Zach lay on the soft bed, staring at the ceiling. The long day had drained him, but sleep was just out of reach. Beside him, Elias shifted under the covers, muttering to himself.
"Tomorrow… I'll win for sure… you'll see… just wait, Zach…"
Zach turned his head, raising an eyebrow at his friend's sleep-talk. "You're even dreaming about losing?" he mumbled to himself.
Elias groaned in protest, rolling over. "Hmph… I wasn't trying today… tomorrow is the real game…"
Zach chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah… just sleep, you sore loser."
Elias mumbled something incoherent before finally going quiet. Zach smirked, finally letting his own eyes close. Tomorrow was bound to be another eventful day.
Sebastian stepped out into the cold night air, pulling his cloak tighter around him as he descended from the mansion. The young master had fallen asleep, and with the boy safely resting, it was time for him to fulfill his duty.
Frosthold was alive even at this hour. Unlike Ravennest, which slowed down at night, this merchant city never truly slept. The streets were filled with flickering lanterns, illuminating bustling stalls, traders closing last-minute deals, and couriers rushing to deliver messages before the dawn. Laughter spilled from taverns, where merchants and adventurers drank away their earnings, and guards made their rounds, ensuring order in the wealthiest trade hub of the region.
At first glance, everything seemed prosperous too prosperous. Sebastian had visited Frosthold before, but something was different this time. He scanned the streets as he walked, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. There were new stores, wealthier traders, and well-fed citizens. This should have been a good sign. And yet, the deeper he moved into the heart of the city, the stronger the unease in his gut became.
He passed a bakery where a group of street children sat huddled together, their eyes darting nervously whenever an unfamiliar figure approached. Nearby, a merchant packing up his goods shot a wary glance down the alley before hastily disappearing into the darkness. A group of beggars sat by a fountain, unusually quiet, their hands hidden beneath their rags.
"Fear," Sebastian realized. "These people are afraid."
Frosthold had always been a city where the strong thrived, but fear wasn't something that had lingered here before. Something was stirring beneath the surface.
He took a slow breath and adjusted his gloves. If there was one thing he had learned over the years, it was that fear didn't come from nowhere. It was always caused by something or someone.
"Best start with information," he thought, making his way toward a familiar tavern tucked in one of the back alleys.
The Silver Hound was not a place the average merchant dared enter. It was where rumors circulated first, where mercenaries, informants, and underworld figures conducted their business. If anything was happening in Frosthold's shadows, the whispers would start here.
As he entered, the smell of alcohol, sweat, and pipe smoke filled the air. The patrons barely gave him a glance. Dressed in simple, dark clothing rather than his butler's uniform, he blended into the background with practiced ease. He approached the counter, nodding to the bartender.
"What's the strongest drink you have?" Sebastian asked.
The barkeep, an older man with a scar across his cheek, raised an eyebrow. "Haven't seen you before."
Sebastian smirked. "That's because I make it a point not to be seen."
The bartender snorted but poured him a drink, sliding the glass over. Sebastian placed a few coins on the counter, deliberately adding extra.
"Heard anything interesting lately?" he asked, voice casual.
The bartender eyed him for a moment before shrugging. "Depends on what you mean by interesting."
Sebastian swirled the drink in his glass. "Something big. Something that's making people scared."
The barkeep was quiet for a beat before leaning in slightly. "There's been movement in the underground. People disappearing. Not just beggars or criminals—traders, workers. Someone's picking them up, and they're not coming back."
Sebastian's fingers tightened around his glass. "Human trafficking?"
The bartender nodded grimly. "That's the rumor. And if it's true, it ain't small-time. Someone with power is running this operation."
Sebastian exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the information settle in his chest. Human trafficking. That would explain the fearful expressions he had seen.
"So this is the rot beneath the city's prosperity," he thought.
Setting his glass down, he stood, flipping another coin onto the counter.
After leaving the tavern Sebastian's sharp eyes scanned the surroundings. Then, amidst the sea of people, a small group caught his attention. Hooded figures, moving with purpose but just discreet enough to avoid suspicion. They weren't thieves, nor common criminals there was something practiced about their movement, something too methodical.
His instincts flared.
Silently, he trailed them, weaving effortlessly through the crowd, his presence unnoticed. The figures turned into a dimly lit alleyway, avoiding the bustling main roads. There, in the shadow of towering buildings, a carriage stood waiting. The men moved swiftly, their hushed voices carrying a weight of urgency.
Tabs POV
Screams and cries echoed through the orphanage halls. Heavy footsteps pounded against the wooden floors as masked figures stormed inside, dragging children out of their beds. Chaos reigned.
