The old woman lay motionless on the floor of the train car, surrounded by a pool of blood that was slowly spreading. Her lips trembled as she tried to utter one last word, but there was no one there to hear her. Her wrinkled hand clutched her purse tightly, as if it held some priceless secret inside.
One of the mercenaries leaned contemptuously over the old woman's lifeless body and began searching through her belongings. He brutally wrenched the purse from her hand and opened it impatiently. Inside he found a series of seemingly worthless objects: a worn handkerchief, a few silver coins, and a photograph. It was a blurry image of a smiling young couple; he frowned in disappointment at finding nothing of value.
At that very moment, like a raging animal blinded by fury, the old man lunged at them, determined to die. However, it was too much for him; he was beaten beyond recognition, and when they finished toying with him, one of them pointed a gun at him.
"Darius, stop! If you hit him, you can't kill him—he'll be a commodity that will earn us a fortune."
I felt so furious and helpless at the same time. However, it was only a matter of minutes before all attention turned to me. Darius smiled with brazen confidence and began to approach slowly.
"Wait!"
"Marcus! Are you going to meddle again?"
"Stop being stupid and go check the last car. I just heard a noise."
"Why don't you go?"
"Because, once again, you're going to ruin the merchandise. Do you want the boss to get mad?"
For a brief moment, I watched as Darius's eyelids began to tremble, and his steps slowed. Then, without saying a word, he turned around and headed for the other car.
Relieved, I let out a sigh, but I knew I was running out of options. I had to act, or I was going to die. The harsh reality of this world hit me full force. I didn't have time to be scared or to mourn for the poor woman and her husband.
With no other choice, I began to analyze the situation coldly. My hands were sweating, and my mind was racing, searching for any detail I could use to my advantage. Fear and despair tried to invade my thoughts, but I pushed them away with determination. I knew that if I let my emotions get the better of me, I'd be dead in minutes.
There was no room for doubt or failure. I looked around, quickly assessing possible escape routes, but I didn't see any that offered me a real chance.
The clearest option was the gun. If I couldn't neutralize it, all would be lost. I wondered if I could take her by surprise, perhaps capitalizing on a lapse or a moment of distraction. What would I do if they spotted me before I could make a move? I couldn't let that happen. The tension in my body was rising, but I tried to stay calm. One false move and it would all be over.
Marcus, a burly man with a cold, ruthless gaze, stood a few feet away from me. His gun glinted menacingly in the dim light of the train car. I had to act smart and fast if I wanted to get out of this situation alive.
I surveyed my surroundings more closely. There was little I could use to my advantage. The train cars were cramped, and though I felt confined, I couldn't afford to miss even the smallest detail. Every second counted.
If I don't do something now, I won't get another chance.
Soon an idea began to form in my mind.
I looked around the train car, searching for an object I could use to distract the terrorist and gain the upper hand. My eyes fell on a fire extinguisher in a corner of the car.
Carefully, I approached the extinguisher and gauged the distance between it and me. I knew I couldn't make any mistakes; my life depended on it. With a quick movement, I grabbed the extinguisher and threw it at him, diverting his attention for a moment.
Taking advantage of the confusion, I lunged at him and we struggled for control of the gun. His strength was impressive, but my determination was even greater. With a superhuman effort, I managed to wrest the gun from him and aim it directly at his head.
The terrorist looked at me with surprise and contempt in his eyes.
Bang!
Without a word, I pulled the trigger; Marcus, who had a hole in his forehead, fell helplessly to the ground. Blood splattered my face, and an unpleasant sensation overwhelmed me. Fear, nausea, dizziness...
I forced myself to pull myself together, even though my body was resisting. This wasn't over yet. I didn't know how many were left, but it was clear that, upon hearing the gunshot, Darius wouldn't take more than a few minutes to return. I had to hurry, find a solution before it was too late. Every second counted.
Thud! The impact was brutal, and the car shook under the force of the blow. Instantly, a scorching heat filled the space, making the air thick and heavy.
"What a pile of junk!" shouted the girl who had just opened the door to the last car. Her red hair, like living flames, fluttered in the wind, and her stern tone left no room for doubt.
A strange yet familiar thought crossed my mind.
At that moment, my eyes met the girl's.
A strange yet familiar thought crossed my mind at that moment. My eyes met the girl's.
Ugh…
I recognized her instantly, and as I looked closer, I noticed the subtle sparks that flashed in her eyes.
What is Amelia Hart doing here?
[....]
Then, it all clicked. The mercenaries were nothing more than assassins, sent to ambush this girl who, at first glance, seemed weak. But in reality, she was the only daughter of one of the three most powerful guilds in the world: Dawn. Her father, Cyrus Hart, an SS-class mage and one of the strongest men on the continent.