They cautiously made their way toward the flickering flames through the dense woods. The cavalry circled around a solitary figure, torches billowing smoke, their laughter and jeers accompanying the thunder of iron hooves, ensnaring the hobbling man within. In the distance, a slender prosthetic leg could be seen, the figure clutching at their ears, emitting piercing screams.

Soon, the cavalry cleared a path. Thanatos emerged slowly from the shadows, ordering the soldiers to seize Xander and make him kneel. Despite Xander's struggles, his slender arms seemed powerless before the soldiers. They held him down, gripping his hair and pulling his face up.

Thanatos stepped forward, extreme annoyance evident beneath his long scars.

"Do you know where your sister is?" he asked.

Xander let out a scream, but a soldier kicked him down, silencing him abruptly.

"Well, since you won't speak," he gestured to the side, and a hooded figure emerged from the thicket. "I need information about the girl, quickly, let's see what he has in his mind."

The mysterious figure bowed to Thanatos and silently approached Xander.

As he placed his hand on Xander's forehead, Xander emitted a wail, as if tortured immensely. He cried, trembling all over, held by two cavalrymen.

Aria watched intently, her fists clenched tightly. She wanted to rush forward, stop them from torturing her brother. Hawk grabbed her arm, shaking his head. His gaze was equally filled with anger.

Aria sensed the anger beside Hawk; she heard his suppressed gasps as if they were right beside her.

After a while, the mysterious figure withdrew his hand. Xander stiffly slid to the ground, curling up and shaking as if a barely alive creature.

"Any information about the girl?" Thanatos asked impatiently.

"I didn't see the girl, but I heard about her," the mysterious figure answered softly. "He wasn't with the girl, but someone signaled him in sign language that the girl will be brought to him soon for a reunion."

"How soon?" Thanatos's tone was cold.

"Just now, a mute escaped," the mysterious figure replied quietly.

"A mute escaped," came Thanatos's voice from afar, tinged with interest. His gaze swept the surroundings, even piercing through the concealed thickets. Aria's heart tightened; despite the distance, she sensed Thanatos beginning to suspect their presence nearby.

"Give me the bow," Thanatos ordered. A soldier handed him a bow. He took it, strung an arrow, and deliberately spoke loudly, as if reminding of what was to come next. "Get this damn kid up."

They pulled up the curled Xander. Thanatos raised the bow, drew the string, and shouted loudly, "Stop hiding, come out, or I'll shoot him."

At the moment Thanatos drew his bow, preparing to shoot, Aria's heart felt as though it were gripped by an invisible hand. She sensed the distant gaze of suspicion, even though they were far away; she could feel Thanatos beginning to suspect they were nearby.

With a thud, Thanatos swiftly released an arrow.

Aria felt almost suffocated.

But the arrow landed in the soil not far from Xander; Thanatos deliberately missed. His icy gaze swept around, and he shouted again, "Come out, mute one, my patience is wearing thin."

The servant quickly signaled Hawk with gestures, trembling with excitement.

"Don't go out," Hawk almost whispered. Then, he swiftly pressed down the hand of the servant, ready to draw his sword. Hawk shook his head, not saying a word.

Aria grabbed Hawk silently and said, "I'll go."

"You don't understand how important you are," Hawk refused again. "He won't spare any of you. He will kill you."

"He wants me. I will try to persuade him to let Xander go."

"No, Aria."

The argument was silent, but Aria was almost frantic. She couldn't bear to watch Thanatos kill Xander. He was her last family; she couldn't bear to lose family again.

As they argued endlessly, the unexpected happened.

Hawk's servant quietly left the bushes and, without permission, rushed down the slope and drew his sword. It was the beginning of a disaster. Hawk pulled Aria away in panic.

"This is bad. You need to leave quickly." He dragged Aria towards a horse. "That fool, by going down, he's exposing your whereabouts. Aria, you need to go quickly."

"But, Hawk..."

"Didn't you see? The person next to Thanatos can read minds. He will know everything we just discussed. That stupid servant, going down there will only lead to his death in vain." Hawk untied a horse and pushed Aria onto it.

"What about you?"

"Forget about me, just go..." Hawk urged the horse on.

Aria looked back, seeing Hawk running towards the woods illuminated by fire.

