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Condemned To Death
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Seren and Lola silently walked under the dark, velvety sky. The only sources of light were the countless fireflies on the streets, casting ethereal golden glows, and the dimly lit street lights that buzzed softly in the night air.
"Were you pretending back there with Mila?"
Lola asked blatantly. There was no sign of her previous cheerfulness; her tone was casual but devoid of any emotion. Her eyes, usually sparkling with mirth, were now sharp and focused, like a predator stalking its prey.
Seren didn't say anything nor did he react as he continued walking beside her. After being in thought for a moment, he countered.
"What makes you say that?". His voice was calm, almost too calm.
Lola's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "It's pretty obvious if you think about it. A handsome person walks into a shop for the first time, gets hit on by the receptionist, and decides to go on a date with her without asking any questions and they live happily ever after. Seems like a poorly written love story if you ask me." She spoke with unwavering confidence.
Despite Lola’s cheerful personality, she was not stupid and certainly not naive to her friend's feelings toward Seren. Jenny might have been deceived by Seren's act at the shop, but Lola was like a wolf in sheep's clothing, carefully observing everything.
Seren chuckled, a sound that seemed to lack genuine emotion. "And this makes you think I'm faking my feelings for Mila?"
Lola looked over toward Seren, a light smile playing on her lips that almost seemed fake.
"No, but it does raise some red flags. I initially thought I was just overthinking it, maybe the person was just nervous at the time and agreed to go out with Mila." She paused, letting her words sink in.
"Yes, I was nervous at the time," Seren admitted with a hint of embarrassment, but his eyes behind his mask were observing Lola carefully.
There was a silent tension in the air, thick and palpable.
Lola's smile grew even wider as she stopped suddenly. The abrupt halt caused a few fireflies to scatter, their lights dancing erratically for a moment. She walked closer to Seren. In a slightly low tone, she said, "Yes, you could have been but... you weren't"
Seren observed her silently, not flustered one bit.
"Do you know why?" Lola continued, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. She leaned in closer, her breath warm against Seren's ear. "Because you are a heartless man,"
Seren took a small step back, creating some distance between them. "I don't understand what you mean by that," he replied, his voice sounding a bit perplexed. But beneath his mask, his face showed something else – piercing cold eyes as he assessed Lola.
Lola sighed in disappointment. "Why are you even continuing this act? Let me explain. When Mila came back from the date yesterday, she was hurt. I inquired with her, and she said it was because she fell down as she was coming back from the date. Nothing strange there, but then you come along. The whole time you were talking to Mila today at the shop, not once did you ask her about her injury or how she was doing. Even if Mila had told you about her injury beforehand, it’s still natural for a normal person to double-check on someone’s injury, but you did none of that. That’s how I know you don’t care one bit for Mila or her well-being. You were only using her to get into the Ravens."
Seren observed her for a moment and then sighed. "So, do you have a problem with that?” His voice turned dark and eerie, taking on a threatening tone. “Are you going to fight me now for your precious friend?”
Lola laughed lightly, the sound incongruous with the tension in the air. She didn't reply and just started walking forward, leaving Seren to watch her from behind. Seren watched her silently for a bit before starting to follow her, his footsteps echoing hers.
"I'm sure she already knows that you don’t care about her, but she still chose to help you. She can only blame herself for being used," Lola said casually as she walked luxuriously in an unhurried manner.
Seren didn't say anything and followed her quietly for a while. Lola then turned a random corner and entered an alley, disappearing from the view. He followed her inside and saw her standing still with her back facing him. The alley was silent, the only sounds were their breathing and the distant hum of the people walking on the streets.
After a long moment, Lola turned around, a light smile still playing on her lips.
"I don’t care what you do with Mila, abandon her or kill her, none of that matters to me. I will help you join the Ravens regardless and even provide additional help in the future, but I want something in return."
Seren scrutinized her silently, his eyes narrowing. "What?" he asked in an apprehensive voice.
Lola took a deep breath and then said with determination, "Help me raid the Raven’s relic vault."
“...”
The silence that followed was almost palpable, as if the night itself held its breath. Fireflies' glow cast an eerie light on their faces, adding to the tension in the air.
Seren didn't show any reaction to this request as he stared deadpan into Lola’s determined eyes. Finally, he broke the silence, "What makes you think I won’t just report you to the Ravens after I join them?"
