The menacing stare Ruby possessed wrapped a cage of knives around my skin. A slight movement and I would be sliced to pieces. I blocked out the cries from the corner and focused on her eyes. If I looked away, would that be my last glance ever? They shot daggers—no—something worse. They sprouted hostility.

Pure hostility.

“Jill, have a seat. We must discuss the direction of our approach.”

Even the tone of her voice shifted. There was not an ounce of light-heartedness or the usual generosity. It matched the glare of her eyes.

Pure hatred.

I took her words, sitting on the empty chair to the left next to Lex. If I didn’t, that probably would’ve been the last decision ever made.

She flicked a sheet of paper and held it for me to see. “Read this for context.”

“I’m illiterate.”

She slammed the paper on the desk, clearing her throat.

“Travel north for approximately three-quarters of a day. Near a tiny waterfall should be a cave tucked in the corner. Enter there. A heart for a heart. It’s only fair.”

I hardly heard through the screams and cries of Randa and Katie, who rightfully felt the way they did. I got the main gist of it, besides one part.

“A heart for a heart. They must mean a life. Are they referring to Zen?”

“The timing is on queue.”

Nadia raised her hand with a question. She spoke without Ruby giving her the signal. “Zen was one of the original leaders. Though I thought they lost contact with one another.”

Alexious jumped it. “They did lose contact. At least, I assume. Why would Zen leave the group and still remain in touch?”

“That’s the conflicting matter,” Nadia said while rubbing her forehead. “Could they potentially be trading information?”

The crying diminished as we discussed the situation. Harley was not in the tent. I guess she took the two elsewhere.

“Trading information?” Lex scoffed as if that statement was hideous. “What possible information would the group give to Zen and vice versa?”

“I’m not sure myself. Just brainstorming a few ideas of what possibly led to this.”

“It doesn’t matter. Either way, it doesn’t change anything. They have Quinn and are directing us. There’s no question what they want,” Ruby said.

“Are you considering listening to the note?” Alexious said with a pair of runny sniffles.

I guess allergies got to him as well.

“Obviously not. Ideally, I would like a full-fledged attack.”

Lex groaned as if he had lost a few golden outis coins. “Are you serious? A full-on attack against one of the most dominant, fearsome groups out there? Is your head working?”

“I just want my son back.”

The tent curtain swooshed open. “Sorry, I’m late. Had to hand Katie and Randa off to Randy. He’ll take care of them.” Her hands rested on her knees, her forehead glazed in sweat. “So, what did I miss,” she asked while grabbing the empty seat beside Ruby.

“Ruby suggested a full-on attack against the Three Heads of Despair.”

Her cheeks lit her. “Really, Lex? Let’s do it!”

“Is your head also empty? Taking on a group of immense caliber is insane. We should take it simple.”

“And what? Give them what they want?”

Lex stuttered at Ruby’s hard-hitting words. “What else?”

“Ah, Lex. Do you believe Ruby is gonna not fight? Of course, we’re gonna charge in there and smoke ‘em all out.”

What fantasies was Harley smiling about? Sometimes, her mind took control of the present. This definitely should not be one of those times.

“Harley, just hold it.” Nadia turned to the person in charge. “Ruby, are you sure an all-out attack is best?”

She didn’t take long to answer. It was like she didn’t even think about the question. Her words shot out automatically.

“Anything to get my son.”

Ruby wasn’t going to back down. It would take one hell of a persuasive job to change her mind.

“Ruby, how about we negotiate? Maybe they’ll listen if we try peacefully.”

“They aren’t about peace. It’s in their name.”

“True, but who knows? Worth a shot.”

Nadia’s proposal wasn’t terrible. Lex disagreed, which wasn’t a big deal. Negotiating wouldn’t be ridiculous. We probably could give them items or outis coins in exchange for Quinn, but something bugs me deep inside.

