged from the shadows of the old hut, revealing himself to them.
3 black men. All wearing torn, dirty white shirts stained with various spots, and old ripped jeans.
One with tangled, unkempt black hair with white strands throughout, prominent scars on his forehead, and black eyes.
Another bald, his face burned on the right half, with a light beard and wide black eyes.
The last with long hair, more organized than the others, tied back with a hair clip, with white lines in his hair for decoration, his left eye closed despite not being injured externally, a simple white line on his cheek.
As soon as Nicholas approached them, they stopped talking, looking at him with a mix of astonishment and worry.
One of them whispered to his friend in a sharp tone with a fast rhythm, "Hey! Lior! Who is this black guy? I've never seen him here before."
The other replied while examining Nicholas more closely, suspicion in his eye, "I don't know either, man. Same as you."
The first one replied, his tone growing more confused, "Seriously! It's impossible, man! This black guy can't be new. We weren't informed of anything!"
At the same time, their bald friend was watching Nicholas, who was still staring at them with strange glasses, which planted discomfort and suspicion in him.
The bald man stood up from the wall, turning toward Nicholas, his eyebrows raised high like mocking arches of seriousness.
He shouted at him, pointing his finger in anger, "What's with those stares? You want a fight, you idiot?"
The last one suddenly snapped out of his state, raising his hands in the air to calm things down before any trouble occurred, a shocked yet happy expression on his face.
He said with a smile visible on his lips, "Hold on, buddy. No need for our first meeting to be like this, Karl!"
The bald man raised his eyebrow in astonishment mixed with surprise, while his other two friends looked at each other for several seconds before turning back to look at him again.
His other friend jumped toward Nicholas, raising his eyebrow in strange astonishment, staring at him with sharp eyes, saliva dripping from his mouth as he spoke, "First of all, before anything, who are you, black guy?!" Second, how do you know our friend's name? We've never seen your black face anywhere to know us!"
Nicholas clenched his fist, extending only his thumb, pointing at himself, saying in a trembling tone carrying a hint of hidden joy, "I'm Nicholas, guys! Your old friend!"
Silence fell for a moment after he finished speaking. Everyone looked around in astonishment and suspicion.
Suddenly, Karl spoke, his face a mix of anger and suspicion, "Nicholas? If this is some kind of joke, it's not funny. Nicholas has been dead for years..."
Lior calmly stepped toward Karl, examining Nicholas more closely, then said, suspicion filling his chest, "Easy, Karl. We've never seen this person anywhere, even though we know every black guy here. But I suspect he's just one of the blacks who changed his clothes to trick us. So, you who claim to be Nicholas, give us something only Nicholas could know if you're telling the truth."
Nicholas replied quickly, a sly smile on his face, "Latina... don't you remember that, Lior?"
Lior's eyes suddenly widened in shock, his face dropping in embarrassment as if he remembered something.
He slowly turned his eyes back, a mix of astonishment and acknowledgment, saying, "Nicholas! It really is him!"
His other friend turned to Lior, clear astonishment on his face, saying in his fast tone, "What do you mean it's Nicholas?! How did he convince you so quickly, you dog?"
Lior replied while scratching his head nervously, "Heh heh... well... just a situation only the two of us know."
Suddenly, during their conversation, Karl approached Nicholas and, with a swift move, wrapped his arm around the back of his neck, locking Nicholas in a strong hold, a smile splitting his face.
He said in a tone full of joy, "Nicholaaaas, you bastard! Don't you know how much sadness we felt over your death?!"
Both Lior and their other friend approached them, both happy to see their old friend alive.
Nicholas replied, the smile never leaving his face, "Stop it, man. This is embarrassing."
Lior replied in a sarcastic tone, "What do you want him to do? This is a natural reaction when seeing someone you thought was dead."
Their other friend backed up his friend's words, saying, "That's right, black guy. Now tell us exactly what happened to you, man? You disappeared suddenly!"
Nicholas replied, "I think it's obvious. I escaped."
Karl eased his arm's pressure on Nicholas a bit, replying with astonishment in his features, "But how, man? There's no way to escape from here except by climbing the walls, and you see how tall they are anyway."
