Episode 6

At the same moment, yet in a different city, that night's grip was suffocating—it may well be a night Marvin would never manage to forget. He was forced to watch the savage murder of his mother, unfolding before his very eyes.

"Marvin, run!" Mrs. Rena's condition was dire; her strength dwindling fast, she clung desperately to Markus's right leg. She aimed to thwart his pursuit of Marvin.

"Mama!" sobs tore through Marvin; the thought of abandoning his mother was unbearable.

Markus struggled, his left leg kicking at Mrs. Rena's body with brutal intensity, intent on freeing his right leg from her grasp.

Bugh...

Bugh...

"Release my leg, you bastard!"

But Mrs. Rena would not surrender. With the last of her energy, she gripped Markus's right leg even tighter, though her body grew weaker from excessive blood loss.

"Marvin, I beg you!" Mrs. Rena's voice was weak and hoarse, pleading for her son to escape.

Marvin cried even harder, his heart aching to see Mrs. Rena in such dire straits, but what could he do? At just ten years of age, he stood no chance against Markus, a man of considerable stature.

With heavy reluctance, Marvin pried the window open, slipping out and escaping through it, his tears coming in shuddering gasps.

"Help!"

"Somebody, help us!"

Marvin raced through the darkness, his cries for assistance echoing hollowly, hoping against all odds to be heard. Regrettably, back in 2005, the neighborhood was scarcely populated, and even his school route took him through forested areas.

"Dammit!"

Patience eluded Markus, who swiftly plunged his knife into Mrs. Rena's back and shoulder numerous times until she collapsed, powerless to fight back.

Mrs. Rena had no strength left to ward off Markus. She coughed violently, blood pouring from her mouth.

Her body slumped, life ebbing away, her breath growing heavier by the second. Her vision blurred as she watched Markus chase after Marvin, passing through the same window that her son had moments before.

Tears fell—likely for the final time—to grieve the last night she would see Marvin, a sorrow that pierced deeper than the wounds spreading across her body.

"Ma-Marvin...”

These were her last, faintly uttered words before her life slipped away, leaving behind her unfortunate son.

...****************...

Now amidst the forest, Marvin continued to scream for help, in the futile hope that someone might be passing by.

"Help!"

"Please, help us!"

"My mom's hurt!"

Marvin's voice broke with tears as he pushed his legs to their limit.

But his hope dwindled; he was lost on where to run next, the forest pitch black except for the glimmers of moonlight.

"Hey, you little wretch, come here!"

Startled, Marvin realized Markus had caught up. Glancing back, Markus loomed a mere 15 meters away.

"Hahaha...!" Markus's laugher filled the air, relishing the sight of Marvin's fear.

Marvin quickened his pace. His breath was ragged, but he pushed through, desperate to escape.

Markus was relentless too, chasing without pause.

Panic gripped Marvin as he stumbled upon the edge of a cliff, a river snaking below. Trapped, there was nowhere left to run.

"Hahaha..." Markus chuckled sinisterly, "You've got nowhere to run now, you wretch. Prepare to follow your mother to hell!" He brandished the knife he held.

Marvin was terrified. If he were older, he would kill the man before him without hesitation.

Backing away as Markus advanced, Marvin glanced down at the river below, calculating. Drowning felt preferable to dying at the hands of this villain, though his curiosity burned—why did this man want them dead?

With sudden resolve, Marvin turned and leapt from the cliff, plunging into the river below.

Byurr...

Marvin broke the river's surface with a splash.

"Damn it!" Markus cursed. He was too slow, now just a figure on the cliff edge. Shining his flashlight down, he sought to confirm Marvin's fate in the water.

"The brat had the nerve to jump!"

Frustration bubbled as Markus peered into the placid water, almost certain of Marvin's drowning. By tomorrow, he thought, the news would surely report a ten-year-old boy's body found.

Drrrtt... Drrrtt...

Markus's phone vibrated, an incoming call from Erza.

After a deep breath to compose himself, unsure of Marvin's death, Markus hesitantly took the call.

"Hello, boss."

"Is it done? Have you killed them both?" Erza's voice came through from the other end.

Fearful of losing the 200 million Erza had paid him, Markus found himself lying, convinced Marvin was as good as dead. "It's done, boss. They're both dead."

"Hahaha..." Erza's laughter conveyed his satisfaction. "Burn the place, make the cops think it was a fire that got them."

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***