They could change and run rampant on campgrounds if they wanted to. They could decimate this place in no time. So why didn’t they?

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Were they after something more than outis coins? ‘A heart for a heart.’ Were they after someone and not the Baraic Cult as a whole?

Right. Of course. It’s only natural for a leader—a mother—to try to save their child personally. They’re confident Ruby would show up. Were they planning to kill her? Maybe. I mean, ‘a life for a life.’

Thingy, do you know what the Heads of Despair is trying to do?

It didn’t answer right away.

“Potentially. If I were to assume, if anything, Ruby is their target. Logically speaking, getting rid of the leader is ideal. Why else would they snatch her child? They want to fish her out and strike when the opportunity shines gold.”

Similar to what I thought. It doesn’t seem like they want to trample on the entire cult. Could they want Ruby?

“Could I suggest something, Ruby?”

She gave the go.

“Instead of a full-force attack, we could throw Lex’s and Alexious' squad into the village. My squad will accompany you to rescue your son.”

That didn’t go over so well with Lex. “What’s wrong with my squad? You're calling them useless, huh?”

“They are no match for what’s to come. Don’t let your pride blind the obvious.”

“You tryna duel? I’ll beat you into the soil so deep that plants will grow from your pores.”

“You are impulsive as ever, Lex. Dueling would be a waste of time. Every second counts to get Quinn back.”

Lex barked with more insults and pride but was dismissed by Ruby, who wasn’t having any of this. Her body language was much different than before. She looked stiff to the bone as her body carried no water.

“Nadia,” she said, “that idea isn’t half bad.”

Nadia’s cheeks grew rose pink, covering her nose with a flat hand. “I am as humble as ever.”

Lex groaned, swinging his arms like a child throwing a temper tantrum. “How in the world is that a half-decent plan? You’re gonna be charging with less than twenty men. Are those numbers ideal for an attack?”

“Not for an attack, but the fewer the numbers, the less threatening we look. It’ll show them that we aren’t looking for a fight.”

Harley spoke up. “Sorry, Nadia, but I’m gonna have to side with Lex on this one. Negotiating with nutjobs isn’t going to end full-force, say we pound their heads into rocks till their skull cracks like a peanut’s shell.”

She sounded a bit too excited.

“Jill,” Harley said with her usual tone, “you’ve been quiet for too long. What do you say? Negotiate or fight?”

There were pros and cons to both. Less bloodshed and less chance of things getting out of control. Keep it simple. We go in, negotiate, and leave with Quinn. No one’s hurt, and everything is all good. But heavy doubts clouded my mind. No way it would work. It wasn’t something negotiable. We took a life, and they want one back. What if they asked for Ruby’s? It’ll become a battlefield regardless. If that’s the case, I would get the most out of it. The thingy would grow stronger, and I’d be a step closer to getting strong enough to defeat the SCAR agent.

In the end, it shouldn’t have been my decision. It wasn’t my child who we had to rescue. Ruby should have made this decision.

“Not sure,” I said unconfidently.

“Is there anything else you want to do? Maybe something other than negotiating or fighting, though I don’t know what else we could do.”

The room reeked of hopelessness, and a sense of panic emerged. Ruby couldn’t maintain her composure, shifting around constantly while trying to appear strong. Lex and Alexious stayed quiet, knowing any joke would be their last. Nadia kept glancing at Ruby, waiting for her to snap any minute. Harley was the only one trying to make something out of nothing.

I, on the other hand, was a mouse. I hardly spoke, and when I did, it contributed nothing. Everyone in the room was lost at sea and bombarded with thick waves.

Enough sitting around. If no one else wanted to steer the wheel, then I would.

“Why not both?”

Everyone turned towards me, surprised by my sudden words.

“What exactly do you mean?” Nadia asked, glancing at Ruby quickly.

“We go there to negotiate; if it doesn’t work, we draw our swords.”

