Deathbringer? -2

"Wh-what... are you talking..." The caller stammered, caught off guard by the teenager's sudden outburst.

But as the caller's response turned theatrical, a murderous glint flickered in Keres' eyes. With a sudden jerk, he yanked the bracelet off his wrist.

"Don't play dumb with me, you bastard! Tell me where Lizzie is right now!" He stated in a grim voice, holding the bracelet close to mouth level, eyes blazing with fury.

"Tsk, tsk..." The caller's demeanor shifted, dropping the pretense. "You figured it out, huh? Not bad, Deathbringer" They taunted, their voice dripping with malice.

Keres' heart skipped a beat at the mention of the word, Deathbringer. However, his shock only lasted a moment.

"If you touch a single hair on her head, I swear I'll—" He tried to speak but the caller's cold and mocking laugh cut in sharper than a knife's edge, sending a shiver down his spine.

"Kukukuku. Stop getting ahead of yourself, brat" The caller sneered.

"The church's elite are on your trail so do well to start practicing your final words because I guarantee you'd be needing them soon" They warned, taking a pause.

"Friendly piece of advice? Save everyone the trouble and turn yourself in. Maybe the Apostle of Indigo would be merciful enough to grant you a painless death. Although that would be a lot more than those of your kind deserve. Hehehe" The caller added, before abruptly hanging up.

The silence that followed reverberated through Keres's mind, drowning out every rational thought. His grip tightened on the bracelet, as if he could squeeze answers from its digital surface.

Lightheadedness swept over his temple, a storm of emotions colliding within his chest. The cold air clawed at his skin, heightening the turmoil surging within.

Why did the caller impersonate Lizzie? What could they possibly want from him?— He pondered, but no answers came.

The Ancient Church trailing him was one thing, but the uncertainty surrounding his family's safety sent shockwaves of unease through his heart.

He took a step forward, the snow crunching beneath his feet. It all felt surreal, his mind still clouded in disbelief. Why now? Why him? The answers refused to come, mocking his desperation.

Silent gasps escaped his lips, materializing in the cold air. And as he took another step forward, remorse began clawing at his insides; perhaps his past actions had caused this nightmare. He thought— but of course, self-pity wouldn't save his family.

Soon after, Lizzie's face emerged in his mind— the way her eyes crinkled when she smiled, the contagious glow of her laughter. Keres felt a surge of determination— he couldn't lose her. Not like this.

The caller seemed confident that his escape was impossible and made no demands or negotiations. This ruled out a typical hostage situation. But then, what was their motive? His mind raced with more questions, the intensity of winter's touch only amplifying his turmoil.

With each passing moment, the urgency to uncover the truth grew stronger within him. But maybe he was overthinking things. Perhaps Lizzie's phone had been stolen, and she was safe. It could also be a part of Milan's plot or a prank from someone else.

The thoughts crossed his mind, but that would be too convenient, he couldn't risk it. He had to trust his instincts and confront the unknown head-on.

He tried to continue along the path homewards, yet his feet refused to cooperate. The ground felt like quicksand, pulling him slowly into its depths.

Helplessness and frustration began tangling in his chest. What was he supposed to do if they really were in danger? His eyes widened, fist still tightly clenched around the bracelet.

Caught in a web of uncertainty, he heard Milan's crunching footsteps approach from behind. She wore a grave look on her face, her eyes dark pools of concern.

"You're dying to say 'told you so' aren't you?" Keres' asked, his voice brittle.

"I'm sorry, I never wanted any of this to happen" She murmured.

"Is that so?" Keres whispered in an emotionless voice. Upon a moment's hush he continued.

"Did you know that my situation would endanger my family as well?" He asked, gazing upwards.

"..." Milan didn't say anything, but her silence spoke volumes, bitterness etching deeper and deeper on her face with each passing second.

"I see..." Keres closed his eyes, as if shutting out the world. His resolve wavered, teetering on the edge of despair.

"Lord Keres..." Milan's voice trembled. She stood just an arm's length behind, her hair fluttering in the wind.

"Please don't beat yourself up" She continued, her own pounding heartbeat audible in the silence of the forest.

"None of this is your fault. I-I take full responsibility for everything, and I promise I'd make things right— however I..."

"The Apostle of Indigo... who is that?" Keres suddenly interrupted, turning to meet her gaze.

Something about the look in his eyes, reminded her of the person he once was. Startled, she hesitated for an instant before giving her reply.

"I... I don't know... but it must be one of the executioners from the sound of it" She said, her words bringing a heavy silence between them.

Keres' eyes showed a mix of desperation and anger but after swallowing a soft breath, the creases on his face slowly receded.

"My bad for doubting you earlier..." He said, taking a pause.

"But as I thought, I should go... I have to" He added and Milan sighed, reaching for his face with her gentle touch. Her hand cupped his cheek as she stared blankly into his eyes for a moment.

"Lord Keres, I'm scared..." She confessed, and Keres' eyes immediately widened at the unusual vulnerability in her tone.

"As long as we're here in Vertia, our opponents aren't just the executioners but the Ancient Church as a whole... if we walk into their trap, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to protect you" Milan continued, her voice tinged with fear.

The look in her eyes stirred both hurt and fear within Keres. But even so—

"I-I can't just leave them behind. They're my family" He stated in a soft voice, his heart torn between reason and emotions.

"I know" Milan responded immediately, her voice gentle yet firm.

"But we need to escape first. We're not certain that they're really in danger. And even if they are, we have to survive to stand a chance at saving them" She continued, maintaining eye contact.

At this point, Keres' pounding heartbeat had slowly begun to settle, Milan's presence a reliable calming force. Shutting his eyes briefly, he hesitated for a moment before proceeding to speak.

"What are the chances they're safe?"

"Perhaps 30 percent" Milan admitted, avoiding his gaze. "If the executioner in charge is someone reasonable."

"30 percent... It's just not enough." The teenager's voice cracked with despair. He massaged his temple, gently shaking his head sideways.

Milan remained quiet, her heart aching due to Keres' anguish. After a fleeting, heavy silence, she spoke softly, aiming to reassure him.

"Where we're going... there's a chance..." She halted, shaking her head to dispel her own doubt.

"My aim is to find the most powerful person I know. Regardless of the circumstance, rescuing your family would be a piece of cake as long as he wills it" She explained, her voice filled with determination and a glimmer of hope.

At the sound of her voice, Keres immediately raised an eyebrow, skepticism evident in his expression.

"Powerful? More than Invel?" He asked in a tone tinged with disbelief. In response, Milan smiled.

"A lot more than he could ever dream of" She affirmed, her confidence unwavering.

Keres felt conflicted between doubt and hope. Milan's words were exactly what he needed to hear. But could he truly count on this unknown savior?

"It's hard to believe someone like that exists" The teenager confessed, looking downwards. Naturally, he expected no response, but as he began organizing his thoughts, Milan spoke.

"If trusting me is too much for you right now..." She paused, drawing him closer with a gentle pull.

"Then, Lord Keres... would you like to have a bet with me?" She asked, extending her pinky finger towards him.

Perplexed, Keres' pulse quickened with curiosity as he stared at her extended finger wondering what exactly she was up to.

***