Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 98: You Killed My Sister!

Chapter 98: You Killed My Sister!

Austin sneered down at her. "Capture them," he ordered, his voice cold and unfeeling. "Take them back to the organization. They’ll answer for their crimes there."

The four burly men moved forward immediately, throwing black sacks over Garvin, Larry, Ethan, and Maya. Without hesitation, they tied their hands and legs tightly, their guns pointed threateningly at the captives’ throats. The men then hoisted their captives onto their broad shoulders with effortless strength.

"Let go of me, you motherfuckers!" Maya screamed, her voice sharp and defiant as she thrashed violently in their grip. Her efforts, however, proved fruitless. Garvin, Larry, and Ethan also struggled against their captors, but the men’s vice-like grip rendered their attempts useless.

Carried like spoils of war, the four captives continued to shout and struggle, their muffled cries filling the forest. The black sacks over their heads robbed them of sight, amplifying their sense of disorientation and fear.

"You’ll pay for this, Austin!" Maya yelled, her voice defiant despite the odds. Her captor remained impassive, his steady footsteps crunching against the forest floor as he carried her deeper into the wilderness.

Garvin, Larry, and Ethan shared her defiance, as they continue grunting and squirming as they fought to free themselves, but their captors’ iron-like grip rendered their resistance futile. The forest around them was eerily quiet except for the rustling of leaves, the snapping of twigs, and the strained breathing of both the captives and their captors.

As exhaustion set in, the captives’ struggles grew weaker, their bodies surrendering to the harsh reality of their predicament.

Eventually, a new sound broke through the silence, as the loud chattering sounds of people and blaring music. The captives realized they were nearing their captors’ destination which was Austin’s organization.

The men carrying them entered into the building and finally stopped and dumped the four captives onto the cold, hard surface. Rough hands yanked away the sacks covering their faces, allowing their eyes to adjust to the dimly lit surroundings.

The group found themselves on the floor, surrounded by free citizens whose curious gazes pierced through them. The once-boisterous music and chatter had ceased, replaced by an unsettling silence as the crowd awaited the drama about to unfold.

Austin stepped forward, his towering presence radiating authority. A smug, triumphant smile stretched across his face as he surveyed his captives. "Welcome back to my organization," he announced, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Now, your trial begins."

Maya spat onto the ground, her eyes blazing with fury. "What useless trial?" she demanded, her voice cutting through the tense silence like a blade.

Austin’s expression darkened, his smugness giving way to cold rage. "You all are betrayers, and there is a price to pay for betrayal. You killed a leader of this organization. And not just anyone," he said, his voice rising. "You killed my sister!"

His words sent a ripple of shock through the crowd. Gasps and murmurs filled the air as the citizens processed the revelation. It wasn’t just that someone from the organization had been killed; it was Austin’s blood sister, Ayra.

The free citizens never knew about this news until today since Austin never revealed it.

Maya’s body stiffened as she glared at him. "Your sister wanted to kill us. Were we supposed to let her murder us without defending ourselves? If anything, your organization betrayed us first!" she shot back, her voice quaking with anger. "Garvin and I almost lost our lives tonight!"

Austin’s nostrils flared as his rage boiled over. "The first rule of this organization is obedience to its leaders! You don’t question them. You don’t defy them. You’re not leaders yet, you were undergoing tests to determine if you were worthy. But instead of proving yourselves, you murdered a leader. My sister!" His voice rose to a furious crescendo as he bent down, his fist crashing into Maya’s face with brutal force.

The blow sent her sprawling to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Maya groaned but forced herself to lift her head, her defiant gaze locking onto Austin’s. The crowd recoiled in collective shock, the air heavy with tension.

Garvin and the others tensed, their muscles straining against their bindings as they glared at Austin.

"Now, you keep quiet while I talk, bitch, or you’re going to be the first to die here." Austin’s voice dripped with venom, his tone heavy with authority and menace. He straightened up, rising away from Maya.

Wiping his hands as though brushing off the weight of her defiance, he turned and strode towards his ornate throne. Sitting down with an air of finality, he fixed his cold, calculating gaze on Garvin and Maya.

