Chapter 20: There will be blood

As the knights of 23rd Chapter readied up for a final mission, Ethan Riverwood woke up on a soft linen bed. This campaign had turned the boy into a man, but not in the way he had expected. His mind flashed to the horrifying sight of the abominations dawning on them. It was a slaughter, even the veterans proved to be of no match.

It was hell in this very mortal realm, but this room, where Ethan was staying could be no further than that. The air was mildly cold, especially for his unclothed body. But Ethan did not mind for the blanket was warm and a woman was warmer. Although he was in the company of only the former at this moment.

Now that he had a time to himself, Ethan wondered if he had truly become a man. He came to the bitter conclusion that was not the case. As his father always said in all those awkward meal, a true man was someone who could satisfy a woman, like him.

While his wife could only silently disagree, those words still made an impression on the boy.

Despite not being a monster on first glance, the Madam was surely no longer human. No one could lead such monstrosities and unleased them on their fellow men. And she did it all, ordering and witnessing horrible tortures, without a cold gaze. Yet, she came to him not as a monster but as a woman and Ethan had failed at a man. The boy wondered if the Madam wanted something else.

She definitely had a grand plan, which was for sure. At this rate, he would be a cog in that scheme of her. Perhaps… it was not too bad after all. Here Ethan was, lying in a warm bed with food and drink ready. Most of all, to enjoy the company of the boss herself.

If he continued like this, as the Madam’s toy, there would be a future ahead of him.

Yet, Ethan Riverwood could not lie still, inside his heart was stirring. During all the training and marching, he had come to known many comrades. While many were dead, many more were prisoners, kept in a cold dank cell, awaiting the end. For a bit of time, he was among them, unsure of the future to come. Ethan had even been envious of those who died, they did not have to live with every single moment in fear.

This was not right, this was not why he signed up. Ethan, like many others, admired the story of Captain Meredith. He was one without a family, without any to his name, yet he rose from the bottom of the society to leading a Chapter of his own. Many, including Ethan, joined the 23rd to follow that man, aspiring to be one day share his greatness.

Captain Meredith would not lie down hiding in vice while others, his comrades, were suffering. Ethan decided the time for idling was over.

But before the boy could get out of the bed, an image flashed in his mind, stopping him in his track. It was of Madam Mandrake, her visage colder than the eternal winter itself. Of the time not that long ago, when they were still intertwined with one another. She suddenly reached out from the top, putting a finger onto his throat. Then, the Madam pushed it in further and further, her nail cutting his skin, drawing blood. Ethan struggled, tried to escape, yet he could not budge at all. The Madam was locking him down with her own strength, so effortlessly.

Her body was tough, yet there was no hint of such a strength. With his hand free, Ethan tried to grab and push her away but the Madam did not move one bit. For a moment, the boy saw a twisted abomination riding on top of him instead of the old woman. But her eyes were not like her children, they were cold, cruel and piercing.

To Madam Mandrake, killing this boy right then was like swatting an insect. Yet, she relented, decided at the last moment to let him live. It was a warning, that to her, he was just a mere toy, one that she could so easily discarded and replaced.

Thinking of that moment sent a shiver down the boy’s spine. Yet, he gritted his teeth, trying to dwarf that thought with his sight of his comrades, suffering. It was horrifying as well, yet it gave him strength, to stand up, to do what was right.

Ethan dressed up again, but without his armor, the boy felt so vulnerable. Nevertheless, he had to move on.

Exiting the door, he immediately ran into two abominations passing by. In that moment, life flashed in front of the boy’s eyes. But nothing happened, the abominations simply walked on as if they did not register his existent. Perhaps being the Madam’s toy had its perk.

Perhaps, he could do something bold. Ethan reached out and grabbed a set of key from one of the abominations. His heart was beating faster than it had ever been as fear and regret soon dawned on the boy. What was he doing, they would no doubt turn around and beat him to death and that would be optimistic.

But alas, nothing happened. The abomination simply scratched his backside and moved on.

The boy took a moment to gather his courage again then moved on. He still remembered where the cells were. Making his way through the underground tunnels, Ethan could barely spot any abominations. Were they outside, slaughtering more innocents? That thought sickened him, yet it was something advantageous to his situation, a depressing truth.

Eventually, Ethan finally found the cells again, without a single soul guarding it. With bars this tough, there was no fear of escapees.

“Ethan!” One of his friends called out, only to be smothered by another.

“You idiot, are you trying to call them here!”

The prisoners murmured in hope, fear and skepticism. “I will get you guys out.” Ethan made his intention clear. The whispers became louder, some filled with joy yet there were those that spoke of despair.

“How can you even open this cell?” One said.

“Even if you can, how are we supposed to make out of here alive?” Another murmered.

Ethan showed them the keys. “If anyone want to stay here then they are welcome to do so!” Seeing them invigorated many, they reached out with hope in their mind.

There was no time to lose, the boy shuffled through the keys, looking for the right one. A click could be heard and cell door was flung opened. But before those inside could rejoice, they heard footsteps coming around the corner.

But it was not the thumping of an abomination, but a step most faint. It was of someone lean and light on their feet, someone Ethan knew all too well. The Madam rounded the corner but she was not alone. Behind her was the Ghost, his feet making no sound as he walked. “What do we have here?” He said.

