Chapter 20

"Joseph?"

He gulped.

"We have to go. Now." He said before grabbing my hand and running.

---

As the two continued to run from corridor to corridor, after a few minutes, they finally stopped.

"What happened?" Joseph asked while panting.

"I saw someone." Aesop said before looking back and sighing a sigh of relief.

Shocked, Joseph also looked around but saw no one.

"You should've told me sooner..." Joseph mumbled before sighing.

"Sorry..." Aesop mumbled.

By now, Aesop was tired, his feet were aching from all the running and his breathing was ragged.

"Hey, Joseph/Aesop." They both said in unison.

"..."

After realizing what just happened, the two laughed as both their lips curled upward.

"I'm leaving now." Aesop said before hugging Joseph yet again.

"Mm." Joseph nodded before adding. "Stay safe, alright?" He said before leaning in and kissing Aesop's forehead.

"I will." Aesop said before hugging Joseph and turning around to leave.

"And be careful of Jack." Joseph added before seeing Aesop's silhouette fully disappear.

However, what Joseph didn't notice, was that Aesop suddenly wore an evil grin.

---

(In a random room)

Aesop groggily woke up from his disturbed sleep, he couldn't remember what had happened.

He was running with Joseph just a few moments ago, how'd he turn up... Here?

Aesop looked around the room, it was quite luxurious, and not a speck of dust could be seen in it.

"I never knew there was a room like this..." Aesop mumbled before quickly scanning his surroundings.

There was a large intricately designed door, the carvings looked like it came from the Victorian Era. Surprisingly, there was fog inside the room.

"Oh, you're awake." Aesop heard a voice.

"Jack?" Aesop wearily asked as he looked around his surroundings. He couldn't see Jack anywhere.

"Don't worry, I won't be doing anything to you." Jack said.

"Then why am I here?"

"I brought you here. How else could you be brought here?" Jack explained before he slowly appeared before Aesop.

"..."

"So, what were you doing in the hunter's manor?" Jack asked while smiling.

"I got lost..." Aesop mumbled.

"Oh? Really?" Jack said before suddenly frowning. "It looked to me like you were talking to Joseph." Jack added.

"I-I can explain!" Aesop said.

Jack raised his brow as he gave Aesop his whatever you say look.

"I was going to go ask Naib something."

"Hm?" At this point, Jack looked at Aesop with curiosity. "Ask him what?"

"I was just curious about something." Aesop explained. His fists curled to a ball as he spoke.

Jack raised his brow as he looked at Aesop while frowning. He barely believed what he was saying.

"Huh." Jack scoffed. "Whatever, go back to your side of the manor, kid."

Aesop looked at Jack with surprise. "I thought that people would die if you go to the wrong side of the manor?" Aesop thought. His heart was beating fast and he just stared at Jack, dumbfounded.

"S-seriously?" Aesop asked as his voice quivered.

"Does it look like I'm joking?" Jack said as his tall build leaned in front of my face.

"I can't see your face..."

"..."

"..."

They both suddenly turn quiet.

"Fair enough." Jack said, breaking the silence and giving Aesop a look of disapproval.

"Leave now, or I might tell on you." Jack added before leaving the scene.

"What the hell?" Aesop thought before heading back outside and leaving the eerily silent room.

---

Jack's POV

"Damn, I was initially supposed to get angry, why did he have to suddenly bring Naib up?" I fumed in rage as I felt like I got played by Aesop.

"What a smart man, he actually knows my relationship with Naib." I thought.

"Whatever, it's almost time anyway. I'll have to prepare for the match." I grinned as I thought about it.

"Oh Joseph, it wasn't wise to be with Aesop." I said out loud before I laughed.

What happened awhile ago doesn't matter, as long as my plan is complete, he'll be safe and sound.

---

2 weeks later, day of the match

Emily's POV

"Has everyone gathered already?" I asked ad I looked around just to see Luca missing.

"Where's Luca?"

"I think he's preparing..." Tracy softly said.

"He should be prepared by now. There are 5 minutes left till we start." I explained with a hint of urgency. "Could someone please call Luca?" I added as I looked around to see if anyone could help.

"I'll go get him." Kevin sighed before leaving the lobby.

