C3

Samuel waited until they were well out of the siblings’ earshot before turning to Light. Ely had calmed down somewhat, and they wanted to give him and his family the space they needed to feel safe.

“Yes,” Light said quietly. “Their parents have done everything they could, but as you can see… it’s not working much.”

“Do they know the cause?” Samuel asked, concern drawing lines on his face.

“Not that I know of. Why? Have you seen such signs before?”

“H... Huh? Ah… no, I haven’t.” Samuel replied a little too quickly, eyes darting away.

“Okay then.”

Once they’d made sure the little boy was alright, they dusted him off gently and left, each lost in their own thoughts.

* * * *

In a distant Village, seemingly untouched by the horrors of monsters or dark forces, life appeared perfect. The fields were green, the rivers clean, the air fresh. It was the kind of place where everyone knew everyone, and no one. But beneath that beauty.... something uglier lurked.

A beautiful, brown-skinned girl made her way toward a stream outside the village. Though it wasn’t nearby, it was within trekking distance. The clean, flowing water had become the villagers’ preferred choice since their well was still under construction.

Immaculate hummed softly to herself, her voice light with joy. She was glowing, her smile radiant, her marriage was just three days away. She skipped happily down the familiar path, completely unaware that today would mark the darkest chapter of her life.

Suddenly, a hand clamped over her mouth from behind. Her screams were muffled instantly. Strong arms dragged her, kicking and thrashing, far away from the path, away from the river and the village. There, waiting in the shadows, were three boys. Among them was her betrothed.

"You got her, really?" her supposed fiancé asked the boy who dragged her in.

Relief flashed through her eyes when she saw him. But that relief quickly withered under the weight of his cold, detached expression, but she ignored that feeling after all he is her lover.

"Well, it’s a bet, William," the boy said, laughing.

"Will.... did you tell him to bring me here?" she asked, voice trembling slightly.

"Yes, I did."

"Okay, then can you come by the house later? I’m just getting water for grandma, so I can’t be long...."

"Hahahaha! Are you all hearing this bitch talk?"

Her heart sank, terror flooded her veins as she stared at the man she loved, the man she trusted. He looked down at her with a vicious grin. Every instinct screamed at her to run.

And run she did.

"Get her!!"

"Help!! Someone, please help!!!"

Her lungs burned. Her throat ached. But she kept screaming, kept running, pushing her body past its limits in desperation. She didn’t know where she was going, she just needs to get away.

A hand yanked her back by the hair. The pain was blinding. Her scalp felt like it was being torn from her skull. Her head throbbed violently, but the grip only tightened.

"Here’s the running bitch."

Tears welled in her eyes. She looked at William, her mouth opening to plead, but he raised his hand and slapped her with such force that pain shot through her entire body. Her voice caught in her throat as someone gagged her roughly.

"Strip her."

"No... no... Mhnnf!!"

She shook her head violently. Her body twisted, struggling in vain. But they tore at her clothes anyway, ignoring her pain, her fear.

"Woowhh, she looks delish," one of the boys sneered.

"Yeah, that’s why I planned to marry her in the first place," William replied casually.

"Are you sure we should be doing this? I mean, she’s your fiancée, and the wedding is in three days."

"Don’t worry, guys. Nothing makes her any different from the other girls."

Those words stabbed deeper than any wound. Shame. Fear. Betrayal. Disgust. Her eyes met his, eyes that once brought her joy and now they looked at her like prey.

He smiled cruelly, undid his pants and had her first

The others took turn after him, right there on the cold,hard and dirty ground.

By the time they were done, she was hanging between life and death. Her voice was hoarse. Her body was a map of bruises and gashes. Her waist throbbed so violently it felt dislocated. Eventually, she lost consciousness.

When she came to, dusk had fallen. Her limbs barely moved as she dragged herself toward what was left of her clothing, covered herself, and somehow found her way to the river.

She fetched water like she had set out to do and headed home, her soul shattered.

“Is that you, Imma?” her grandmother called out softly.

“Yes, grandma.”

“Oh, sweet child. What made you so late? You know this place can be dangerous.”

“Don’t worry, mama. I’m fine. I’ll go make your food now.”

She slipped into the bathroom and took a freezing bath, hoping the numbing cold would dull the pain in her body. But it couldn’t touch the pain in her heart. That pain screamed louder than any wound.

William, her William, had done this to her.

He, who had been her best friend before courting her. He, who knew her fears, her dreams, her laughter. He crushed it all in one brutal act.

He trampled on her dignity, her trust, her love, and now....she was alone.

She told no one. Not a single soul. In her village, rape victims were ostracized. The shame wouldn’t fall on the attackers, but on her. People would whisper, avoid her, degrade her. Some victims had died by suicide. Others were killed by their own families, the deaths disguised to save "honor."

And now....she was pregnant.

Her stomach twisted at the thought. William hadn’t canceled the wedding. Of course he hadn’t. And with a child now growing inside her, she couldn’t cancel it either. If anyone found out she was pregnant before marriage, she would face punishment even worse than what she had already endured.

So she married her rapist.

A beautiful village on the surface but a monstrous place beneath.

* * * *

Back in Light's home, two children were quietly eating dinner when their parents walked in.

"Father."

"Mother."

"Oh, my two beautiful children," their mother smiled. "How are you?"

"We are fine, mama."

Ely ran into her arms and hugged her tightly. She knelt and wrapped her arms around him, concern knitting her brows.

"Ely had an attack this afternoon," Pandora said gently.

"Oh, my precious baby. Are you hurt anywhere?" Their mother inspected him, worry deepening in her gaze.

The boy said nothing. Their father came over and patted him softly on the back.

"These attacks are becoming more frequent," he murmured.

"Yes, honey. I noticed it too. We need to take him to the healer."

"Alright. We’ll prepare ourselves before we go."

"Mama, Papa....I’m coming with you both," Pandora offered.

"No, Pan," their mother said gently. "We’re taking your brother. We need someone to stay behind and look after everything. Please."

"Okay," she nodded. "I’ll go make dinner."

"Thank you, my sweet daughter."

Pandora smiled. She wasn’t sad about staying behind. This wasn’t the first time her brother’s sickness required her to be alone. She only hoped he would be okay.