Chapter 21

A few years ago

"What?! Why would you do that?!" Jack questioned.

"It's against the rules."

Jack's face paled as he leaned against the wall for support.

"You can't just kill him! Even if he broke the rule he shouldn't die!" Jack retorted as his voice quivered.

"You don't have a say in this. It's your fault he's gonna die." The man said. "However, I'll let him live, as long as you do as I say."

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I meant."

Jack thought about it for a moment before replying.

"Fine. As long as you don't kill him."

"Good answer. Come back here tomorrow at the same time." The man smirked before walking away.

Jack gritted his teeth as the silhouette of the man faded into nothing.

"I won't let you die." Jack mumbled before gloomily returning.

---

"What do you want?" Jack questioned.

"You'll be the officer in charge of the manor. Obviously, you can't break any rule."

"What? I don't want to!" Jack said before gritting his teeth.

"I suppose it's fine if he dies then? Think about it. It's a pretty good deal. He doesn't die and you even get authority, I don't know why you would even reject it."

"Hmph. Just because you're the host, doesn't mean you should just kill people!" Jack retorted.

"Oh? You must be confusing something here. In terms of how many people I have already killed, it could be counted by my hand. You however, must be ten times more than I have ever killed. So tell me, Jack the Ripper, how many have you killed?"

Jack's face paled as he heard the host. It was true. He didn't even know how many people he killed at this point.

"Jack, do you think people in this manor are innocent? If you do, you're mistaken. You should know that most of you hunters have already killed people before. Even the survivors have killed. So, Jack. You don't have the right to tell me just because I'm a host or whatever you would say because we're the same. Aren't we?"

"You!" Jack pointed his finger to the host but couldn't say anything. It was true. He wasn't innocent.

"Keep that in mind." The host smirked before adding. "You better pick soon, I don't have all day." The host impatiently said as he waved Naib's ID card.

Jack stood there for a few seconds before finally looking at the host and said.

"Fine. I'll do it. Just promise me one thing." Jack said as his eyes glinted.

"You're not in any position to bargain here." The host frowned as he impatiently tapped the table.

"Just hear me out." Jack said, afraid that the host wouldn't agree.

"Speak."

"I'll be the officer, but you must promise me that no harm will come to Naib."

"Yeah sure, I can do that. But you must make sure that you follow all the rules. Including no dating between hunters and survivors."

"I know. That's all I ask for. As long as he doesn't get hurt, I'll be an officer."

"It's a deal."

---

Back to the current time

Naib's POV

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Joseph screamed as he lashed out on Jack.

"Nothing's wrong with me. It's just you." Jack answered as he dodged Joseph's frenzied attacks.

"Oh my God." I heard Emily say before rushing to Aesop.

By now, Aesop was bleeding heavily. His breathing was ragged and you could see that he was having the hardest time breathing.

Everyone around me was shocked. No one expected that Jack would suddenly try and kill Aesop. Including me.

I stared at Jack with mixed feelings before rushing to Aesop's side.

I felt sick.

I want it to stop.

I stared at Emily tending to Aesop's wound as she tried talking to Aesop, telling him to stay awake.

Tracy looked at Aesop in horror. The little girl then started crying as she hugged Kevin.

Kevin looked conflicted, seemingly knowing that this would happen.

I stared at the two hunters fighting. Jack was injured and Joseph wasn't doing well either. I bit my lower lip as my tears welled up.

"Jack." I murmured as my fist tightened.

"JACK!" I screamed before Jack finally noticed me.

Jack stopped then looked at me, I couldn't see his face as his mask was covering it.

"Just stop..." I said as I started crying.

Jack halted and just as it looked like he was about to say something, Joseph then stabbed him in the stomach.

I shivered as I felt my whole life crumble before me.

"JACK!" I shouted as I ran towards the two men.

Jack was now bleeding as he kicked Joseph away from him.

He then looked at me for a good few seconds before suddenly walking away from me.

"J-Jack!" I said as I stopped walking and just stared at the man who was walking away from me.

"Don't follow me." I heard Jack before he continued walking away.

Joseph, seeing that they were tied just ran towards Aesop. You could see he was a mess. His eyes were visibly swollen and his lips were injured, probably from biting it.

"Aesop!" Joseph shouted as he limped towards the silver haired man.

"Kevin! Carry Aesop to the infirmary! Now!" Emily was giving instructions as she finished wrapping up Aesop's wound.

"Also, apply pressure on the wound!" Emily added before she ran with Kevin.

I looked around again, seeing that Jack wasn't there, I followed Emily and the others towards the infirmary.

---

Jack's POV

I was bleeding all over as Joseph stabbed me pretty damn well.

"Fuck!" I said as I punched the wall in front of me. I wasn't supposed to lose that fight.

I suddenly remembered Naib staring at me as tears streamed down his face.

I was heartbroken.

The fact that I couldn't talk to him was killing me. I just wish that this could stop.

"You could do better." I suddenly heard someone behind me.

I frowned as I turned around and stared at the man who was wearing a black suit.

"If you didn't look at that puny mercenary you wouldn't have been this heavily injured."

"Shut up." I said before walking away.

"Go get Joseph." I suddenly heard him.

"What for?" I said as I stared at the damned host.

"Bring him to me." The host said in a strict tone. "You know what'll happen if you don't listen to me."

"Tsk. Whatever." I said before releasing fog and leaving.

---

Survivor's side of the manor.

Joseph's POV

I walked back and forth outside the door of the infirmary. Aesop was heavily injured inside while here I am, doing nothing!

My heart is beating faster than you could even imagine. I looked like a sick person.

The door suddenly creaked as Emily went outside.

"So? What happened? Is Aesop alright? Is he awake? Can I go in now?" I bombarded Emily with questions as she went out.

"His condition is stable. However, he can't see any visitors now. He needs to be in a quiet environment." Emily explained before sighing.

"I knew this would happen sooner or later. I should've told you." She added.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Jack... Killed a friend before."

"W-what?"

"Yes. Aesop should've known about this by now. Didn't he tell you anything?" Emily asked me.

Shit. I should've known.

"I'm guessing he didn't. That idiot."

"I... I promised I would protect him." I mumbled as I clenched my fist. I felt my heart drop. Just remembering Aesop lie in a pool of blood was giving me the chills.

Emily sighed before patting my back. "It's not your fault." She said before leaving me alone.

My eyes welled up in tears as I thought about Aesop being in pain. The moment Jack stabbed him hurt more than physical pain.

"Aesop... I'm so sorry." I mumbled as tears fell off my cheeks. "It's all my fault."

"Yes. It's all your fault. Now sleep." I heard someone before everything around me turned black.

---

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