CHAPTER 3

Someone appeared behind them, startling them. They instantly stood in front of the children protectively.

But Jack resisted and stood in front of his mother and Sarah.

Jack, threatening: "Don't even think about getting close to them!"

He continued: "Go! Get out of here. I'll protect you!"

Sophia and Sarah looked at him closely and realized he was the stranger who had helped them ten years ago.

Sarah: "You're the one who helped us years ago!"

Sophia's expression completely shifted from tension and worry to strength and determination.

She took Black from Sarah's hand and gave both children to the stranger, surprising him as well as Sarah.

Sophia: "This time, you escape with them. We'll try to buy you time."

Sarah to herself: Now I understand. You're right, Sophia.

She wiped her tears forcefully and stood behind Sophia.

Sophia, pleading: "Please take care of them. And if you can, teach them how to survive."

Jack, tearfully: "Mom, what are you saying? Where are you going?!"

Black's voice was hoarse, her throat sore from screaming. She was exhausted, and her tears wouldn't stop falling like rain.

Black, pleading: "Mom, don't leave me. Don't go!"

Sarah, with tears: "My sweet girl… take care of yourself. I'll miss you so much."

She hugged her tightly, and Jack too.

Sophia, strongly: "You must know… they'll try to kill you when you have a son who bears the Dragon's Mark. Remember this."

Jack, confused: "I don't understand… Mom, what's going on? Don't leave me, Mom!"

Sophia: "Never be a coward. Always be strong, Jack."

She added: "Black is your responsibility. Never let go of her hand. Take care of each other."

Sarah: "Black, don't leave Jack alone, okay? Take care of him."

Jack, refusing: "Don't go out!"

Suddenly, they all heard a voice from outside.

Masked Man: "I know you're inside. Come out now! You've made me very angry!"

Sophia: "Please, take them away from here."

Black: "No! I don't want to!"

Jack: "No, Mom! Don't go out!"

The masked stranger picked up the two children despite their resistance and struggles, and rushed them out through the back door of the hideout. Meanwhile, Sophia and Sarah waited a few moments, then stepped outside calmly.

During that time:

Sophia: "Sarah… don't you regret coming with us?"

Sarah, sadly smiling: "Never."

She placed her hand on Sophia's shoulder.

Sarah: "We're more than friends. I'd never leave you alone, Sophie."

Sophia: "I hope they can change things… and not meet the same end as us."

Sarah let out a small laugh.

Sarah: "Don't worry. Those little rascals are smarter and stronger than we ever were."

Sophia: "You're right."

They charged at the enemies with all their strength and clashed fiercely with the masked men.

At that moment, the stranger exited through the back door, and Jack and Black could see what was happening to their mothers.

They saw the masked men holding their mothers and preparing to kill them. Both children struggled fiercely to escape the stranger's grip—and succeeded.

Stranger, angry: "You little brats!"

Sophia and Sarah saw their children running toward them. They looked at them one last time… and smiled.

But the children's steps weren't fast enough. The attackers revealed claws and slit their mothers' throats.

Upon seeing this, both children froze.

Suddenly, Black—now like a lifeless body without a soul—felt a powerful heat radiating from Jack.

A strong aura of fire surrounded him, and his eyes turned into blazing flames.

He screamed with all his might, to the point he thought his vocal cords would tear. Everything around him began to burn.

The masked men and the stranger stared at him in shock—summoning the element of fire was extremely rare.

Jack charged with full force, determined to kill those who killed his family. He clashed with one of the masked men, formed a blade of fire, and struck one of them down.

When Black saw him fighting alone, she looked around for something and found a rock. She grabbed it and ran to help Jack, striking the enemies.

The masked men managed to catch that burning flame, and one of them grabbed the little girl, lifting her by her arm into the air.

He wanted to see her mark, but before he could, the masked stranger attacked them ferociously.

He freed Jack and Black from the masked men and held them tightly, as they were thrashing and screaming loudly.

Jack, screaming: "Let me go! I'll kill them… I'll kill you all! I won't let a single one of you live! Let me goooo!"

Black, crying bitterly: "Let me go, mister! I'll smash their heads!"

They were both looking at their family drenched in blood. Black's tears became like a never-ending waterfall, and Jack's eyes were no less terrifying than his flames.

The stranger sprayed something on their faces, and their vision began to blur, their voices fading… until they lost consciousness. Jack's fire was extinguished, and both of them fell into a deep sleep.

Stranger, to himself: "This is better…"

While trying to escape with them, a voice called out to him.