Nicholas scratched his head comically, saying in a firm tone, "The story is long, but in short, I dug until I could escape."
The trio looked at each other with half-closed eyes, pursing their lips as they repeated in unison while shaking their heads, "Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm."
Lior initiated the talk, "Hmm, logical. You were small back then, so it would've worked. What do you think, Samuel?"
The last one answered, "I don't know, you dog. The important thing is this black guy is still alive. Now come on, let's inform this damn village about our friend's arrival before the guards suspect we're trying to escape again."
Nicholas replied, a smile contradicting the seriousness in his words, "Don't worry. They won't suspect anymore. In fact, they'll be sure."
Confusion appeared on the trio's faces. Samuel answered, raising his eyebrows in puzzlement, "Seriously, what do you mean?"
Nicholas furrowed his brows more, seriousness escalating in his expression, "What do I mean? Man, why do you think I came here in the first place? I came to free you, you fools."
Silence enveloped the place for a moment after Nicholas's words, the trio's eyes widening in shock and astonishment.
Lior stepped toward Nicholas with complete seriousness on his face, placing both hands on Nicholas's shoulders, beginning to speak, "Ahem, Nicholas, I appreciate your return after all these years to help us, but I can't help but ask—did you come with an actual escape plan, or just out of emotional impulse?"
Nicholas replied, accepting his concern, "If I hadn't come prepared, it wouldn't have taken me all these years to come."
A simple smile appeared on Lior's face. He patted Nicholas's shoulder, saying before turning and starting to walk, "Good. Then we're counting on you."
As Nicholas continued talking to him, various feelings of happiness taking root in his soul, replying, "I won't betray your trust, brother."
Suddenly, during their conversation, our three heroes—Ethan, Jenny, Joseph—emerged from their hiding place after realizing the place was safe.
The trio turned toward them in panic and fear, thinking they were Katoran.
Karl said in a tone full of worry, "Oh! Masters... uh... do you need help?"
As soon as he finished speaking, both Nicholas and Joseph burst into laughter, leaving the rest in confusion and astonishment about what was happening.
Samuel whispered to Nicholas, warning him, "Hey, you whore. Did years of freedom make you forget the consequences of not controlling yourself?! They're the Katoran, black guy. Shut up, or we'll all die."
Nicholas's laughter eased a bit, then he replied while wiping tears from his eyes, "Hehe, no need to fear. They're my friends, not those whores. They came to help."
Jenny raised her hand toward them, waving gently, "Hello..."
Her calm voice carried a hint of relief as she took hesitant steps toward the group, followed quietly by the others, their eyes scanning the trio with a mix of caution and curiosity.
The trio sighed in relief. Karl spoke, placing his hand on his chest in relief, "Damn, my heart was about to fall into my ass."
Lior replied, "All of us, man."
Nicholas laughed at them for a few seconds before saying in a firm tone full of enthusiasm, "Let's not waste any more time. Take me to the residents. There are many I want to meet."
Karl, after catching his breath, nodded slowly, then began walking toward one of the corners of the place.
At the same time, Samuel shouted with excitement, "Oh yes! I'm sure they'll explode in shock as soon as they hear about you."
Karl said after him with a faint smile, "I agree. Can't wait to see their reaction."
As they walked, Ethan was beside Lior, walking in his usual silence, staring at the place with curiosity.
Lior turned his head toward him for a moment in silence before starting to talk to him, "So you're from the outside world... I've heard a lot about it from eavesdropping on the Katoran. I heard it's dangerous, destroyed, everything tries to kill you. But I've always doubted their credibility since I've never left this place. So... is all that true?"
Ethan turned to him calmly, examined him a bit, then nodded yes.
Lior scratched his cheek in astonishment, then continued, "Hmm, don't you want to talk?"
Suddenly, Jenny intervened between them, saying in a tone with some worry, "Please don't misunderstand. He just can't speak."
Lior looked at her for a few moments, then nodded slowly with a faint smile, "Alright, no problem. Thanks for clarifying..."
He remained silent for a few moments before directing his words to Jenny, "Hmm, tell me, girl, how exactly did you meet Nicholas?"
Jenny hesitated at first, but she began recounting their meeting story briefly, which amazed Lior and the rest of his friends who were listening.