From the opened cell, two remaining veterans stepped out, armed with handmade shiv. “Open the other cells now! We will try to overwhelm them with number!”

More came out ready to fight but they were ordered to stand back. In this cramped environment, a bunch of recruits would just get in one another way. No, they would serve as the second for Ethan as he tried to open the other cells.

There was one thing to worry about, however. Their fear became truth as the Ghost reached out for his gun. But the Madam waved for him to stop. She walked forward, looking past the escapees. Her eyes were fixed upon Ethan, who could not look away as he trembled in fear. He could not tell if the Madam was angry or disappointed or anything. Her eyes were simply devoid of any sign of emotions, including empathy.

“Come.” She simply said.

The veterans rushed at her with their shiv out. The Madam stepped a foot forward, blocking one’s advance. Her hand raised to strike at the other’s wrist, blocking his shiv. The knight simply let his weapon fell onto his other hand, intending to deliver a slash at the old raider unguarded torso. The other waited for that chance to push forward as his every step was met with the woman’s own, blocking his way forward.

But it was not meant to be. As the shiv fell through the air, Madam Mandrake reached out her other hand and grabbed the weapon. Such reaction was not something inhuman, but to achieve that one needed to make a hard read.

And the Madam could tell what move they were going to make even before they knew themselves. It was not a power but the result of living in this hell. Surrounded by being that could snap her neck just by an intimate hug, she had seen many prisoners killed by complete accident. None lasted more than a few days outside of their cells. Except for the Madam, of course, who had survived for decades.

These two veterans had sunk many years of their lives into their training. But it was nothing compared to her every single breathing spent trying just to survive. This fight to the Madam, was like taking candy from a baby.

She grabbed the shiv and drove it into the veteran neck. As he reached up to grab his throat, the Madam was already turning her attention to his comrade. The surviving veteran slashed with his arm bent. The arc would be smaller but safer. But the Madam had also read that defensive move incoming. She rushed forward, grabbing his arm with both of her own. Her body enveloped around the shiv but in an angle so not to make a cut.

Digging her feet onto the ground, the Madam thrown the knight over her shoulder onto the ground. She then dragged his own shiv into his face. The veteran tried to hold back but Madam Mandrake punched his fist, still holding the weapon. The shiv plunged into his eye, submerged completely within the man’s head.

Blood spurted out of the veteran’s socket slightly brushed against the Madam’s face. She stood up and calmly wiped the stain clear.

“They did not stand a chance…”

Someone murmured in disbelief. How could that be, two veterans of the 23rd Chapter, taken out by an old woman. It did not look like that she had used any nefarious power either. The rest of the escapees rushed forward in a desperate bid to overwhelm her. But as the veterans had feared, they simply got in each other ways.

Ethan tried to unlock the next cell but his hands were shaking uncontrollably. The boy dropped the keys. He crouched down to get them and as Ethan gazed up, the Madam was right in front of him. Behind her were the escapees, lying on the ground, in pain was alive.

“Get back into your cell.”

The Madam ordered and the prisoners complied, dragging their tattered self back into confinement. But there was another one who did not belong in there. Madam Mandrake suddenly pointed the shiv straight at Ethan’s throat.

“Any last words.”

The boy tried to say something but all that came out of his mouth was stuttering. It was the end of the line for him. For some reason, knowing death was coming strangely calmed Ethan down. He was content, knowing there was no way to escape the inevitable. At least he would die doing something heroic.

But the Madam changed her mind at the last moment. She let the shiv down, sparring his life.

“Oh my, are you getting soft now.” The Ghost said, coming up to me.

“Perhaps, I have taken quite a liking to this one.” The Madam replied.

Knowing that he would live, Ethan fell to his knees. No matter how hard he tried, the boy could not summon any strength to his legs. Everything did not crumble as he had expected. While two of them died, at least they passed on doing what they signed up to do, after living a long life serving.

“Still, such a bold attempt can’t go unpunished.” Madam Mandrake suddenly spoke up.

Yes, there would be blood, but not of her toy. She pushed the last of the prisoners returning to the cell onto the ground. It was a girl in her teen, quite a looker herself.

“This one would do.”

The Madam muttered and before slamming the cell door onto the girl’s head. But the old raider did not use much of her strength at all, that would make this end too early. She kept on slamming the door as the girl screamed out in pain. Some tried to help but they found themselves held at gunpoint by the Ghost.

Soon, a disgusting squish rang out and the screaming stopped. Yet, Madam Mandrake continued until the cell door finally closed. What was once a pretty face now reduced to a mess of gore with only the jaw still attached to her body.

“Get this clean up.” Madam Mandrake order the Ghost. “I need am returning to my quarter.”

The old woman dropped the shiv right next to Ethan and left. The boy looked down and gazed at her back turned at him. He then stood up and approached her from behind, biting his lip till it bled. Behind, the shiv was still lying on the ground, untouched.

‘Good.’ Madam Mandrake thought to herself.

It was not a coincident that the first cell held the last of the veterans. Everything was still going according to plan, despite minimal interference. The Madam could not do anything too overt else the Ghost would catch up to her backup plan. Ethan followed her dutifully, unknown of the truth behind his survival.