[POV Samo]
We were in Zielitz, assigned to patrol District 13 that morning. It was the most problematic part of the city — so of course, it landed on us.
While everyone wore their standard equipment, I had only my old leather dueling armor. That's all I had. On my back, Fäste gleamed under the noon sun, shining like a silent beacon.
"All right, we'll be in charge of District 13," announced Merino, already stepping into the role of leader. "We'll split into two groups of three. That way, we cover more ground."
Felicia immediately protested: "Bu-but our group is already small. Splitting up could be dangerous."
She was right. Anyone with a brain would know dividing a team of six in a hostile district was reckless.
"Silence. I didn't ask for your opinion," Merino shot back, his tone sharp as a blade. "Just follow orders. Two of you, come with me."
I stepped in, trying to keep the tension from boiling over. "Don't worry," I told the others, keeping the peace. "Let's just do as he says for now. I'll go with him. Oliver, you're with me."
"What? But I wanted to go with Miss Felicia..." Oliver whined like a sulking child. I grabbed his arm and we followed Merino.
We walked the cobblestone streets, already covered in dust and filled with the coarse voices of vendors and tents.
"You didn't have to talk to her like that, Merino. You were too harsh," I said, voice neutral.
"I'll let you know when I want your opinion," he replied without even looking at me.
My fists clenched tightly. I could feel the leather of my gloves pressing into my skin until it hurt.
For a second, instinct took over — I raised my fist, ready to strike the back of his neck. But before I could move, a scream tore through the air like lightning:
"You bastard! Give me back my bread!"
A woman. She'd been robbed. The thief was already dashing through the narrow alleys, a sack of bread clutched to his chest.
"Let's go!" Merino shouted, chasing after the thief. We followed, the sound of boots echoing off tight alley walls.
The fugitive turned a corner and vanished. Merino barked out orders: "Split up! He's hiding in one of these damn alleys!"
I obeyed, weaving through alleys and narrow paths. I listened for steps, searched the ground, read the wind. Nothing.
"Damn it," I muttered, frustrated. "We lost... to a simple thief."
As I returned, I found Oliver.
"You didn't find him either?" he asked.
I shook my head. He walked beside me.
"So," he asked after a moment. "What do you think of Merino?"
The answer was obvious, but I took a deep breath. I needed to be diplomatic — for the group's sake.
"He's hard to deal with... But maybe he'll change over time."
Oliver gave me a curious look. "You're... something else," he said, lacing his fingers behind his head.
We walked a bit more until we found Merino... in an alley.
And what we saw shattered any attempt at impartiality I was holding onto.
The thief lay unconscious, the bread sack still clutched to his chest.
Merino was kicking him — with rage, with enjoyment, with sick pleasure.
The woman's bread, crushed on the ground.
"You... filthy... thieving... brat!"
Each word, a kick. Each kick, sadistic delight in his eyes.
We froze. Oliver didn't move. He was trembling.
Merino noticed us then. He turned, panting.
"You... huff... useless fools... huff... couldn't catch a scumbag like this..."
Hands on knees, trying to catch his breath.
"Oliver..." my voice was deeper now, quieter. "Go call one of the guards. Now."
He sensed something in my tone — and ran without hesitation.
I stepped closer. I looked at the trampled bread. At the unconscious man. At Merino... and then within myself.
And in that moment — I wasn't sure if I was still in control.
---
[POV Merino]
Where is that damn thief? I have to look for him alone since my useless team is no help. He must be around here.
Why did I end up leading a bunch of incompetents? Just my luck. I thought as I ran through District 13.
Then I saw him in an alley — that pathetic scum in his filthy rags, blending with the trash, hugging those moldy loaves of bread.
"Found you."
I charged him. He turned, startled.
"W-what—?"
I cut him off with a punch to the face, sending him flying, crashing into part of a rotting wooden stall.
He curled on the ground, still conscious, when I started kicking him.
"Die... you... filthy thief!" I snarled with each kick, bones cracking beneath my foot. It felt good. Like I was doing society a favor — cleansing it of this filth.
Then, from the broken stall, a figure emerged. A little girl in a filthy white dress, tangled hair, her face stained and hollowed.
"Br-brother?!" she cried, frozen at the sight of his battered body.
I stopped kicking and walked toward her, entranced.
If I eliminate her now, future bread thefts will drop. Evil must be rooted out at the source.
I moved closer. She was paralyzed. But then — hands grabbed my leg. Bloody fingers. That damn thief again.
"Run! Sis!" he shouted with the last of his breath.
The girl bolted the other way and vanished from view.
I snapped.
Crack.
I kicked his jaw. The bastard finally passed out.
"You... filthy... insolent... brat." I kept kicking. Now just a dead dog. I didn't care about the bread anymore. I just wanted to erase it.
Then I felt two presences behind me. Turning, I saw the two fools from my group.
"You... huff... useless bastards... huff... couldn't catch this loser..." I said, still trying to breathe.
The bigger one whispered something to the pervert, who ran off. Whatever.
The other stepped toward me and stared down at the thief.
"What the hell did you do?" he asked.
How dare he talk to me like that?
I stood and faced him. "Don't speak to me that way, you useless—"
"What?"
Suddenly he grabbed me by the neck and slammed me against the wall.
"Argh!" I choked.
I looked at his face. Who was this? His skin flushed red with fury, veins bulging from his shaved head.
Then everything turned dark. And that darkness came from him, like black smoke filling the air.
"I... I can't breathe..."
Strange — he wasn't even squeezing anymore, yet I was suffocating.
"You, bastard..." he said, his voice like something from another world.
"This is your only warning. Next time you disrespect civilians or your teammates, I guarantee you'll never be seen again. Understood?"
Those words echoed in my skull.
And behind him, in that creeping black mist... I saw it.
A demonic face — skinless, only raw pulsing flesh. Horns, a pig's nose, and hollow eyes like a bottomless pit.
But what struck me most... was the smile. That infernal grin — it was driving me mad.
"I... I promise," I gasped. Then he actually started to squeeze.
"Argh... argh... I... I'm gonna die..." I cried.
And just as everything dimmed... he let go.
I collapsed to my knees.
"What's going on here?" It was the guard Oliver had brought.
If he hadn't shown up, I'd be dead.
The guard took our statements. Samo didn't tell him what happened between us. Thank God.
But after that day... the nightmares began.
That faceless demon's smile haunted every shadow I looked into, whispering my name...
Telling me...
It was coming for me.