Chapter 11: The Price of Mercy

The room reeked of blood and fear.

The scent clung to the air, thick and inescapable, as if the very walls had absorbed the agony of the night.

Vaibhav and Abhinav lay motionless, their bodies crippled, ruined, their minds barely holding on to sanity.

And now—

It was their turn.

The three remaining boys sat in eerie silence, their eyes glazed with terror, their hands trembling as they waited.

Waited for the inevitable.

Waited for her.

She stood in front of them, her hands folded gracefully, her lips curled into a sweet smile.

She tilted her head, as if in deep thought.

“Now, let’s see… who should we start with?”

She scanned their faces, watching them flinch under her gaze.

A mocking sigh left her lips.

“You boys look so scared,” she teased, her voice gentle, playful—a complete contrast to the cruelty in her eyes.

She took a step forward.

And just like that—

One of them let out a choked sob.

“P-please…” he whispered, his entire body shaking violently.

Her smile widened.

“Oh, sweetheart, don't cry yet,” she cooed. “I haven't even started.”

She turned to the first boy, the one closest to her.

“You,” she said softly, crouching down in front of him.

The boy whimpered.

“I’ll start with something simple,” she mused, reaching for her tools.

Her fingers brushed over a pair of pliers.

Her favorite.

With practiced ease, she gripped his hand, pressing his fingers flat against the wooden table.

“N-no… no, please!” he begged, trying to pull away.

Her men held him down.

She simply hummed, tightening her grip on the pliers.

With a swift jerk, she ripped off his first nail.

The sickening tear of flesh echoed in the room.

The boy’s scream tore through the silence, high-pitched and agonizing, as he convulsed in pure pain.

Tears streamed down his face, his chest heaving violently.

She sighed dreamily, admiring her work.

“Such a beautiful sound,” she murmured, then looked at the pliers again.

“Nine more to go.”

The boy screamed again, but his voice cracked into a silent cry.

By the time she was done, his hands were nothing more than a bloodied mess, his fingers twitching in horrified spasms.

Her eyes shifted to the next boy.

She tapped her chin, pretending to be deep in thought.

“Hmm… What should I take from you?”

Her fingers traced the length of a sharp blade.

Then—she smiled.

“Let’s make it fun. I’ll let you choose.”

The boy froze.

His mind raced—was this a trick?

Her smile widened.

“So,” she purred, leaning close, “one ear or two fingers?”

The boy’s breath hitched.

His heart pounded in his ears.

“I-I—”

“Tsk, tsk,” she sighed impatiently. “Choose quickly, darling, or I’ll take both.”

A strangled sob left his throat.

“My… f-fingers,” he whispered.

“Good boy.”

Without hesitation, she pressed the blade against his knuckles.

And then—

She sliced.

His flesh split apart, blood gushing from the wound as his fingers fell to the floor with a sickening thud.

The boy convulsed in agony, his body writhing against the chair.

She simply smirked, wiping the blood off her blade.

The last boy sat paralyzed, his skin pale, his lips quivering.

She turned to him slowly, her gaze piercing.

“Ah… you’re the lucky one,” she whispered.

The boy barely breathed.

“I’ll give you a gift,” she murmured, dragging a razor-sharp scalpel across his cheek, not deep enough to cut—yet.

“Something to remind you of me… forever.”

Before he could react, she pressed the blade into his skin.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Carving.

The boy let out a silent scream, his body shuddering as she etched a deep, intricate mark into his cheek.

When she was done, blood pooled down his face, staining his shirt, his pants, the floor beneath him.

She pulled away, admiring her work.

“Perfect.”

Her men watched in awe.

One of them, a tall and broad man, let out a low whistle.

“Such kindness, Madam,” he mused. “You spared them when they didn’t deserve it.”

Another nodded in agreement.

“You’re truly merciful,” he said.

She let out a soft, humble laugh.

“Oh, you flatter me,” she murmured, feigning modesty.

But her eyes glimmered with amusement.

The three boys, barely conscious, stared at her in horror.

If this was her kindness, then…

What was her cruelty?

The thought alone made their stomachs twist with dread.

She stretched her arms with a fake yawn, tilting her head playfully.

“This was fun, but I’m exhausted,” she sighed dramatically.

Then, she turned to her men.

“Give them some medicine,” she ordered.

Her men exchanged confused glances.

Medicine?

Why would she—

“Oh,”She smirked, reading their thoughts.

“I don’t want them dying too soon.”

She turned to the boys, stepping closer, bending down until her face was inches away from theirs.

Her voice dropped to a whisper, sickly sweet.

“I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

The boys didn’t react.

They were already half-dead.

“Rest well,” she added with a mocking pout. “You’ll need all your strength.”

She stood up, flicking her hair over her shoulder.

And with one final chilling smile, she walked away.

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