It's been 2 days since she has been locked in the vault with no sight of Anita. Her meal was mostly brought in by a specific guard who looks huge and scary, making her wonder who Jonathan really is. The guard's intimidating presence made her cower, and she wondered if Jonathan had specifically chosen him to psyche her out. She was starting to lose hope, her mind was racing, ,the darkness was suffocating her, and she felt like she was losing herself in it. She curled up in a ball, her eyes closed, trying to hold on to her sanity. "Where are you, Anita?" she whispered into the darkness.
Just then, the door to the vault creaked open, and the same intimidating guard loomed in the doorway. "Sir Blacksmith wants to meet with you," his thick voice said, his eyes fixed on her with an unyielding gaze.
Mia's heart skipped a beat as she hesitated, her mind racing with questions. "I-, I haven't showered-" she stammered, but the guard's glare cut her off, his expression seeming to say, "What makes you think you're deserve such?" The guard's silence was oppressive, and Mia felt a surge of fear. She knew she had no choice but to follow him. With a sense of trepidation, she stepped out of the vault, her eyes fixed on the guard's broad back as he led her out.
As they exited the penthouse, Mia's eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. The guard led her across the terrace, past a swimming pool and a garden, to a small, well-built building that seemed out of place among the luxury surroundings. The building gave off a chilly vibe, and Mia's fear grew.
The guard pushed open the door, and Mia's heart sank as she saw Jonathan, Viktor, and Reaper inside. But what made her blood run cold was the sight of Anita, her hands chained to a pole, her eyes pleading for help.
"No!!", Mia yelled in shock, "what are you doing, let her go".
Jonathan chuckled sinisterly, "Let her go? It's a part of the Blacksmith's rule, my rule to punish betrayers." He paused, his eyes glinting with malice, "How many of the Blacksmith's rules have you broken, Anita? Or should I name them for you?" Anita whimpered, tears streaming down her face. "ANSWER ME!!" he bellowed, making both Anita and Mia flinch.
"S-s-six," Anita stuttered, her body shaking.
"Good," Jonathan sneered, turning to face Mia. "Do you know why you're here?" He paused, his glare piercing. "To witness with your own eyes how I'll punish her for every broken rule."
"No, please don't!" Mia pleaded, trying to take a step forward, but the guard held her back. "It was never her fault, please let her go!"
Mia's eyes widened in horror as she watched the guard restrain Anita, a cloth tightly bound around her mouth. "No, please, stop" she pleaded, trying to break free. "Jonathan pleaded, as Reaper, picked up a long, thin whip, its tip adorned with knots, and Mia could only imagine the pain it would inflict on Anita's skin.
"Please, Jonathan," Mia begged, her voice trembling with fear. "Please, stop I beg you."
But her pleas fell on deaf ears as Reaper lashed the whip against Anita's back, her muffled screams echoing through the room.
Mia's eyes were fixed on the horrific scene unfolding before her, her mind racing with desperation. She struggled against the guard's grip, but it only tightened. "Stop! Please, stop!" she screamed, her voice hoarse with anguish.
But Jonathan's expression remained cold, unyielding. Reaper continued to lash out with force, each lash striking Anita's skin with a sickening crack. Mia felt her heart shattering into a million pieces as she watched her Anita's body tremble with pain, her muffled screams growing fainter. Suddenly, Reaper paused, the whip hovering in mid-air. Mia's gaze met Jonathan's, her eyes pleading for mercy. But his response was a cold, calculated smile. "The Blacksmith's rules must be upheld," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "And betrayal must be punished."
Reaper raised the whip again, and Mia's heart sank. She couldn't bear to watch Anita suffer any longer. "You monster!" she screamed, "When you're done with her, you can whip me too, because you're a MONSTER!!", Hearing the word 'monster' made Jonathan freeze, his eyes turning cold. He was used to being called a monster and other names, not like he give a fuck, but hearing the word from Mia's mouth, it hurts so much. "I hate you, I hate you so much, you deserve to DIE".
Jonathan's gripped on Mia's arm, his nails digging into her skin. "Enough!" he bellowed, his face inches from hers. "You will not speak to me like that!" But Mia's curses didn't stop, her words pouring out like a torrent. "I hate you, I hate you, you're a monster, a coward, a tyrant!" Jonathan's eyes flashed with anger, his face reddening. He dragged Mia away, Reaper following closely behind, Anita's limp form still dangling from his grasp. He dragged her back to the vault flinging her inside. "You will stay here, until you learn to control your tongue!" he spat, slamming the door shut behind her. Mia's curses echoed off the walls, fading into sobs as the darkness closed in around her.
Mia's sobs echoed off the cold cell walls, her body shaking with fear. She hated herself for being the cause of what just happened, The darkness seemed to suffocate her, and she screamed, her voice hoarse from crying "Let me out of here, Jonathan!" Mia screamed, her voice echoing off the cold cell walls. "Please-" her pleads turns into whispers, "I hate you. I hate you so much." her words hung in the air, a bitter confession of her rage and hurt.
Mia's anguished cries still lingered in the darkness as Jonathan walked into the bar in the penthouse, pouring himself a drink. The glass trembled in his hand, a rare display of emotion. He downed the liquor in one swift motion, his eyes fixed ahead. The silence was shattered by the guard's approach. "Boss, you have a visitor." Jonathan's gaze remained fixed, his expression unyielding. "Sir Damien," the guard added, his voice cautious. Jonathan's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, "let him in." The guard nodded before leaving.
After a few minutes, Damien walked in. "WHAT THE FUCK JONATHAN!! Am I a stranger now? How the hell was I not allowed into your fucking place? It was embarrassing as hell," he complained, but got no response from Jonathan, who continued pouring liquor and downing it in one go. "Okay, what's wrong? You don't ignore me-" His words were cut off as Jonathan threw the glass cup. "Shit man, I'm sorry-"
"She called me a monster," Jonathan finally said.
Damien's expression changed from annoyed to shock. "Who called you a monster?" he asked, his voice laced with a bit of sarcasm.
Jonathan's eyes flashed with pain, his jaw clenched as he spat out the words: "Mia. She hates me, Damien. She called me a monster."
Damien's face showed even greater surprise. "It's about her? Wait, you're mad she called you a monster? Dude, you're always called a monster. I mean..." He paused, pouring a drink for himself. "You're the Black Python, ruler of the underworld. What do you think you should be called?" He continued talking, not noticing the deadly stare from Jonathan. "And I thought you said, and I quote, 'monster is my middle name'..." "
Shut the fuck up, you fool," Jonathan said coldly, his voice dripping with venom. "It felt different hearing it from her. It was like I was stabbed in the heart." The air was thick with tension as Jonathan's words hung in the air.