"Both of you," he began, his voice steady but icy, "are the reason Ayra died tonight, aren’t you? You were supposed to end up as food for the monsters. How is it that you’re still breathing?"

"That’s because we saved them," Larry interjected sharply, his voice ringing with defiance. His eyes blazed with fury as he continued, "The whole stupid sacrifice setup was bullshit! You deceived us and it’s not like we didn’t know it. We played along to see what you had planned. Turns out, you kill ordinary humans who choose to become monster slayers! You treat their requests as begging to die, feed them to monsters, and let them turn into monsters themselves if they’re not completely devoured! You’re a sick bastard!"

Austin raised a hand to scratch his ear, a faint smile of irritation curling his lips. "And so? You knew this already. There’s no point in bringing it up now. The only thing that matters is you killed Ayra to save them. Did you even consider the consequences of that choice?" His voice darkened, his eyes narrowing. "Even with powers, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill you, Larry and Ethan. Not even for a second."

Garvin remained silent, his thoughts drifting far from the tense confrontation. Scarlett’s image haunted his mind, her face a stark contrast to the chaos around him. He tried to push the thoughts aside, but he couldn’t shake his concern. Even though he knew she had powers, he couldn’t help but worry about her safety. Especially after witnessing how Ethan and Larry’s abilities seemed weakened while they were in the forest.

"Is she safe?" Garvin murmured under his breath, his voice barely audible. "She has to be... She will be." He tried to reassure himself, though his racing heart betrayed his unease.

Austin’s voice cut through Garvin’s thoughts like a blade. "Anyway, there are consequences for your actions," he declared, his tone carrying a chilling finality. "And that consequence is a heavy punishment. For betrayal, you will die, burned alive."

Gasps rippled through the crowd, but Austin wasn’t finished. His gaze hardened as it fell on Ethan and Larry. "But before that," he added, a cruel smile playing on his lips, "I want to see every limb you used to save them cut off. Watch as you beg for mercy and die slowly before you’re thrown into the execution fire."

"You bastard!" Maya spat, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face.

Austin leaned forward slightly, his cruel smile unwavering. "Take them to the punishment room," he ordered, his voice firm and unyielding. "Let them rot in complete darkness, unable to see light, hear a sound, or even smell the world around them until the day their punishment is carried out which I’ll decide."

The burly men nodded wordlessly, moving forward to drag Garvin, Larry, Ethan, and Maya to their feet.

"To hell with you!" Maya screamed as she was hauled away, her voice raw with anger and despair. Garvin, Larry, and Ethan followed silently, their minds racing with thoughts of escape and survival.

___________

Meanwhile, in the dark and desolate cave, Kato knelt on the cold ground, his body trembling as tears streamed down his face and blood still oozing out of the injury on his arm which was cut off.

Surrounding him were monsters, their horror forms closing in with chilling inevitability. His heart pounded as he awaited the final blow that would end his life.

Is this world really just a cruel joke? Kato thought bitterly, his shoulders slumping in defeat. I thought I could gain skills from the Queen of Monsters, control them, bend them to my will. How the hell did she die, then? His gaze drifted towards the bubbling toxic liquid nearby, the surface still littered with fragments of flesh.

"Fuck this world," Kato muttered under his breath, his voice filled with despair as the monsters drew closer. They moved with terrifying precision, their claws poised to tear into him.

Just as their horror forms loomed over him, ready to strike, a sudden, blinding light filled the cave. The intensity of it was almost unbearable, illuminating every crevice and forcing Kato to shield his eyes with his hands.

The monsters recoiled in agony, their guttural growls echoing through the cavern as they clawed at their faces. The light seemed to burn them, their discomfort evident as they stumbled backward, covering their ears in a futile attempt to escape the radiant force.

"What’s going on?" Kato whispered, his voice quivering with fear and awe. His body trembled uncontrollably as he peered through his fingers at the source of the light.

"Scarlett?" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the growls and wails of the retreating monsters. His heart raced, hope flickering to life amidst the terror. "Could she have returned?"