Lola’s smile didn’t waver as she responded in a knowing voice, "Because you are a greedy person, just like me."
Seren observed Lola silently for a moment, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hesitation. After what felt like an eternity, he sighed again and said, "I want a 70% split of the spoils, and I will be the one to decide when we carry out the operation."
"...What?" Lola's composure cracked for the first time, a bewildered look crossing her face.
"I said, I want 70%," Seren repeated himself, his tone colder than before.
“I heard you the first time,” Lola said, irritation creeping into her voice. “Did I misjudge you? I thought you were smarter than this. Do you seriously think I will give you 70%?” she asked, exasperated.
This time, Seren stepped closer, his form casting a shadow over her. Instinctively, Lola took a step back. His voice was low and intimidating as he said, “You didn’t misjudge me. I am much smarter than you and much greedier than you. Listen, you are in no position to make demands. You need me. I don’t.”
Lola stared up at Seren with an emotionless gaze, processing his words. Then slowly, a light smile crept across her face, and she chuckled lightly.
“Well then, I guess you won’t be joining the Ravens after all.” She said in a relaxed voice.
Seren stayed quiet, his eyes locked on Lola’s smiling face. Without another word, he turned and began to walk away with purposeful strides. He didn’t look back but he could already tell what Lola’s reaction was going to be.
Behind him, Lola was no longer smiling, replaced by a grave expression. She bit her lip, infuriated, her fists clenched at her sides.
Seren continued to walk as he neared the end of the alleyway.
“55!” Lola called out, her voice tinged with desperation.
Seren paused and glanced back, noticing the clear displeasure in Lola’s eyes. He turned away again and continued walking, showing no interest in her offer. As he stepped onto the street, he turned to the side and stopped, his right eye coldly observing Lola, who remained standing in the alley.
Lola’s temper flared at Seren apparent tactics as she yelled, “60! I won’t go any lower.”
Seren gazed at the desperation coloring Lola’s face for bit and then he said calmly, “75.”
“Why is it increasing?!” Lola was on the verge of attacking Seren, her frustration boiling over.
Seren replied in a laid-back tone, “Should have agreed when you had the chance. If you can’t do 75 now, then consider this a farewell.”
Lola’s mind raced, her thoughts a whirlwind of anger and desperation. ‘I can’t let go of this opportunity. No one else is willing to take such a big risk as going against the Ravens,’ she thought quickly. She was in dire need of help, and Seren was the only one who had even considered her offer. All the others she had approached had immediately chickened out.
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“Don’t waste my time,” Seren said, his voice cutting through her thoughts. “You have five seconds to decide, otherwise I’m walking away. Five… four…”
Lola’s heart pounded in her chest, anxiety seeping into her mind as Seren’s countdown continued. She couldn’t afford to lose this chance. “Three… two…”
“FINE!” she finally agreed, her voice a mix of anger and resignation.
A frigid smile appeared at the corner of Seren's lips, hidden behind his mask. His bluff had worked perfectly! Exposing just how desperate Lola truly was. At first, he wasn't sure if she was really committed to going after the Ravens, so he decided to test the waters with an outrageous demand. When her composure started crumbling at his absurd request, that told him everything he needed to know. Feeling more sure of himself, Seren had pushed even further. He pretended to act uninterested and ready to walk away - a calculated risk he’d taken that could jeopardize his chances of infiltrating the Ravens.
'In negotiations, the one with the weakest bluff is destined to lose; strength lies not just in the cards you hold, but in the confidence with which you play them,' Seren thought with cold certainty. Now that he had caught onto Lola’s weakness, he could easily extort her.
Lola then begrudgingly bent down and lifted the manhole cover beneath her feet. The sound of running water echoed from below. Without hesitation, she jumped into the sewer. Seren approached the opening, peering down to see Lola standing on a stone pavement, looking up at him. He followed suit, landing safely beside her.
Seren took in his surroundings. A canal of murky green sewage flowed beside them. Dim lamps with glowing artifacts inside illuminated the space, stretching far into the distance. Without a word, Lola began walking forward at a steady pace, Seren following silently behind.
For 15 minutes, they navigated through twists and turns in the sewer system. Both of them didn’t say a single word to each other. The only sound of the constant running water accompanying their journey. Finally, Lola stopped at a seemingly random spot. She ran her hand softly along the wall, as if searching for something. After looking for a bit, her hand suddenly stopped as she felt around the area before moving away and looking at Seren.