Lior let out a light laugh, saying with enthusiasm, directing his words to Nicholas, "Looks like you lived a real adventure out there, buddy."
The latter replied with a mix of humor and happiness, "True, but not everything was as good as you think."
Suddenly, Lior stopped walking, alerting Nicholas, "We've arrived."
The latter stepped toward him, the smile never leaving his face, to find the place consisting of the same huts, arranged in a circular shape.
Children were playing, and women and men were chatting among themselves, each concerned with their own affairs.
In the middle of the place, a dead tree with black bags hanging from it, their contents unknown.
Everyone with him turned toward Nicholas, finding him gazing at the place with a half-open mouth, his black eyes shining with a mix of astonishment and nostalgia. He stood still as if trying to absorb every detail.
A young child playing with one of his friends passed in front of them. Samuel extended his hand toward him, stopping him in place.
He bent down to him calmly, then said in a tone akin to a threat, "Move your little ass and call everyone to come."
The child nodded in fear, then started running toward the huts quickly.
Karl looked at Samuel with angry eyes, reprimanding him, "You black guy, what did I tell you about scaring the kids?"
The latter replied while stretching nonchalantly, "Man, let the little chick make our job easier. It's not like he has anything important to do besides playing."
After a few moments, hurried footsteps began emanating from inside the huts, and soon a group of men and women appeared, their eyes full of curiosity and worry.
An old man stepped forward, his face etched with wrinkles and his white hair fluttering in the wind, then said in a weary tone laced with worry, "What's the problem now? Did they summon us again?"
After finishing his words, he suddenly noticed Nicholas, who was looking at him with strange eyes, which planted worry and astonishment in him, prompting him to continue immediately, "Plus, who is this child? I've never seen him in the place?"
Samuel approached Nicholas, leaning on his shoulder, a big smile on his face, saying casually, "Seriously, old man, can't you recognize him? Hairstyle, blind injured eye, and ugly face. Come on, guess!"
The old man rubbed his eyes in annoyance, shaking his head left and right, saying, "I don't have time for your stupid games, kids. Cut to the chase so I can get back to work."
Nicholas approached the old man, extending his arm for a handshake, saying with a mix of happiness and calm, "It's been a while since I saw you, old man."
The old man felt some astonishment, but he returned Nicholas's handshake with a slight smile on his face, replying, "Do I know you, kid?"
Nicholas nodded slowly, then added in an emotional tone, "It's me, Nicholas, if you still remember me."
The old man's eyes widened for a moment. He began examining the latter from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet, simultaneously recalling childhood images of Nicholas in his mind, "The hairstyle is still the same, and he has a blind eye caused by one of the Katoran sons... he hasn't changed much from childhood, except he's become more manly."
Slowly, shock began to etch on on his face. He asked with a mix of astonishment and shock, "Nicholas!! But you're supposed to be dead for years! We even saw them take the body!" His eyes, which had been examining Nicholas, began to glisten with hidden tears as he gripped his arm tightly, as if afraid he would disappear again.
Nicholas paused for a moment, his smile fading slightly, then answered in a trembling emotional tone, "They must have faked the body. But that doesn't matter anymore. I came to save you all from this place."
A group of men, their appearance suggesting they were Nicholas's age, rushed toward him, welcoming his arrival warmly. Some cried from happiness, some embraced him warmly, and each person welcomed him in their own way. The sounds of crying and joy mixed in the air.
While Nicholas looked at them with joyful eyes, responding to their embraces with a tired but joy-filled smile.
One of his friends said, crying, "Man, you don't know how much joy I feel right now! Seeing a dead friend alive in front of me!"
At the same time, Ethan was watching them from afar, seeing his friend whose eyes were always accompanied by anger, truly happy—despite having no relation to him or them. But he couldn't stop himself from feeling joy for his friend, smiling a sincere smile.
Nearby, Ethan heard Lior's voice beside him saying calmly, "Despite the suffering of staying in this damn place, we can still create our happy moments, even if rare. But isn't that what gives these moments their value in the first place?" His eyes, looking at the scene before them, carried a mix of nostalgia and hope as he watched Nicholas and his friends exchange laughter and tears. Ethan's heart filled with happiness and greater attachment to everyone upon hearing Lior's words.
