The Understated Legend is Back

Chapter 2: Her final promise

Nana laid crumpled on the cold wooden floor, her frail body twisted at unnatural angles.

Almost every bone in her body had been shattered. They sure had taken their time. Blood seeped from countless wounds, staining her once neat woolly clothes a deep red before pooling beneath her.

It was not a good sight to behold.

Every breath felt like a blade carving through her chest.

Her vision blurred as tears mixed with blood trickled down her wrinkled face. Anyone with a normal heart who saw Nana’s state would’ve shed tears. She was merely an innocent, frail old lady.

She had lived a very long life, but she never imagined it would end like this.

Six huge men surrounded her.

One of them, a towering brute with a shaved head, a braid tail dangling behind his head, and his tattooed fists wrapped around a thick steel club, looked down at her with a hint of pity.

“You know,” he clicked his tongue, rolling his shoulders. “I almost feel sorry for you, old lady.”

He rested the club against his shoulder then continued, “if it were up to me, I’d give you a quick death.” His lips slowly curled into a cruel smile. “But John Whitney didn’t want that. He wanted you to cry, to beg… he wanted to watch your life slip away one painful minute at a time.”

Nana’s trembling eyes drifted toward the phone fixed on a tripod stand, next to a nearby chair.

It was still recording.

They had filmed every scream, every broken bone, every drop of blood. A trophy for the monster who has ordered it all.

John had asked them to film it all. Watching her in pain and being tortured would make his day.

Hatred burned within her clouded eyes.

“You…” her lips quivered violently. “…monsters!”

A burst of laughter immediately filled the room. They were literally mocking her.

The man with the club crouched before her until his face was only inches from hers. “Monsters?” he repeated softly. His smile vanished, “Watch your tongue, old lady.”

His finger slowly rose until it hovered just short of her eye as he warned her.

“Or I’ll cut that tongue out before you take your last breath.”

Without hesitation, Nana spat in his face. Blood mixed with saliva slid down his cheek.

The room fell silent, his brows knitting together in a deep frown. His expression darkened, “You old witch.”

His boot shot forward immediately.

BANG!

It slammed into her face with a horrifying force, and a sickening crack echoed through the room.

Nana's jaw dislocated instantly. Agony exploded through her body.

She tried to scream but no sound came. Only broken, muffled groans escaped her shattered mouth.

“Damn,” one of the men whispered, a small laugh escaping his lips. Another leaned lazily against the wall, folding his arms, “We all know no one’s coming to save you. I also know you know this is the end for you, but tread carefully still.”

The former wiped the saliva off his face in disgust, his anger palpable. “I see where that little girl got her foolishness from,” he glared at Nana.

While they were dragging Molly from upstairs, she had bitten one of them till almost his entire finger ripped off.

He continued, “Well, now she’s on her way to Lumen village, let’s see how long she can last.”

Nana's eyes widened.”Lumen… village?” She managed to speak.

Her heart nearly stopped.

She knew that place.

Ten years ago…

That was where John Whitney had sold Chay. A hidden slave market disguised from the world.

A selected group of extremely wealthy men gathered there not merely to buy slaves, but to indulge their darkest desires.

They laughed as innocent people were whipped. They applauded as flesh split beneath leather lashes. They feasted and drank expensive wine while watching helpless victims stripped of every shred of dignity.

It wasn’t entertainment.

It was hell.

The memory struck Nana like lightning.

She had desperately begged her dearest friend, Master Lochan, to save Chay all those years ago.

Lochan had purchased Chay’s freedom for an enormous sum before taking him away to a distant land.

He continued to raise him, trained him and forged him into the warrior the world would one day fear.

Without Master Lochan, Chay would have died in Lumen village.

Now…

History was repeating itself.

“No…” Nana’s breathing became frantic.

One of the men smiled, his eyes glowing in excitement at Nana’s reaction. “I guess this old lady knows about Lumen Village,” he laughed. He was almost a hundred percent sure he guessed right.

“I’m curious as to how you know about this place, but lowkey, I don’t give a fuck.”

He continued, “I hear those filthy wealthy geezers there love young innocent girls.” “They’ll not just strip her, they’ll chain her, parade her on a stage and teach her a very good lesson.”

“They especially enjoy it when the slaves scream.”

The room erupted into laughter once more.

“I told you…” Nana tried to shout, but she couldn’t. “I told you to leave her alone!”

Using every ounce of strength left in her battered body, she forced the words out. “I told you to take me instead! I told you to kill me, but leave… her… alone,” her voice reduced almost into a whisper towards the end of her sentence as tears streamed endlessly from her eyes.

You could feel the pain in her voice.

Even now, all she could think about was protecting Molly.

The men laughed harder.

One doubled over, clutching his stomach, “Old lady!” He wiped tears from his eyes. “I didn’t know you were this funny.”

“Well, we are only doing our job. And that man, John, he pays way too good money. He pays, and we deliver. It’s nothing personal, grannie,” he laughed.

The room echoed with cruel amusement.

The leader slowly stood. He gripped the heavy steel club with both hands. “Any last words?”

Silence.

Nana slowly lifted her head. One by one… she looked each man in the eye.

There was despair. Pain. Hatred. But not Fear.

Finally, she spoke, “Tell John Whitney, I said…” a weak smile appeared on her bloodied face. “very soon, my grandson will send him to join me.”

The leader sneered.

“Your grandson?”

“He died ten years ago!” With a roar, he raised the steel club high above his head. It whistled through the air as it came crashing down…

“He’s… not… dead…” Nana breathed.

SLAM!

The front door exploded inward. The walls shook violently as a hurricane of killing intent flooded the house.

“NANA!”

Chay’s earth shaking roar echoed through every room.

But…