"Put your finger in," she said flatly.
Seren was a bit confused at Lola’s words but when he looked closely at the wall, he saw a small cavity in the wall that was the size of a finger.
Lola continued, her tone still bitter, "Once you get to the Siren's Garden, look for a group of people wearing three-piece suits with waistcoats and trousers. They'll likely have overcoats and flat caps as well. Find a redhead among them and give him this slip, he's my brother."
She handed Seren a small white slip, which he took apprehensively. The slip had a strange symbol drawn on it that seemed to shimmer slightly in the dim light, with words in an unfamiliar language beneath it.
"And what happens after I give him the slip?" Seren asked, his voice echoing slightly in the confined space.
Lola's eyes narrowed, "That's all you need to know for now. Just do as I say, and remember our agreement."
Seren’s eyes flickered with suspicion as he watched Lola, but he decided not to ask her about it. Since she needed him, there was no need to worry about her causing any harm to him for the time being.
Seren then placed his index finger into the hole on the wall. Instantly, his surroundings began to blur and shift, reality warping around him in a dizzying motion. Despite the disorienting visuals, he felt no movement beneath his feet.
Lola's muffled voice echoed, "Don't forget about our deal," before fading into the swirling chaos.
For 30 agonizing seconds, Seren's world twisted and contorted, his senses overwhelmed by the surreal transformation. When reality finally stabilized, he found himself alone, Lola having mysteriously vanished.
He turned around with his back facing the wall, and then his stoic face broke into an expression of intrigue. The cold, damp air of the sewers was suddenly replaced by a peculiar, earthy scent that filled his nostrils.
He was no longer in the sewers. Instead, a wide street stretched out before him, teeming with an eclectic mix of individuals. Some walked briskly, their footsteps echoing on the cobblestone path, while others meandered aimlessly, as if lost in thought. The diversity of their clothes was striking: some had their entire bodies covered in bandages, others wore the crisp, formal Raven's Guard uniform, their polished shoes clicking against the stone and fedoras tilted at jaunty angles.
But Seren's gaze was inexorably drawn upward toward the ceiling. His eyes widened in awe as he took in the sight above him. Giant roots, as thick as ancient tree trunks, covered the entire expanse, creating a living, breathing image. Some roots hung like vines, swaying gently in an unfelt breeze, others tangled and twisted with each other in eerie patterns, creating an intricate lattice work.
Seren's eyes traced the roots to where they joined together, forming what appeared to be huts attached to the tall walls that surrounded the street. The wide street was entirely surrounded by this wall of roots, with houses and huts of all different shapes and sizes nestled within.
The main light source in this mysterious area was also the roots themselves. Those at higher elevations emitted an intense glow that filtered down through the foliage below. The effect was breathtaking – shafts of light pierced through gaps in the root system, creating a dream-like scene, as if Seren had stepped into another world entirely.
'...Siren's garden,' Seren mused as he continued to observe his surroundings, taking in every detail.
He then started walking along the street as he continued to awe at the strange place he had found himself in. While walking, he realized the street oddly had no cross-sections. It was just a one-way street surrounded by the wall of roots, giving the place a suffocating and creepy feeling. The lack of alternate paths gave the feeling of being trapped in this place.
Out of curiosity, he looked to the side and saw the glass windows of the houses that lined the streets. The insides of the houses appeared normal – cozy living rooms with plush furniture, kitchens with gleaming appliances, bedrooms with neatly made beds. But strangely enough, in all the houses that Seren observed, there wasn't a single person inside even though the lights were on. They were just empty, looking as if they were frozen in time.
An eerie silence hung over the street, broken only by the soft rustling of roots and the muffled footsteps of the strange passersby.
Seren couldn’t tell why but he felt this strange feeling coming from the houses that made him want to go inside them.
Interest piqued, he went up to one of the houses and knocked, the sound unnaturally loud in the quiet street. No one answered. He knocked again, harder this time, but there was still no response. The silence seemed to mock him, emphasizing the wrongness of this place.
Then he tried to open the door, but it was sealed shut. He couldn't even budge it with force. It felt like he was pushing against a lifeless, immovable object. The door seemed to absorb his efforts.