Suddenly, a shout came from afar during their moment, "What are you doing, slaves?"
Everyone turned toward the source of the sound to find 3 Katoran guards heading toward them with deliberate steps, their weapons drawn in their hands, their faces hidden behind white masks with their emblem in the center. A wave of worry and dread spread among those present, and whispers of fear began to rise among the residents.
Nicholas's features suddenly turned to anger, his eyes that had been shining with joy now blazing with a sharp glare. He tightened his grip on his weapon, ready to attack at any moment.
But before he could do anything, his arm was grabbed forcefully by Karl, pulling him hard toward one of the camps.
The rest of his friends gathered behind them in a crowded manner, trying to hide his escape.
Nicholas tried to remove Karl's arm, saying angrily, "Let me go. I can handle them."
Then Samuel came, pushing Nicholas forward, saying in his usual voice, "You black guy, shut up and move."
They forcibly took him toward one of the nearby huts, him and his friends.
As soon as they entered, Nicholas moved away from Karl angrily, pointing his finger at him with a tense face, "What's your problem, guys?! I told you I can deal with it."
Karl waved his hands kindly, trying to calm him, then replied calmly with a calm face, "Calm down, black guy. We're just avoiding unnecessary trouble. Plus, we haven't fully celebrated you yet. You can't die this easily."
His eyes, carrying seriousness, met Nicholas's blazing gaze, trying to convince him.
Nicholas clenched his fist tightly, veins beginning to protrude, gritting his teeth in excessive anger, replying in a tone carrying a kind of madness mixed with anger, "Die? Hahahahaha, me? I've dedicated my life to this, you whore. Every day of my damn life I've dedicated to one goal: wiping the Katoran from existence. If I can't do this, then my coming has no benefit. In that monstrous world outside these walls of injustice, nothing helped me survive except my endless anger toward the Katoran—"
Suddenly, during his speech, a strong blow was delivered to his stomach, but it didn't affect him because his clothes were armored inside.
Nicholas looked in shock at the striker, finding it was Lior, whose face was dominated by seriousness.
Lior slowly pulled his fist back, then said in a tone full of seriousness and reprimand, "You idiot, control your anger. Do you think you can take them all down without the rest noticing? Even if you could fight them, the Katoran will target the rest of us, thinking we're attempting a coup, and they'll start killing us without mercy. So, you fool, put Nonetheless, your sorry ass on the ground until it's over!"
Nicholas stopped for a moment, breathing heavily, his eyes still blazing with anger, but he felt a kind of internal tremor before Lior's shocking words. He gradually loosened his fist, then lay on the ground in silence.
Maloir commented from afar with astonishment and shock on his face, "That was fast..."
Lior sighed in exhaustion while looking at Nicholas, thinking, "Damn, from his current behavior, he definitely doesn't have a real plan yet. We need a strategy, not just blind anger, or we'll all be in real danger."
After a while, the curtain was pushed aside, revealing the old man entering with stumbling steps, a faint smile etched on his face.
As soon as he entered, he said in a weary tone, "The situation is safe now. You can come out."
Nicholas rose slowly from the ground, breathing deeply to calm himself, and the others rose after him, exiting the place.
But before Nicholas could leave the hut, his arm was grabbed by the old man, making him turn to him in astonishment.
The old man spoke directly in a weary tone, "Can you stay with me for a bit? I want a simple talk with you."
Nicholas sighed reluctantly, then returned to sit in his place in front of the old man.
The old man initiated the talk, "Oh, look at you! You've become a full-grown strong man!"
The latter replied with a faint smile on his face, "Thank you, old man."
The old man continued, "I noticed you brought your friends from the outside world here. The place outside must have gotten a bit better than before, right?"
Nicholas answered while scratching his neck, seriousness beginning to appear in his speech, "Sorry to tell you, but the situation outside is more dangerous than you expect. Everything is complete ruin full of monsters. I was just lucky to reach a safe area amid all that chaos."
The old man closed his eyes calmly, silent for several seconds as if thinking about something, then began speaking in a serious tone, "Nicholas, I think you mentioned earlier that you want to free us from Katoran slavery..."
