Chapter 141: Caught Between innocence

Viktor hitched the strap that held the basket at dawn as he walked through the woods. It was his favorite chore, anyway, finding fireworks for the village annual festival. He said that because villagers said the wildflowers from this region were perfect for making colorful displays, and since Viktor would have to stay, he volunteered for that kind of work. The deeper he walked, the more silent it became. Then he stopped, his mind catching a feeling not quite right. He went low in the grass, eyes scanning around him. That's when he heard it: a voice mumbling in fear. "leave me alone, let me go!" a little girl wailed, and her voice travelled across the trees. Viktor's jaw clenched as he snuck closer. He saw three soldiers around a girl no older than sixteen clutching on to a small bag against her chest, crying. All of them were smiling like predatory. Viktor's blood began to boil. "Ah, come now," one sneered, wrenching the bag from her. "What is in here anyways? " "Just some herbs for my family," she managed to stammer, trying to reach out and grab back her sack. "P-please, they n-need medicine." Another roughly shoved her backward, making her stumble. "Medicine, huh? Maybe we will take that for ourselves. You are lucky we do not take you, too." Viktor's fists were clenched. He looked about nervously, cleared his throat and made sure that nobody was actually seeing him. The soldiers were still jerking the girl; their teasing was getting to Viktor. Then out of the shadows he emerged, low, deadliness in every word: "Leave her alone." They whirled, catching him off guard; still upright he stood. "And who the hell are you?" One of the soldiers asked turning to him. "The last thing you will ever see" Viktor said. he took another step closer towards them. "I said" again this time icy cold, Viktor repeated, "let her go." The scared face soldiers bursted into a giggle and swung out his sword. "You have guts, I'll give it to you, but you have just made your biggest mistake of your life". The blow had come before Viktor could swing; he lunged. His fist connected with the jaw of the soldier, sending him sprawling into the ground. Viktor dodged another blade, catching the soldier's arm and twisting until a sickening crack echoed in the air. The man yelped in pain, his scream silenced when Viktor planted a boot into his chest and sent him sprawling into a tree. The third had faltered, his mind reworking the odds. Viktor gave him no time to back down. He grabbed the man by the collar and slammed him against the trunk of a nearby tree. One sharp, merciless twist, and Viktor broke his neck. Scar-face groaned and tried to run, but Viktor was upon him within a second. "You're not going anywhere ," Viktor snarled and delivered the final blow. When the forest fell silent again, Viktor turned to the girl. She was frozen in place, her eyes wide with shock. 'You're safe now," he said, his voice softer. 'Go home. Quickly." She nodded and faltered backward, then turned and ran. Viktor watched her disappear into the trees, well-hoping she would keep silent about what she saw. He turned back to the bodies, his mind racing. Leaving them here would raise suspicion He dragged them deeper into the woods and covered them with branches and leaves. The scent of blood would be gone by the time anyone made it this far. The sun was already low in the sky by the time he finally arrived at the farmhouse. Alfonso was waiting, leaning with crossed arms by the barn. His looked worried. "Where the hell have you been?" Alfonso demanded. "You have been gone all day." "I had some issues to take care of," Viktor replied as he shoved him aside and walked into the farm yard. "What issue?" Alfonso followed him inside. "Viktor, what have you done?" Viktor set the basket on the table and turned to him, his eyes meeting Alfonso's. "A little girl was terrorized by some soldiers.And I stopped them." Alfonso's eyes grew wide. "You did what?!" "I could not stand and watch them torture her," Viktor spoke. "They tortured her. A little girl, a child Alfonso." Alfonso stroked a hand through his hair, pacing the room. "And the soldiers?" Viktor winced before replying. "They've been taken care of." Alfonso halted his pacing, his skin deathly white. "You killed them, didn't you?" "I had no choice. It was them or the girl.". Alfonso groaned, slapping his fist on the table. "Damn it, Viktor! You have no idea what you've done. If those bodies are found, there's going to be trouble. They'll question these villagers. They will-" "No one is going to find them," Viktor interrupted"I made sure of that." "That's not the point!" Alfonso snarled. "We're laying low, keeping out of sight. Now you've called attention to us, and for what? Some stranger you don't know?" "She was innocent," Viktor said in a low tone. "I wasn't going to let her suffer because we're hiding. Alfonso turned to him, "You're going to get us both killed, Viktor. And for what? Some misplaced sense of heroism? Viktor didn't blink an eye and looked right past him. "If that makes me a hero for saving an innocent life, then so be it. I will never apologize for what is right." Alfonso glanced away, shook his head. "I can only pray you haven't damned us both.". A heavy silence came upon them , it enveloped the room completely. Viktor leaned against the wall, his mind racing. He had no regrets concerning what he had done, but Alfonso's words kept ringing in his head. As night came , and the moon, high above in the sky casting its silvery rays upon the cottage window, Viktor sat at the window, staring out into the darkness. He knew the risks he had taken and the consequences. Yet, deep in his heart, he knew he had acted the only way he could have. A wolf howled from afar, sweeping into the darkness as Viktor's eyes slipped shut. He'll find a way, yes he will.