002 - Knight in Shining Armor

"And they lived happily ever after."

A giggle escaped from the little girl as she clapped her hands in excitement.

"Mommy, do you think I'll meet my prince one day?" she asked innocently, her wide eyes filled with wonder.

Her mother smiled softly, though there was a hint of something unreadable in her expression.

"Of course, darling," she said gently. "You'll find him someday. Just wait for the right moment."

That was what her mother always said, but nothing ever worked out for her. Everything was a mess, and now, it had led to something truly horrifying.

All she ever wanted was to meet her prince and be with him for the rest of her life.

But this? This was not the fairytale she had imagined.

"What...the...frick?!" Wyndel gasped, his heart pounding as he instinctively grabbed Rahiya, pulling her behind him. His body tensed as he shielded her from the hideous ghoul that stood before them, its monstrous, twisted faces watching them with an eerie hunger.

Zandro, standing beside them, gritted his teeth. He reached for Wyndel's arm, steadying himself before slowly grabbing a chair, his muscles tightening as the creature inched closer.

"Let's run, on the count of three…" he whispered.

But before he could even count, the ghoul lunged.

"RUN!"

With no time to think, Zandro hurled the chair with all his strength, slamming it against the ghoul's decayed body. The impact barely fazed it, but it was enough to buy them a split second to escape.

As they sprinted through the chaotic street, they heard a lot of crying and screaming in the background. However, the ghoul's guttural growls, shrill cries, and twisted laughter sent chills down their spines.

This wasn't the first time they had seen a ghoul attack.

But it was the first time they were the prey.

Rahiya pushed herself to keep up, her lungs burning, her legs struggling to match Wyndel's pace. He had a firm grip on her wrist, practically dragging her forward. But she was reaching her limit.

Running had never been her forte—especially not in heels.

Her ankle twisted. She let out a sharp gasp as she stumbled, her fingers slipping from Wyndel's grasp.

"Rahiya!" Wyndel's eyes widened in horror. He turned back, reaching for her.

But before he could react, Zandro shoved him aside—just in time.

A sickening crunch echoed through the air as the ghoul's clawed hand slashed where Wyndel had just been standing.

Rahiya lay frozen on the ground, her body trembling. Her breath hitched as the ghoul loomed over her, its three hideous faces contorting into something even more monstrous.

Was this it?

Was this how she was going to die?

Never meeting her prince.

Never experiencing the life she had dreamed of.

"RAHIYA!!!" Wyndel's voice was desperate, raw with panic.

She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable.

Then—

BANG!

Something crashed against the ghoul.

A trashcan.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Rahiya shrieked as garbage rained down on her. The stench was unbearable.

Zandro smirked, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Be thankful, brat."

Before she could even respond, the ghoul recovered faster than expected. It let out an ear-splitting screech and, with terrifying strength, grabbed Zandro and hurled him against the wall.

"ZANDRO!!"

Her heart pounded as she watched him collapse, a pained groan escaping his lips.

For a split second, she wished—hoped—that it was Andrei being attacked instead. Not them.

But her thoughts shattered as the ghoul's long, bony fingers wrapped around her waist.

She screamed.

It lifted her effortlessly, its three sets of eyes staring at her, unblinking. Up close, its faces were worse—decayed, twisted, a nightmarish blend of agony, fury, and delight.

Wyndel stood frozen, torn between saving her and helping Zandro, who's now bleeding and struggling to move.

Her body trembled. Tears stung her eyes.

Was this how it ended?

She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the tragic fate of hers. Any second now, the ghoul would tear her apart.

But it never happened.

Instead of pain, there was silence.

Hesitantly, she opened her eyes—only to find the three-headed ghoul now headless. Its monstrous body twitched before collapsing, releasing its grip on her.

She expected to hit the cold, hard ground.

But she didn't.

Instead, strong arms caught her effortlessly, lifting her into a secure embrace. A black-cloaked figure held her in a bridal style, his presence radiating an air of mystery and charm.

Her breath hitched as she gazed up at him, her eyes shining with curiosity and wonder.

Maybe she wasn't destined to be with a prince.

Maybe…she was meant for a knight.