Chapter 43: She Who Will Not Rest
400 years ago...
"Please..." a woman's whimper echoed in the quiet night of the forest. "Have mercy on me and my children. We do not know the person you were talking about."
She clutched her two children closer to her skirt, eyeing the young men surrounding her. A few torches were held up, casting a bright light on their snickers and the malicious gleam in their eyes.
She shook her head in fear, her shoulders trembling. "Please... don't involve the children. Do not hurt them, I beg you."
"Heh." One of the young men snorted. "Get the children."
At his command, the woman's pleading grew louder as she clutched her children as tightly as she could. The children screamed in fear, hugging her. However, as the men yanked them away, their grip tore a small part of her skirt.
"No! Please!" she begged through her sobs, struggling against the men's hold. Her eyes remained fixed on the two children, who were still screaming as they tried to reach out to her.
"No! Let us go!" one of the children shouted, biting the man who was dragging him.
"Ah!" the man winced at the bite, but after a second, his eyes flared with anger. He kicked the child. "You son of a whore! How dare you bite me?!"
The woman choked as she watched her son get kicked again and again on the ground. After a moment, a loud shriek erupted from her throat.
"Stop—enough! Please! No more! Please don't hurt him!!" she begged, but it was to no avail.