The Beast That Licks Me - Chapter 4.11

What a fool! She should have realized that if Evan was injured badly enough, the children could be in danger too, but she had been so focused on finding him that she’d forgotten. Feeling like she had put them in danger, Rosette bit her lip hard. Thinking they needed to get out of there first, Rosette spoke in a hushed voice.

“Children, let’s leave. This place is dangerous…”

“Waaah…!”

Ariel stumbled, probably tripping on a doll. As she struggled not to fall and stepped forward, someone caught her.

“Ariel? Are you okay?”

It was just as Rosette called Ariel’s name in panic and raised her lamp. The light reflected off a silver knife, making Rosette squint.

“Why the rush to leave when you just arrived?”

A voice like scraping metal sent shivers down her spine. Ariel was being held by a man with a long snake tattoo from his cheek to his neck. With a knife at her throat, Ariel couldn’t say a word and was just silently shedding tears. Rosette instinctively hid Levit behind her and gripped his hand tightly. Levit’s warm palm was soaked with sweat. The hand holding the lamp was trembling violently.

“T-teacher…”

Ariel called Rosette with a strangled voice. Several more men approached and stood beside the man. All were at least twice Ariel’s size, both in height and width.

“I thought we were done for, but it looks like there’s a way out after all.”

“I told you God was on our side. God must be doing d***s, too.”

The men looked at the two with gleaming eyes and snickered. When Levit tried to step forward, the man pressed the knife closer to Ariel’s neck as a threat.

“Stay still. Unless you want to see this little one’s neck dangling.”

The man raised the knife sharply. Blood trickled down Ariel’s white neck. Ariel let out a whimper mixed with crying.

“Hnngh…”

“Hey, she’s wetting herself!”

“What are you… Oh, s**t.”

The man cursed harshly and grabbed Ariel by the hair. Ariel’s skirt was soaked in a dark color.

“Ugh, hic…”

“Do you know how much these shoes cost? I should just kill you.”

“Just bear with it until we get out.”

Rosette quickly processed the men’s conversation. They needed hostages. That also meant there was someone nearby causing them trouble. Hoping her deduction was correct, Rosette raised her voice.

“Wait!”

“S**t, can’t you lower your voice?”

She was right. The man pressed the knife against Ariel’s neck again. Rosette spoke in a subdued voice to avoid agitating the man further.

“Let’s exchange hostages.”

“Ha, why would we?”

The man sneered at Rosette’s suggestion.

“The child is terrified. She’ll only be a hindrance.”

Rosette tried hard to hide her trembling as she spoke. Levit stepped in front of Rosette and said.

“Yes, swap with me.”

Rosette grabbed Levit in panic. But Levit seemed determined and wouldn’t back down. Rosette had to struggle to hold Levit back from moving forward. The men snickered at the sight.

“How touching, such a display of love.”

“Why don’t we just take all three as hostages?”

“Then who’s going to negotiate and who’s going to get the d***s, idiot?”

“The kid would be easier to carry if we need to run. Lighter.”

From the men’s whispered conversation, Rosette realized they were the d**g dealers in question. Rosette raised her lamp to chest level and lowered her hood. Her short red hair was revealed in the light.

“My name is Rosette Alpaine. The only daughter of Count Alpaine.”

“….”

“If you want to escape, I’m more valuable than that commoner girl. Think about it.”

Despite Rosette’s voice being quite loud, the men didn’t comment on it. They were clearly considering her proposal.

“What should we do? If she’s really a noble, wouldn’t she be better?”

“How can we trust that? Her clothes are shabby.”

“She looks real. She’s pretty. And her skin is so white.”

“Idiot. Are all pretty people nobles?”

After a brief discussion, one of the men gestured to Rosette.

“You there, raise your hands and walk toward me.”

“Release the child first.”

“That’s nonsense. You come first.”

When Rosette hesitated, the man pressed the knife closer to Ariel’s neck. Ariel’s eyes were filled with terror.

“Stay there if you want the kid to die.”

There was no reasoning with them. Rosette began to walk toward the men. Her legs were shaking uncontrollably. It was fortunate that they hadn’t given out completely. The distance to the men was about seven steps. Rosette stopped again and glared at them.

“I’m slow anyway, send the child first.”

The men looked at each other and whispered. Finally, the knife was withdrawn from Ariel’s neck. Even just that much made breathing easier.

“One step from you for one step from her. Go.”

Rosette followed the men’s instructions. As Rosette took one step forward, Ariel carefully took one step. Up close, Rosette could see that Ariel’s cheeks were streaked with tears. When Rosette smiled slightly to reassure her, Ariel dropped large tears. It was a silent cry, unable to make proper sounds. How painful and frightening it must be. Rosette’s heart ached, feeling responsible for this situation.

“Teacher…”

“It’s okay, Ariel.”

Rosette whispered to Ariel. When there was just one step left, the man with the knife roughly grabbed Rosette’s wrist.

“Grab the girl again and kill the boy!”

This wasn’t the deal. Rosette grabbed onto the men and shouted.

“Run!”

“You crazy b***h! Let go!”

A burning pain flared on her cheek. Crash! Losing her balance, Rosette fell backward. She felt her arm being cut, probably pierced by something sharp. Undeterred, Rosette grabbed the man’s thigh and bit down hard.

“Argh-! This dog-like b***h bit me…!”

The man struck her body with his other foot. She must have been hit squarely in the solar plexus, as she couldn’t breathe properly. Even then, Rosette didn’t let go of the hand she was gripping. The man, venting his anger, grabbed her hair and trampled her repeatedly. It felt like her scalp was being torn off. That’s when it happened.

“Put out the light, Rose.”

An unfamiliar language came from the darkness. Ancient sacred language. Rosette was certain the voice belonged to Evan. She pushed the man’s thigh. As the man lost his balance and fell backward, Rosette rolled her body and brought the lamp close.

Whoof.

When she blew out the flame with her swollen cheek, everything was plunged into darkness.

“S**t, I can’t see anything!”

“You crazy bastard, don’t push!”

In the pitch-black darkness where they couldn’t see an inch in front of them, the men lost their bearings and panicked. Had the children escaped safely? Even when her consciousness was about to slip away from pain, that was Rosette’s only wish. I’m sorry, children. I’m sorry.

The fallen Rosette struggled to get up. Her eyes, not yet adjusted to the darkness, could barely distinguish her surroundings. Then someone gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

“It’s okay now. It’s all over.”

A gender-neutral voice. But somehow it was reassuring. Rosette slowly closed her eyes. The last thing she saw was two blue flames creating trajectories of light in the darkness before her consciousness snapped like a cut thread.