Nicholas replied, confirming his words, "Yes, and I'll make sure it happens—"
Suddenly, the old man interrupted him, raising his hand slowly as if asking for calm, and said in a weary but firm tone, "Yes, you will... but I'm afraid not everyone may want this."
Shock and astonishment appeared on Nicholas's face. He said afterward emotionally, "What—what are you saying? Isn't this what everyone has wanted for years?"
The old man replied after opening his eyes and looking at him with his worn-out eyes, "Sorry, I know you came all this way to save us, but think about it. The world outside has been destroyed for a long time—monsters in every inch of the cities, the lands dead, safety nonexistent. Even if we escape, all that awaits us is a new hell worse than the old one. At least here, food and shelter are provided, even if at the cost of our freedom. Most adults here know this truth. They prefer staying under Katoran control rather than risking their lives and their children's lives in a merciless world."
Nicholas struck the ground with his hand in mild anger, his eyes blazing with determination and pain, saying with a mix of regret and anger, "You mean you've become submissive to those animals? You've accepted slavery with open arms just because you're afraid of the world? How ridiculous!"
The old man furrowed his brows in anger, pointing his cane at him, saying angrily, "What's with talking to me like this? Did living outside make you forget respect for your elders or what?"
Nicholas stood up from the ground in annoyance, staring at the old man with eyes full of hatred and disappointment, saying while pointing his finger at him, "Respect you for what? For being a cowardly man without dignity? You've surrendered to those animals and want me to surrender too like a whore? Absolutely not!"
The old man struck the ground with his cane, his eyes glistening with anger mixed with pain, saying in a loud voice full of resentment, "You don't understand! We've lived here for long years. We only know farming, and barely anyone knows how to use weapons. Our bodies are weak, and everyone here has gotten used to this place. How can they live in a completely different environment overnight? Life outside isn't for us, you fool! Especially for those born here."
The old man paused to catch his breath, gripping his cane tighter as if it were the only thing tying him to the earth. His eyes, despite the wrinkles surrounding them, glistened with stubbornness and sadness.
Nicholas replied, "Do you think we're weak like you now? I got used to it when I was young. Do you think the others can't do the same?"
The old man replied in a trembling voice while catching his breath, as if he could no longer bear the anger, "And do you think we're like you?"
Nicholas took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, leaned on the table, placing his hand on his face, thoughts clashing in his mind.
After a period of calm and thinking, Nicholas sat back on the ground, facing the old man with a mix of seriousness and resentment, then said, "What if I told you there's a safe place outside these walls? Would that change your minds?"
The old man adjusted his sitting with interest after hearing Nicholas's words, replying, "Spit it out."
Nicholas continued, "A few weeks ago, I found a small village, two days away from here. The people there are kind, food and water are available, and most importantly, there's safety... The only problem is the journey to get there will be dangerous."
The old man replied, shock and joy beginning to form on his face, "A safe area outside, you say? Hmmmmm. Tell me that from the start, you idiot. I'm with you."
Nicholas confirmed, "I'll say it again: the way to get there isn't safe."
The old man replied, "As for me, as long as there's a safe place worth the risk, I'm with you. But, Nicholas, don't expect everyone to follow you easily. The people here are scared, and they have every right to be. You have to show them that this place you're talking about is real and that the danger they'll cross is worth it."
Nicholas nodded firmly, "I'll make sure of that."
Suddenly, during his speech, Nicholas remembered something important he wanted to ask, "Oh right, old man, I almost forgot. I haven't seen my mom around yet. Can you tell me where she is?"
The old man was immediately shocked by Nicholas's question, as if he wasn't prepared to receive it.
Sweat drops began forming on his forehead, worry and fear raging within him.
Nicholas noticed something was wrong, prompting him to worry, then said with a mix of worry and astonishment, "What's wrong, old man? Did something happen to her?"
But the old man remained silent, regret and sadness increasing in his heart.
Nicholas approached the old man emotionally, saying in a tone full of worry and tension, "Why are you silent?! Don't stress me like this and talk!"
The old man turned his face toward him, finding it full of sorrow and sadness. He rose to his feet, then began walking outside.
Nicholas shouted at him in a tone with a kind of anger amid the pile of worry that swept his eyes, "Answer me, you whore!"
