In the dimly lit alley, Julie began to move. Her eyes fluttered open, and confusion quickly turned to panic as she took in the sight of three dark, grotesque figures looming over her.
"She's waking up," a voice whispered
"Do you think she'll remember anything from when she was under that spell?" another voice concerned, evident in his tone.
"She should have some fragmented memories," this time a female voice sounded.
Julie's eyes darted around, trying to make sense of her surroundings. Her face was a mask of fear, and her voice trembled as she spoke. "Who are you? Where have you taken me?"
"See, I told you we should have gotten cooler-looking masks. She's scared out of her wits," Spark muttered, shaking his head in mild exasperation.
"Don't worry, we won't harm you," Yuna reassured her, stepping forward. "You're safe, Lady Julie."
As the figures moved closer, the faint moonlight revealed more of their forms, and Julie could see the masks covering their faces. Their reassurances and the fact that they knew her name helped her calm down a bit, though confusion still clouded her mind.
"Lady Julie," Yuna continued gently, "do you remember anything that happened recently?"
Julie's brow furrowed as she tried to piece together her fragmented memories.
"Recently? I was at a party with Marquis William… but why was I with the Marquis?" She winced as a headache flared, her mind struggling to connect the dots. "And Kieran... he came to rescue me…"
Suddenly, it all came flooding back. As Julie pieced together her fragmented memories, a critical scene came back vividly. She recalled the day Marquis William had visited her family. For reasons she couldn't fathom, her family had agreed to send her to live with the Marquis, despite her engagement to Kieran. This decision had infuriated her; she loved Kieran and couldn't understand why her parents would betray her trust so profoundly.
Overwhelmed by her anger and desperation, Julie had attempted to flee from her family's estate. She remembered the rush of cold night air as she slipped out, her heart pounding with fear and determination. However, her freedom was short-lived. Family guards alerted to her escape, swiftly caught up to her, and dragged her back home.
After that, everything became a blur. The memories were hazy and fragmented, like shards of a broken mirror. She could recall only snatches of her time at the Marquis's mansion—an odd sense of being watched, a suffocating feeling of being trapped, and the eerie calm that seemed to settle over her mind.
These gaps in her memory were terrifying, but as she stood in the alley, facing her mysterious rescuers, a clearer picture began to emerge. She realized with growing horror that her will had been manipulated, controlled by some dark enchantment cast by the Marquis or possibly her own family. The realization made her shudder.
Despite her fragmented recollections, one thing was clear: Kieran had come to rescue her, and she needed to find him to explain everything. He had seen her with the Marquis at the party, and she feared he might believe she had willingly betrayed him. Panic gripped her heart as she thought of the misunderstandings that could have arisen from that scene.
"I guess she does remember some of it," Spark noted, watching her closely.
"Did you bring the thing I asked for?" he asked, turning to Zhao Shi.
"Yes, young master," Zhao Shi replied, leading a horse out from behind a building.
"Do you know how to ride?" asked Spark.
"Yes," Julie nodded.
"Mount this, you should know where you need to go," Spark said, his voice calm and reassuring despite the oddity of the situation.
"Are you letting me go?" Julie asked, looking bewildered and ease at the same time.
"Yeah, I suppose."
Julie looked at the masked figures, her gratitude mingled with confusion. "Why are you helping me?"
There was a brief silence before Yuna responded, her voice carrying a hint of amused mischief. "Because we're the heroes of justice."
Julie nodded slowly, her expression a mix of relief and bewilderment. "I see."
With a final glance back at the trio, she urged her horse forward and disappeared into the night.
As her figure faded into the distance, Spark couldn't hold back his chuckle any longer. He pulled off his mask, shaking with laughter. "Heroes of justice? Really? That's what you came up with?"
Yuna blushed, embarrassed but also laughing. "It was the best I could think of on the spot!"
Zhao Shi chuckled, joining in the moment of levity.
They made their way back to their carriage, parked discreetly nearby. Climbing in, they set off for their residence, their thoughts buzzing with anticipation for the chaos that was sure to follow.
As they rode through the quiet streets, Spark leaned back, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
"This should be interesting," he murmured to himself, already imagining the fireworks that were bound to erupt when Kieran and Julie confronted William again.
…
The next morning, as sunlight filtered through the windows, the routine began as usual for Spark, Yuna, and Zhao Shi.
Zhao Shi, as routine, brought in the daily stack of gifts left on the main door. Despite the tumultuous events of the previous night, the day started off quietly, with the trio enjoying a hearty breakfast prepared by Zhao Shi.
After their meal, they decided to take a leisurely stroll through the bustling streets of the town. The morning air was fresh, and the shops and restaurants were already abuzz with activity. Early risers lined up, eager to start their day with the finest goods and treats the marketplace had to offer.
As they wandered through the town, something unusual caught their attention. A crowd had gathered near a prominent wall, murmuring and pointing at something.
Intrigued, Spark, Yuna, and Zhao Shi made their way through the crowd to see what had drawn such interest.
Spark's eyes widened as he pushed his way to the front and saw what was plastered on the wall.
"That bastard," he cursed under his breath.
Each poster featured a crude, exaggerated representation of the masks they had worn the night before.
The faces were grotesque, with distorted features that turned their disguises into almost monstrous visages. But what set Spark's teeth on edge was the title beneath the posters:
"The Three Ugly Demons."
"Ugly demons? Really?" he muttered through gritted teeth.
He scanned the posters again, reading the note scrawled beside the posters,
"Whoever can provide a clue to the whereabouts of these three will be heavily rewarded by Marquis William."