Masked Man: "Do you think, Gara, you'll get away with this? Do you really think you can save them? Why didn't you just stay in your hole like always?!"

Gara turned to him.

Gara: "I don't think things will ever be the same again."

He looked at the children, then back at the masked man.

Gara, coldly: "From now on, things are going to get a lot more interesting… Simon."

Then Gara vanished before their eyes.

Simon didn't order his men to search for Gara. He knew that if Gara wanted to hide, no one would be able to find him—unless by miracle.

Instead, he ordered them to burn down the remaining houses and the corpses.

The next day

Jack woke up in a place he didn't recognize.

He looked around for Black, but couldn't find her. Forcing himself to stand, his face now bore coldness and numbness—like a dead body moving without a soul. He stepped outside, fully alert.

He looked around for Black and for something to defend himself with. He saw a knife on a fruit plate, took it, and heard a sound outside, so he went to check.

The house was medium-sized, located on top of a mountain, hidden among the trees. There were no real safety measures.

Jack approached the edge of the mountain for the first time—without a shred of fear. He looked down with cold eyes, remembering how he used to feel in the past.

(He used to feel like a strong wind could push him off the cliff. Though he lived in the mountains, his father and uncle always surrounded the house with fences and other safety measures.)

A voice came from behind him:

Voice: "Well done. Only cowards and weaklings would be swept away by the wind."

He turned to see a man standing behind him, unfazed by the knife pointed at him. He was holding a basket with mushrooms and other items.

Gara, continuing: "But you… you will be the storm that burns everything in its path."

Jack, coldly: "Who are you?! Where's Black?"

Gara: "Gara. My name is Gara. As for the girl, she's sleeping inside."

He turned to go back inside the house.

Jack followed him and stood in front of him.

Jack: "Stop. Why did you bring us here?"

Gara: "Don't you remember me, boy?"

Jack, bitterly sarcastic: "Oh, I remember you very well. You could've saved everyone. But you were a coward. You stood back and watched them get slaughtered. And now, suddenly, you want to play the hero? Why save us?!"

Gara: "First of all, I wasn't a coward—it wasn't my fight. I had no reason to interfere. Second, they weren't going to kill you. They might've killed the girl, and then left."

Jack: "Why wouldn't they kill me?! And why did you step in?!"

Gara: "The girl is about to wake up. It's better if she sees you first. After breakfast, I'll tell you both what you need to know."

Meanwhile, Black was stirring in bed, slowly regaining consciousness.

Jack went to her and found her curled up, sobbing intensely, filled with fear and panic.

He sat beside her and began calling her name to help her recognize him.

Jack, gently: "B… Black, it's me, Jack. Please… open your eyes and look at me."

After hearing his voice, she immediately opened her eyes and clung to him so tightly that he felt as if she might melt into his very bones.

Her crying intensified to the point that she could hardly breathe, and fear gripped him—Black was now the only one left to him from that massacre.

Jack gently patted her back, trying to soothe her until she calmed down a little.

She then looked up at him, only to find him frozen—he hadn't shed a single tear.

She embraced him and gently ran her hand along his back.

Black: "Jack..."

As if her touch and the sound of her voice had given him permission to release what was buried deep inside.

In mere seconds, the painful memories overwhelmed him.

His tears began to fall silently—his father and mother had been killed right before his eyes.

He could do nothing.

Overnight, he became an orphan.

He had lost his family.

He held Black tighter, pulling her into a firmer embrace, and buried his head in her shoulder.

He remembered how often he used to argue with his father, and the pain grew sharper.

Jack (to himself):

"Dad, please… Dad, I promise, I won't argue anymore. I swear I'll listen. I won't be a troublemaker again.

But please… come back.

Mom… I'll sleep in your arms from now on.

You used to beg me to, but I'd say I was too old for that.

You knew, didn't you?

You knew you might die soon.

All you wanted… was more time with me.

Mom… I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry, Mom...

Moooom... Daaad…"

Black: "Jaaack..."

His tears continued to fall silently.

He didn't lift his face.

He didn't make a sound.

He remained silent.

Outside, Gara stood still.

But he didn't come in.

He wanted them to let it all out first.

Then he left to prepare some food.

Some time later...

Jack sat in silence, not saying a word.

Black: "Jack... where are we?"

Jack: "In the house of the man who pulled us out of there."

Black: "What are we going to do now?"

Jack (with a deathly coldness): "We will take revenge."

To be continued...