Tabs' breath hitched as he froze on the staircase, his heart hammering in his chest. He had been on his way downstairs after overhearing the orphanage manager's worried conversation when the sudden crash sent the entire building into turmoil. The moment he heard the terrified wails of the younger children, only one thought crossed his mind Joy.
He rushed toward the girls' section, dodging past the panicked children who ran in all directions.
"JOY!" Tabs shouted, his voice barely piercing through the noise. "WHERE ARE YOU?"
A small, trembling voice called out from a corner. "T-Tabs…!"
He turned and saw her curled up near a bed, clutching a blanket to her chest. Her eyes were wide with terror, her entire body shaking. Relief flooded through him, but there was no time to waste.
"We have to go!" Tabs grabbed her hand, pulling her up. "Come on! We need to get out of here before—"
A rough hand suddenly yanked him back. Tabs gasped as a towering man loomed over him, his grip like iron around the boy's arm.
"Not so fast, brat." The man's voice was cold, void of any sympathy. "You're coming with us."
Joy let out a shriek as another figure grabbed her, forcing her away from Tabs' grasp. Tears welled in her eyes as she reached out toward him. "T-Tabs!"
"JOY!" He struggled, kicked, and clawed, but it was useless. The grip on him tightened, and no matter how much he thrashed, he couldn't break free.
Terror gripped his heart as he watched Joy being dragged away, her cries ringing in his ears. His mind screamed at him to fight harder, to do something but against these men, he was powerless.
The orphanage's once warm and lively living room was now a prison of fear. Tabs and the other children sat bound together, their small wrists tied tightly behind their backs. Strips of rough cloth gagged their mouths, muffling their cries. Some had tears streaming down their faces, their muffled sobs the only sound they could make. Others trembled, their bodies shaking from terror as the criminals paced around them, ensuring not a single one escaped.
Tabs' heart pounded against his chest. He could barely breathe, the pressure of the gag pressing against his lips. His mind raced, searching desperately for a way out, but there was none. These men were professionals. They had moved quickly, striking in the dead of night with terrifying efficiency. There was no struggle, no chaos only the cold, merciless precision of their crime.
Near the entrance, the orphanage's manager and the owner were on their knees, their voices breaking as they pleaded.
"Please, spare them! They're just children!" the manager begged, his voice hoarse with desperation. "Take whatever we have, but don't do this!"
"We'll give you money," the owner added hastily. "Just let them go!"
But their words fell on deaf ears. One of the masked criminals scoffed, arms crossed as he glanced toward his companion.
"You hear that?" he mocked. "They think they can bargain."
Laughter rippled through the group of men. The tallest among them, the apparent leader, stepped forward, his voice cold and unyielding.
"Shut up. You're lucky we don't just get rid of you now."
The manager clenched his fists, his face twisted in agony, but he could do nothing. The owner, who had dedicated his life to these children, could only lower his head in helplessness.
Outside, the faint sound of a carriage rolling up the dirt road sent chills down Tabs' spine. One of the criminals near the door peeked outside before turning back to the others.
"Time to load them up."
The air in the room grew heavier. The children, sensing the worst, whimpered through their gags, their cries growing louder. Some struggled, their tiny bodies thrashing against the ropes, but it was futile. The men had ensured they had no chance to escape.
Tabs squeezed his eyes shut. His entire body screamed at him to do something anything but he was powerless. His hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms. Fear, anger, and despair twisted inside him like a storm.
Sebastian POV
Keeping his presence hidden, he tailed them with precision, his years of experience making him a ghost in the night. The further they traveled, the more apparent their destination became the orphanage.
As he neared the front of the building, his sharp eyes took in the horrifying scene. A carriage was stationed just outside, its doors open, waiting. One by one, the children, bound and gagged, were being dragged out and loaded inside like cargo. Their muffled cries were barely audible, but their terror was unmistakable.
Sebastian's gaze sharpened as he took in every detail. The criminals operated with ruthless efficiency there was no hesitation, no wasted movement. The caretakers of the orphanage knelt before them, pleading desperately.
"Please, take us instead! Spare the children!" the manager sobbed, clutching at the hem of one of the kidnappers.
The man merely scoffed and pushed him aside. "Shut up. You should be grateful we're not cutting your throats."
Sebastian's fingers curled into a fist. He had seen enough.
Then, amidst the sea of terrified faces, his gaze locked onto one pair of wide, desperate eyes Tabs.
The boy didn't cry out, didn't thrash, but in that fleeting moment, his eyes spoke volumes. A silent plea, raw and filled with fear. Help me.
Sebastian's expression remained unreadable, but his resolve hardened.
Without hesitation, he moved.
The nearest kidnapper never saw it coming. A silent snap his body crumpled to the ground, dragged swiftly into the darkness before the others could notice.
Sebastian's eyes gleamed coldly.
The hunt had begun.