“We cannot arrive armed to a negotiation. To negotiate peacefully—”

“Then let’s not negotiate peacefully. If they want outis coins, we have enough to give. If they want food, we can always get more. If they want land, we could move elsewhere.”

“What if they want Ruby?”

A heart for a heart. That’s what the note said. A heart for a heart. Zen for someone. Zen was one of the original leaders of the Three Heads of Despair. A leader for a leader. That’s what they wanted—Ruby’s life.

Harley spoke. “The letter, though. ‘A heart for a heart.’ Obviously, they want someone’s head.”

Nadia and Harley clashed over the situation. Nadia led toward negotiation while Harley adamantly wanted to fight. Harley raised her voice as Nadia rejected her arguments. They weren’t half-decent. She mainly wanted to shed blood. The polar opposites continued to exchange words as if it were their decision. It wasn’t.

Ruby’s face reeked with distraught. Her hair covered most of her face, and her hands were in their usual position. She hadn’t budged in a while. Not a single muscle. I doubt she even blinked—like staring at a cold statue—silent while everyone else threw sentences.

Her silence only lived for so long.

“It’s obvious what they want. Their objection is to wither our cult, hence why they asked for a life. Whose life, well, it doesn’t matter. We aren’t going to buckle and yield while they get their way. We aren’t going to hand over anyone. Not without a fighting chance.” She got up and threw her hair behind her shoulder. “Even if we march to death, we won’t sacrifice anyone without fighting. Everyone is going to live. You all have my word.”

“Well, have fun. My squad probably is going to be useless regardless.”

“Really, Alexious? Do you have no pride in yourself?”

“Woah! Whatta speech! I’m pumped! I can’t wait to poke someone's eyes loose.”

“Harley, don’t speak that way. R-Ruby, I have a suggestion.” Nadia got up, looking down to hide her face. She didn’t want to see how Ruby reacted to her suggestion. “Use me. If they’re asking for a life, then I’ll volunteer.”

Lex and Alexious left their jaws on the floor. I didn’t expect this. In fact, this scenario didn’t cross my mind. A volunteer sacrifice? Was she insane?

“L-Let’s cool it, Nadia.”

“No, Harley, I won’t. The threat is too large to take on. If we can take the safe way out, where no one gets hurt, then let’s do it. As the leader of the elite squad for the Baraic Cult, my value weighs more than anyone. Please, for the sake of the cult, choose me.”

Ruby ambled towards Nadia, who still had her head down. Nadia rubbed her fingers together. She couldn't stay still. It was clear as day how she felt.

Ruby placed her hand on Nadia’s shoulder, who jumped in surprise.

“I respect your courageousness, but it is not the time to make hasty decisions.”

“No.” She brushed Ruby’s hand off. “For the sake of everyone else, let me do this. It is the only way you and everyone else walk out alive.”

“And what about you?”

“It’s—It’s ok. It’s out of free will. I’ll carry it with no regrets.”

Ruby brought Nadia close, wrapping one arm around her neck. Her eyes widened enough for the sockets to gush out.

“And then what? What about me? What about the clan? Do you choose to abandon us all? Abandon me? I can’t have that. Who’s going to be my advisor? Who will ensure I’m doing my job to the fullest? Who is going to be my most trusted friend? I may get most of the credit for the ups, but none of it could’ve happened without you. I need you, Nadia. I can’t lead the cult alone. I need you. I promise when it’s all said and done, we’ll all be alive. I won’t let anyone die in my hands. I’ll do whatever it takes to retrieve Quinn and leave with no deaths. But for that, I need you, Nadia.”

The words almost made her legs tap out. Words were so powerful that they made her shed a singular tear from her red eyes.

“You—You n-need… m–m–me?”

“Of course. Without you, this clan wouldn’t be what it is. And with you gone, it’ll crumble into nothingness. You’re strong, Nadia. I trust you with everything, and today, I’m asking for your trust. Please, have some faith in me.”