Lara was drenched in sweat, trembling with fear, and her voice was hoarse from screaming, though no sound seemed to escape her lips anymore. She had screamed until her throat burned, but it was pointless—no help was coming. All she could hear were the cheers, laughter, and sickening excitement of the men who treated the women like objects, choosing them as though they were commodities in an auction.
As her turn neared, Lara's heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of escape, but she was completely trapped. Bound and powerless, all she could do was watch in horror as her name was finally called out.
The man who had spoken earlier—the drug-dealing businessman referred to as the secret transaction VIP—was the one to claim her. His interest in her was evident, his gaze predatory as he scrutinized her from head to toe.
Before finalizing his decision, the man raised a question, his voice dripping with curiosity. "Why is this one not a minor? She looks more… mature than the others."
The host, unbothered by the question, chuckled and responded. "Ah, yes! She's special. Our men caught her snooping around the area, asking questions about Pastor Jun. We suspect she might be connected to our opposition in the elections. Consider her a rare catch!"
The explanation seemed to delight the businessman even more. He leaned closer, his eyes trailing over Lara's trembling form. His smile turned into a lewd grin as he took in her flawless skin and the curves of her figure. "Well, well," he muttered, his voice oozing with malice. "I think I'll enjoy this one."
Lara's stomach churned at his words, and tears welled in her eyes. Her body screamed for her to run, to fight, but she was completely immobilized. The reality of her situation weighed heavily on her as she realized that the people in this room, including Pastor Jun, saw her as nothing more than a prize—a tool to use and discard.
Someone… anyone… please help me, she thought desperately as the businessman gestured for her to be brought closer.
The men forcibly dragged their chosen women aside, treating them as though they were nothing more than commodities to be distributed. Laughter and crude remarks filled the room as the men, clearly thrilled, discussed their plans for their "prizes" once they brought them home.
Meanwhile, Lara was still struggling, refusing to accept her fate. She poured every ounce of her remaining strength into freeing herself, desperately attempting to stand despite her bound hands. Fueled by adrenaline, she managed to break free from her captors and bolted toward the nearest exit. Her hands remained tied, but she didn't care—all she could think about was escaping.
In her frantic attempt to run, she bumped into a table, knocking over a steaming cup of coffee that spilled all over the expensive suit of the VIP who had chosen her. The hot liquid soaked his clothes, and the man let out an enraged yell. Lara, losing her balance, fell to the floor with a thud.
The host, clearly irritated, signaled for the guards to pick Lara up and return her to the VIP. But before they could move, the man raised his hand, his voice cutting through the noise.
"Don't touch her," he growled, his tone ice-cold. "I'll deal with her myself."
He strode over to Lara, his face twisted in fury—not because of her escape attempt, but because his expensive clothing had been ruined by the spilled coffee.
As Lara tried to crawl away, he reached her and slapped her hard across the face. The sound echoed throughout the room, silencing the chatter and laughter. Before she could recover, he drove a knee into her stomach, sending waves of pain coursing through her body.
Lara coughed violently, gasping for air as she doubled over in agony. Her vision blurred, and her strength faded. She wanted to fight back, to scream, but her body betrayed her, refusing to move. She lay there on the floor, utterly helpless, as the man stood over her, seething with anger.
The room remained tense, the onlookers watching with a mixture of amusement and indifference, as if the scene unfolding before them was just another form of entertainment. For Lara, the pain wasn't just physical—it was the crushing realization that in this place, humanity didn't exist.
The VIP laughed maniacally, his rage uncontainable. He jabbed a finger at Lara, his voice dripping with venom. "You have no right to escape! No right to stain my suit! Your life isn't even worth the price of my clothes!"
His words sent chills down Lara's spine. She could feel the growing hatred in his voice, but before his anger escalated further, the host intervened.
"Gentlemen," the host said with a calm yet commanding tone, "just a little more patience. Soon, you'll all be able to take your chosen women home and do whatever you please. Let's keep the excitement for later, shall we?"
The VIP reluctantly backed down, casting one last glare at Lara before returning to his seat. "Leave her on the floor," he sneered. "I'll carry her myself when it's time to leave."
Lara, still crumpled on the ground and writhing in pain, could only watch helplessly as the host continued speaking. "I'd like to extend my gratitude to all of you for your financial and authoritative support in Pastor Jun's campaign. Rest assured, once he wins, every single one of you will have unimaginable wealth and power. You'll be able to do anything you want in this town."
Raising his glass of wine, the host exclaimed, "To Mayor Jun!" The room echoed his toast, voices booming, "To Mayor Jun!" The men clinked their glasses together in celebration, the sound of their laughter filling the room as they drank deeply.
From her position on the floor, Lara's vision blurred from both pain and fury. She watched these monsters reveling in their sinister plans, and a chilling thought crossed her mind. If these people rise to power, the world will burn in their greed and corruption. For the first time, she understood. Maybe The Fool is right. Maybe people like these truly deserve to die.
Her despair deepened, and she felt utterly hopeless, resigned to being nothing more than an object for the VIP. But then… something strange began to happen.
A sudden silence fell over the room, broken only by the sound of choking. Lara's eyes widened in shock as she saw the men around her clutching their throats, their faces contorted in agony. One by one, they started coughing violently, spewing blood onto the pristine floors. Their eyes turned a haunting shade of red as they writhed and gasped for air, their screams echoing throughout the room.
Lara could only stare, frozen in disbelief, as the once-boisterous men collapsed, their bodies convulsing until they fell lifeless. The elegant hall that had been filled with laughter and toasts moments ago was now a grotesque scene of chaos and death.
She couldn't comprehend what was happening, but one thing was clear—someone, or something, had turned the tables. And it was horrifyingly effective.
"Lara! Lara!" A familiar voice called out to her, but Lara could barely process what was happening around her.
When she managed to turn her head, she saw a man wearing a mask designed like a crow's face, his hood obscuring much of his figure. Beside him stood a woman wearing an equally strange mask, her presence equally enigmatic.
The man pulled back his hood and removed his mask, revealing a face Lara instantly recognized. He smiled gently at her, his expression filled with relief.
"Lara," he said, letting out a deep sigh, "thank God you're alive. Don't worry, I'm getting you out of here. I'll take you to a hospital."
It took a moment for the scene to click in Lara's mind, but when it did, tears welled up in her eyes. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak.
"Daniel…" she whispered, her voice barely audible. She wanted to say more, but exhaustion and the pain coursing through her body overwhelmed her. Her strength failed her, and her words remained unspoken.
Despite her physical agony, the sight of Daniel—a familiar face amidst the horror—brought her an unexpected sense of comfort. Her breathing steadied, and she let her tears fall freely, knowing that she was finally safe.
As darkness began to cloud her vision, she allowed herself to trust Daniel. For the first time that night, she felt a glimmer of hope.