Chapter 4: The Game of Mercy
He held the knife to my throat and leaned in, whispering something into my ear—something I couldn't quite catch. My mind was too foggy to understand.
Then he lifted me up, cradling me gently, as if I hadn't just been threatened with death.
He carried me outside, out of the mansion, through the cold silence, into the edge of the forest.
There, a group of people were tied up, kneeling on the ground.
He didn't even glance at them.
Instead, he kissed my cheek again and whispered:
"Kill one of them."
My body moved like it was no longer mine. I gripped the knife he had pressed into my hand, and swung it wildly. The captives shrieked and recoiled in fear.
Dong Huyen stood behind me, guiding me step by step, calmly correcting my aim.
And just like that… I killed an old man.
Blood soaked the ground. I stood frozen.
He walked up, took the knife from my trembling hand, then gently cupped my face, laughing softly.
"You did so well, little one," he praised.
I collapsed into his arms.
The next morning, I woke up.
On the table beside my bed was a newspaper.
Curious, I picked it up.
What I saw made my heart stop.
My face.
Everywhere.
WANTED for murder.
I covered my mouth in horror.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Dong Huyen entered.
Behind him were several tall, muscular men in black suits—bodyguards or enforcers.
They moved to grab me. I realized: I was eighteen.
Old enough to be charged.
Old enough to be thrown in prison.
He tricked me.
Why? Why would you do this to me?
He walked right up to me.
On the floor was my teddy bear.
He picked it up… and without a second thought, ripped it open, stuffing spilling like snowflakes over my head.
I broke.
I cried—loud, helpless sobs.
He knelt in front of me, one knee on the ground, lifting my chin.
His hand slid down… and wrapped around my throat.
I pressed my lips together, bracing for the end.
But he didn't kill me.
Instead, he licked the tears from my cheeks, his expression pitying and gentle.
"It hurts me," he murmured, "to see you cry like this. Beg me. Beg me, and I'll save you."
Tears streaming down, I choked out:
"Please... please save me."
He grinned, triumphant, and pulled me into his arms.
Lifting me up effortlessly, he forced me to look into his eyes—dark, ecstatic.
Then, without even blinking,
he drew a gun and shot every last guard in the room.