The old man waved his hand for him to follow, and Nicholas responded to his call, following him outside the hut.
As soon as they exited, they found many men and women gathered around the hut, eavesdropping on their conversation.
As soon as they saw them coming out, some quickly moved away from the place, some began whispering among themselves, while others just remained silent, watching them walk away.
Every step forward weighed on Nicholas's heart. Fear of the unknown... fear of what might have happened to his mother began to take root in his heart slowly and painfully.
He quietly took out the flowers he had been carrying in his bag, holding them with all his strength. Nicholas didn't exactly know why he did this. Every flower he had picked from the previous village's garden, where he dreamed of one day sharing them with her.
The old man finally stopped at the dead tree centered in the middle of the place.
Nicholas raised his gaze to it calmly, finding it decorated with black bags tied to its withered branches, emitting an unbearable stench filling the air.
Nicholas turned his gaze back to the old man, feeling a shiver pass through his body. His eyes froze on the old man, who was standing beside the dead tree, his eyes laden with deep sadness as if carrying the weight of years of pain.
Nicholas asked in a faint tone, "What is this place? And why did you bring me here?"
The old man took a deep breath, leaning on his cane, then raised his eyes to the black bags hanging from the branches. "Nicholas..." he began in a trembling voice, as if the words hurt him, "Nicholas... this tree is where the Katoran put those who disobey them or escape their rule... Everyone they catch is tortured in front of everyone, then left here hanging as a lesson to anyone thinking of challenging them."
Nicholas shouted at him in a tone full of worry and fear, "And what does that have to do with me?! I told you where my mother is, not this!"
The old man steadied himself as if trying to prevent himself from collapsing, saying without looking directly into his eyes, "Sorry, kid... but you already know what happened to your mother from what I told you."
Nicholas stopped breathing for a moment, as if his heart had stopped. He looked at the black bags, the smell of death filling his lungs, "W-w-what?" he whispered in a broken voice, looking at the hanging bags in disbelief.
Suddenly, without thinking, he rushed toward the dead tree, his eyes blazing with terror and mixed hope, thinking, "No, no, no, no, no, this is impossible. It can't happen..."
Upon reaching it, he grabbed the bags with his fingertips, tearing them open, revealing a dead man's body, pale in color.
Then he rushed to the next bag, over and over. Every bag he tore increased the weight of pain in his heart.
Every body he had seen so far was somewhat familiar to him—they were the escapees he had spent his last days with in the Katoran fortress before.
The old man shouted from afar, pleading with all his heart, trying to catch up with stumbling steps, "Nicholas, please! Just stop. Don't torture yourself more than this!" But Nicholas paid no attention, his face full of mad worry.
He finally reached a black bag hanging at the top of the tree. Nicholas paused for a moment, breathing heavily, his heart pounding violently as if about to explode. His hands were trembling severely, the foul stench choking him, but he could no longer back down as he whispered to himself, "This isn't real. She's alive, of course!"
Then he tore the last bag, pinning all his hopes on it. The bag tore into pieces, revealing the face of the body inside, unveiling the truth.
As soon as Nicholas saw the contents of the bag, he froze in place from the horror of the sight. It was his mother's corpse, preserved in a gruesome way. Her face was pale but still bore the features etched in his memory, and on her forehead was the Katoran emblem, carved into her dead skin as a reminder of who did this.
Nicholas breathed hysterically while looking at his mother's dead body in front of him. He raised his trembling hands madly near her face, various emotions like grief, regret, and misery destroying him more and more inside.
He placed his hands on her cold cheeks, as if desperately trying to feel the warmth of her life once more. But the harsh coldness of her dead skin was like another stab to his heart. He whispered afterward in a suppressed voice as if on the verge of collapse, "Mom...."
He fell to his knees, leaving his hands hanging in the air, shock frozen on his face.
He slowly lowered his hands toward his eyes, staring at them for a few seconds, then suddenly collapsed into crying and screaming.
Screaming that carried grief, regret, and misery—a mix of anguish shattering his soul.
The distant crowd watching from afar stopped whispering. Heavy silence fell, as if everyone felt the weight of his moment. The rest in the place gathered around Nicholas in astonishment, unaware of his pain.
