Chapter Eighteen: The Massacre
Elara felt as though she had been revived from the jaws of death. She smiled at Ariella, silently thanking her for the calm words that had kept her grounded. As they lay trapped beneath the earth, she focused on conserving her breath and waiting for the Queens to save them. They had to stay calm. They couldn't give in to fear.
Meanwhile, back in the village, people huddled inside their homes, doing their best to remain hidden from the wrath of the Shrouded One. The villagers tried to stay as quiet as possible, fearful of drawing attention. But for the Johnson and Bristow families, there was no comfort. Their daughters were still missing, and they feared the worst.
"We mustn't worry too much," Mr. Bristow said, trying to calm his wife. "The Queens promised they would always be with the girls. They'll be safe."
Mrs. Johnson paced the room, anxiety written across her face. No matter what her husband said, her heart couldn't rest. She moved towards the door at every small noise, hoping it was her daughter returning safely.
Outside, the Shrouded One, having buried the girls, mounted the two-headed beast again and headed toward the village. His voice reverberated through the streets, cold and menacing: "Bow or Die. There is no third choice. You all have two choices."
He sneered as he spoke. "I didn't want to make things ugly, but those two little rascals made a very big mistake."
Arriving at the first house, he dismounted, his eyes glowing with malice. He kicked the door open, revealing a family of four—two young children, no older than five and eight, huddled between their parents.
The Shrouded One raised his hand, and a machete materialized from thin air. He gave them his choice: "Bow or die."
Before the family could even react, the machete fell, cleaving the father in half. His blood splattered across the room, staining everything in sight. The screams of terror from the family quickly fell silent, the stillness oppressive in the wake of the massacre. The Shrouded One moved on to the next house, indifferent to the lives he destroyed.