The cavalry over there shouted; they had spotted Hawk and were rushing over. As they got farther away, the voices became fainter, until only the whistling wind passed by her ears. Her mind was filled with the image of Xander curled up on the ground and the backs of Hawk. Faced with Thanatos and his cavalry, how would they respond?

Despair engulfed Aria like an abyss, and the future ahead seemed shrouded in darkness, with no glimmer of hope able to penetrate it.

When Aria leaped onto the horse's back, a sense of determination surged within her. She knew it was time to leave this place, she couldn't stay any longer, couldn't allow herself to become their prisoner. With the horse under her control, she spurred it on, not daring to stop or look back along the way.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

As the dark clouds obscured the moon, the forest seemed even deeper in darkness. Aria decided it was time to leave, to distance herself as much as possible from Thanatos and his cavalry, to find a safe haven. She maneuvered through the woods, her mind shrouded in an ever-dissipating fear.

Unbeknownst to her, she had ventured out of the withered woods where the terrifying cries of Night Ghouls still lingered. Uncertain of her destination, she knew one thing for certain—she couldn't remain in this war-torn place any longer. Aria patted the three candles in her pocket, her last resort against encountering the Night Ghouls.

With the fading of the night and the diminishing of the eerie cries, Aria halted her horse, surveying her surroundings. She found herself in a barren valley, with an ancient ruin looming in the distance, its silhouette outlined by the moonlight.

Dismounting, she made her way toward the ruin. Perhaps it could serve as a temporary sanctuary. Regardless, she had to confront it and continue her journey. Survival was her only choice.

As Aria stepped into the ruins, a silence enveloped her, accentuating the desolation. Despite the dilapidated buildings and the walls covered in withered vines, it still felt more comforting than the wilderness.

Quietly traversing the ruins, Aria's emotions wavered between fear and sorrow. She was unaware of the existence of this ruin, uncertain of what she might encounter here. Exhausted from her journey, she was now both tired and weary.

Behind a collapsed pile of rocks, Aria discovered a small cave tucked away in a corner. She decided to seek refuge within it temporarily, to rest for a moment and regain her strength before setting off again. Though dim and damp, the cave was sufficient for her needs.

Lying in the cave, Aria's thoughts drifted. She reminisced about Xander and Hawk, as well as the looming specter of death they faced. Doubts crept into her mind, questioning her courage and her ability to carry on.

Yet, as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, fatigue washed over her. She knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, she couldn't give up. She had to find strength, to rally once more, for those she once cherished, for those who might still be waiting for her to survive.

In the darkness, Aria slowly closed her eyes, slipping into slumber.

As Aria drifted into sleep, a sense of foreboding washed over her. Her brows furrowed slightly, as if sensing that something ominous was about to happen.

Slowly, her dream began to distort, a strange fear welling up within her as if some unseen dark force, unexperienced before, was closing in. She struggled to open her eyes, but it seemed as if she were bound by an invisible force, unable to move.

Suddenly, from a distant ruin, a low growl echoed. It was the Night Ghoul, a demonic creature from legend, known for hunting down all living beings.

Aria's heart raced; she immediately realized she was in danger.

As the growl reverberated through the ruins, Aria felt as though an invisible hand were clutching her heart, each beat filled with tension and fear.

All around was pitch black, her surroundings perceptible only by faint light and intuition.

Suddenly, from the depths of a cave, came a chilling cry. Aria's throat felt as if it were constricted by an icy grip, rendering her unable to breathe. She slowly looked up, only to see a pair of green eyes darting around, like two ghostly flames.

She desperately tried to remain quiet, quietly slipping to the side. Her palms were drenched in cold sweat, every nerve in her body taut, as if she could be torn apart at any moment. Yet she dared not make a sound, afraid of disturbing the terrifying presence before her. Her fingers trembled involuntarily, but she had to stay calm to find an opportunity to escape.

Aria quietly opened small pouch, retrieving a candle.

In the darkness, the Night Ghoul's shadow swayed, emitting a low growl, seemingly tracking its prey. Aria felt as though she were trapped in a nightmare, her heartbeat echoing in her ears, as if in response to the Night Ghoul's roar.

However, the Night Ghoul suddenly seemed to sense something elsewhere, and began to chase in another direction.