"Thank you!" I screamed from the lobby.

There were only a few minutes left before the match starts, I was distraught as I thought about how far Luca's room is from the lobby.

Sweat formed on my forehead as I panicked a little.

"Emily, you alright?" Martha asked me as she put a hand on my shoulder.

"Luca and Kevin might not make it..." I mumbled to Martha.

"Eh, it's alright. We can delay for a few more minutes. I don't think the hunters would get angry for waiting just a bit more." Martha explained.

"Alright..." I said but I was still uncertain.

---

Aesop's POV

In the end, we had to wait for an extra 10 minutes just for Luca.

After arriving with Kevin, Luca deeply apologized and quickly talked to Emily about the mode.

I was bored out of my wits, the only reason I joined today was because Emily said Joseph was coming.

D-don't get me wrong! It's not like I still like him or anything! I definitely don't! (A/N: adding a hint of tsundere Aesop here)

The match was about to start any second now and I'm still intrigued on how Joseph will work out in Duo Hunters.

"5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Match has started."

I was transported to Moonlit River Park, which kinda ironic since it wasn't entirely lit by the moon.

I scanned my surroundings and put my coffin in a hidden spot, I haven't met anyone yet so I couldn't really embalm them yet.

I quickly went to a cipher machine and started decoding.

Suddenly, the cameras started filming and I immediately knew where he was.

At about halfway, I heard Tracy scream as she got injured by Joseph.

I finished the cipher as I quickly as I could and I realized that there were 4 ciphers left.

Weird, usually Jack is the best at hunting us so it doesn't make sense that Jack hasn't hit anyone...,

Suddenly, my heart started beating faster as I could sense someone approach me from behind.

Damn.

I ran towards the nearest pallet and quickly put it down.

Jack was catching up to me by now, and Tracy has already been chaired twice by now.

The fact that I haven't bought anything yet makes it worse.

I quickly vaulted the window but Jack's foggy blade caught me and I got terror shocked.

I was gritting my teeth as the pain from my back was so intense.

After kiting Jack for a few more seconds, I got caught up and got hit, which resulted in me being incapacitated.

My whole body was in pain. My back was bleeding profusely and I couldn't think straight.

Why did Jack's hit hurt more today? I thought before getting ready for Jack to tie me.

"Heh." Jack scoffed before I saw him swing his blade at me again.

All I felt was excruciating pain before blacking out.

---

Emily's POV

"OH MY GOD, AESOP!"

I screamed in horror as I saw Jack stab Aesop as he was incapacitated.

W-what was happening?

I shivered all over as I thought about what happened to Hildegard. Was it going to happen again?

Jack then proceeds to brandish his blade as if he had done nothing wrong.

God, please don't tell me this is happening.

What happened next shocked me.

---

Joseph's POV

As I was about to chair Tracy for the last time, I suddenly heard Emily's ear-piercing scream.

What?

I suddenly let go of Tracy as I subconsciously ran to where I heard Emily was.

"Aesop, please be alright!" I thought as I clenched my fist.

---

Jack's POV

"Ahh, I finally did it." I thought as I stared at Aesop who was bleeding on the ground.

As if it wasn't enough, I stabbed him again just to see if he would cry in pain.

He didn't.

Suddenly, a sense of sadness came to me as I suddenly thought about Naib.

He'll hate me for this, right?

"I was originally going to let you off the hook, but I guess I didn't do so in the end." I grinned as I was glad to see Aesop suffer.

"If we couldn't be together, you can't be together either." I thought as I continued looking down on Aesop.

I heard tons of footsteps by now, however, there were footsteps that were heavier and faster than the others. I could guess who it is.

"AESOP!" I heard Joseph scream.

As I expected.

---

Joseph's POV

As I saw Aesop lie in that pool of blood, I lost it.

My eyes were bloodshot as my whole body trembled.

My breathing was ragged and I could barely see in front of me as my tears couldn't stop flowing.

I ran towards Aesop for dear life, but he was barely moving.

"N-no... Aesop..." I stuttered as I held him in my arms.

"Whoops, you're too late." Jack smiled and told me in a teasing manner.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" I screamed as I lashed out at him with my sword.

---

End of chapter.

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