Among them were Lior, Ethan, and the rest who were with him, watching him from afar.
While Ethan and Jenny looked at him in confusion, worried that something had happened to him, Lior, Samuel, and Karl watched him in regret, their hearts wrenched with sadness for their old friend, aware of the extent of the suffering he was enduring now.
Unexpectedly, Nicholas crawled toward the tree in pain. As he got noticeably closer, he immediately began punching the tree blow after blow with all his strength, venting his emotions in his fists.
Every punch carried terrible pain, and every strike was a desperate attempt to tear apart the harsh truth he faced.
Blood began seeping from his knuckles, but that didn't stop him even a little from what he was doing, as if the bruises didn't affect him at all.
After a full 30 minutes, Nicholas suddenly stopped punching and screaming, his breathing ragged, placing his bloody fists on his face.
The area he was hitting was smashed, covered in his blood.
The old man approached him slowly, pain and regret etched on his face.
He placed his hand on his shoulder hesitantly, then said, "Nicholas..."
The latter showed no movement or reaction—just silence and suffering.
"What's all this screaming, slaves? We're getting complaints because of you."
The old man turned in shock backward, finding 3 guards heading toward them, anger evident on them.
One of the guards approached the old man, while the rest of the residents began moving away from him.
Then he said in an arrogant tone, "You slave, explain to me the reason for all this commotion."
The old man froze in place, his eyes trembling with fear and confusion, but he tried to resist the terror that swept him.
He leaned harder on his cane, facing the guard who stepped toward him, then said in a trembling voice, "No... no commotion, sir. Just... just a small dispute among the youth. It won't happen again."
But the guard seemed completely unconvinced. He stepped closer, placing his heavy gloved hand on the old man's shoulder, tightening his grip forcefully, threatening him, "We're not that stupid, old rat. So you'd better tell the truth, or you'll end up like those on this tree."
The guard looked behind the old man, finding Nicholas collapsed on the ground, silent as usual, which aroused his astonishment, "Wait a minute! Who is this new slave? I don't remember seeing him anywhere."
Then he pushed the old man, dropping him to the ground. The old man began groaning in pain, holding his leg, trying to ease the agony.
The guard approached Nicholas more, looking at him with contempt, then shouted at him, trying to scare him, "Get on your feet, ignorant slave!"
But Nicholas paid no attention, as if he hadn't heard him at all, which aroused the guard's anger and annoyance.
The guard raised his hand in the air, then slapped Nicholas with all his strength on his head, saying in a more angry tone, "Didn't you hear me, you wretch? I said get—up—from—the—ground!"
As soon as the guard finished speaking, Nicholas began turning his head slowly toward him until their eyes met. The guard felt shock upon seeing him.
Nicholas's eyes, despite the tears covering them, were blazing with a fire the guard had never seen before. It was a mix of deep anguish and wild rage, his face laden with savage anger flowing from the depths of his wounded soul, stained with the redness of his falling blood.
The guard eyed him with disgust, mocking him, saying, "What's with this disgusting state of yours—"
And before he could finish half his sentence, Nicholas pounced on him like a predator on its prey.
He knocked him to the ground violently, swiftly pulling his helmet off his head, revealing his bare head.
He raised his hand as high as possible, biting his lips in overwhelming rage. In a few seconds, he extended two fingers from his fist.
And with all hatred and fury, he drove his sharp nails into the guard's eyes.
The guard screamed in terrible pain, a sound tearing the air like thunder, while trying to move violently to escape Nicholas's grip. Thick red blood began flowing from his eyes suffering under Nicholas's sharp nails, driven by overwhelming rage that knew no bounds.
At the same time, his fellow guards were watching the scene in shock mixed with terror.
And suddenly, Nicholas grabbed the guard's helmet, raising it high in anger, then immediately slamming it down on his head with all his strength, repeating this mercilessly. With every blow, the guard's head deformed more, blood splattering around the place, staining the ground and the dead tree, until it turned into a horrific scene of violence and destruction.
Thus, everyone witnessed for the first time since the establishment of this place an open killing of one of the Katoran—a event that shook the foundations of the silence and fear that had prevailed for years, announcing the beginning of an unexpected transformation in the course of events.
(To be continued...)