Aria hastily left the cave, faced with a desolate ruin where her horse was nowhere to be seen.

As she hurriedly fled the ruins, a sense of foreboding chased after her, like a shadow of demons. She quickened her pace, trying to shake off the oppressive feeling, but her heart beat faster and faster, as if it might leap out of her chest at any moment.

Just then, a green flash cut through the darkness, and Aria felt herself discovered by the Night Ghoul. Without hesitation, she pulled out a candle to ward it off and lit it. Instantly, the candle emitted an eerie sensation, its light dispelling the surrounding darkness like a sacred shield.

Yet, Aria soon realized the candle's protection was limited, unable to fend off the Night Ghoul approaching from all directions. More green eyes began to flicker in the darkness, the Night Ghoul's growls growing closer, as if a horde of demons were closing in on her.

Aria felt hopeless and helpless, realizing she had fallen into a death trap. She continued to panic as she moved through the ruins, but it seemed fate enjoyed taunting her. When she emerged from the ruins, she was met with a chasm. Deep and unfathomable below, the opposite side seemed distant and unreachable. Cold wind mixed with the scent of decay rose from below, bringing with it the aura of death.

As Aria felt despair, the Night Ghoul seemed to sense a powerful pressure and retreated. Wide-eyed, Aria watched as a figure approached. She hadn't expected this cold and ruthless person to appear at such a time, let alone instill fear in the demonic Night Ghoul.

It was the last person she wanted to encounter, Thanatos.

Her heart almost stopped beating, and everything before her seemed to blur. Thanatos stood there, his gaze cold and merciless, as if scrutinizing a small animal about to be preyed upon.

"Looks like you're in trouble, Aria," Thanatos' voice was cold and mocking, sending a chill down Aria's spine from head to toe.

Aria knew she was facing a ruthless enemy, one who had once brought her endless pain and fear. Her fingers trembled, but she fought to stay calm, trying to find a glimmer of escape.

"What do you want?" Aria's voice trembled slightly, but she did her best to conceal her fear.

Thanatos smirked, a hint of cruelty flashing in his eyes. "What I want is simple, just you. Give up, Aria, you have no chance of escaping."

Aria's heart sank as she realized she was trapped. Yet even facing this powerful enemy, she resolved to hold on until the last moment, no matter the cost.

"I thought you wouldn't survive long, but you've run quite far, making me search for you for so long," Thanatos said with a cold smirk. "Guess what I said, do you think they'll come to rescue you? What surprised me was, that old man was quite difficult to deal with."

"What have you done to Hawk and Xander?" Aria shouted. If anyone in the world made her seethe with hatred, it was the person before her, a demon with long scars.

Thanatos looked disdainful, his tone casual as if in idle conversation. "There's a price to pay for running away. Now I command you to come over here, Aria."

"I won't come," Aria said, biting her lip. "I won't be threatened by you, and you'll never have me."

Feeling her resolve, Aria extinguished the candle in her hand. As the flame vanished instantly, darkness engulfed everything, and the nocturnal beasts' low growls echoed. Aria's heart raced; she knew this was her final decision.

In the darkness, the shadows of the nocturnal beasts quickly approached, like a pack of raging beasts. Aria felt a powerful force bearing down on her, but she fought to remain calm, ready to face whatever came next.

Just as the nocturnal beasts charged at her, she felt a powerful force collide with her, her body losing balance and plummeting toward the abyss behind her. In that moment, Aria reached out and grabbed a protruding rock, her fingertips clinging tightly, refusing to relax.

Then, she saw a burst of red light from above.

Some of the nocturnal beasts emitted piercing screams as they fell into the abyss.

"Aria, hold on tight," Thanatos reached out to save her, Aria stared incredulously at the person above. But she was exhausted, her body swaying, unable to resist the force of the fall any longer. Her fingertips began to loosen, the rock slipping, and her body began to plummet into the abyss.

Thanatos' eyes showed a hint of reluctance, but his figure faded into the darkness.

Aria's heart filled with despair and helplessness, feeling her consciousness gradually blur. In the process of falling, everything around Aria became blurred, her mind filled with despair and fear. She struggled to grab onto something to stop her fall, but it was all in vain.

Aria closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impending death.