'...Almost as if this street and the houses aren't real,' Seren thought as he tried to figure out what was going on.
He then walked to the side of the house and went up to one of the windows. Pressing his face closer to the glass, his breath fogging the window as he strained to see more of the interior.
Inside was a long dining table with six chairs neatly arranged around it. Steam rose lazily from the dishes spread across the table.
'I know I should be looking for Lola's brother but...' he thought, his eyes narrowing as he took in more details. The scene before him was picture-perfect, almost too perfect. It was as if someone had set the stage for a family dinner, but the actors had yet to arrive.
'...something is odd about this whole Siren’s garden and it's giving me an unsettling feeling.'
Seren had been through a lot from his previous lives and it wasn’t easy to rattle him like this. The fact that this seemingly innocuous scene was setting off alarm bells in his mind only strengthened his resolve to investigate further.
His gaze drifted to the wall behind the dining table, where seven paintings hung in a perfectly straight line. Each one seemed to exude an aura of wrongness that made Seren's skin crawl.
In one painting, a woman with porcelain-like skin stared blankly ahead. At first glance, she appeared flawless, but upon closer inspection, Seren noticed a cluster of pimples on the left side of her face, some oozing with white pus. The juxtaposition of beauty and decay was jarring.
Another painting depicted a group of babies with expressionless faces and their lifeless eyes all fixed straight ahead. Their faces were unsettling, more reminiscent of dolls than living infants.
As Seren's eyes moved from painting to painting, he realized they all shared a common, disturbing trait. None of the people in the portraits showed any emotion. They all stared out of their frames with blank, dead eyes, as if their souls had been stripped away, leaving behind only empty shells.
Just as Seren was pondering the eerie nature of the artwork, he caught something in the corner of his eye. He snapped his head to the side and saw a figure walk into the adjoining room. The person moved with an unnatural, almost mechanical gait before disappearing from view.
Seren's mind raced. Was it a resident of the house? Or something else entirely? The brief glimpse had been too quick to make out any details, but it was enough to confirm that the house wasn't as empty as it had first appeared.
Seren quickly sprinted to the other side of the dilapidated house, his breath forming clouds in the chilled air. He pressed his face against the cold, grimy window, peering into the dimly lit room. In the center of the room, a figure stood eerily still beside a faded velvet couch, bathed in the soft glow of a single flickering lamp. The figure, of medium build was in a tattered white gown.
Then with deliberate slowness, the person reached for a coiled rope that lay haphazardly on the couch. He picked up the rope before bending down and securing one end of the rope tightly around the stout leg of the couch. As he straightened up, his back remained turned to Seren, who watched, puzzled, as the man's fingers worked nimbly with the rope. He couldn’t tell what the man was doing with the rope from his angle.
After a moment, the man lifted both arms, displaying the rope that now ended in a meticulously crafted knot, forming a sinister loop. With a haunting calmness, he slipped his head through the noose and tightened it around his neck.
To Seren, it seemed the man was chaining himself to the couch, like an animal. Just as Seren raised a hand, contemplating whether to knock on the window, the scene took a grim turn.
The person placed a foot on the edge of the couch and leaned back, his body straining against the rope. As he pushed the couch away with his foot, the rope tightened cruelly around his neck.
'Is he trying to end his life?' Seren wondered silently as he watched the man's desperate act. Yet, despite the gravity of the situation, he felt no reason to intervene. If he wants to die, then let him.
'But I should still try to stop him. Maybe he will feel some gratitude towards me and help me find Lola’s Broth—' His thoughts were abruptly cut off as the man's actions took an even more chilling turn.
The man, still asphyxiating himself, slowly turned to face Seren. His expression was grotesquely joyful, a wide, unsettling smile breaking across his features as tears streamed down his pallid cheeks, contrasting sharply with the pain etched in his furrowed brow.
In that moment, Seren’s mind stopped working for a second as a visceral unnerving feeling gripped him. He knew this man—knew him intimately. The man’s face looked exactly like his. The unsettling familiarity that had nagged at him ever since he had entered this forsaken place now morphed into an acute sense of danger.
Before Seren could do anything, the man’s lips began to move, slow and deliberate, as though each syllable was a monumental effort. Seren strained to listen over the pounding of his heart.
‘Yes…that’s…right…I…am…you.’
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Condemned To Death
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