At 1:40 PM, silence fell upon Villa Syrup. The screams had ceased, but the air remained thick with tension. Blackbeard's pirates kept the villagers kneeling on the ground, pointing makeshift pistols and rifles at them. Men, women, and children trembled, their gazes fixed on the dirt as they silently prayed for a miracle that would never come.
Blackbeard, meanwhile, had reached the gates of the mansion atop the hill. The imposing cement wall and the gate secured with a rusty chain seemed determined to shield the luxury within. But to Blackbeard, it was nothing more than a trivial obstacle.
With a crooked grin, he pulled out his butcher's hook, wedged it into the chain, and began twisting forcefully. The metal groaned before snapping with a sharp crack, the chain falling lifelessly to the ground. However, the hook couldn't withstand the strain and broke in two. Blackbeard glanced at the pieces in his hand, shrugged, and pushed the gate open with ease.
Before him rose the mansion, a monument to opulence, its carved wooden door reflecting years of wealth. Blackbeard drew his cutlass and advanced unhurriedly. With powerful blows, he shattered the door until he had carved out a hole large enough to reach the lock from within.
As he stepped inside, a tall, thin man appeared at the far end of the hall. His curly white hair gave him an unusual appearance, complemented by the goat-like horns protruding from the sides of his head. He wore a sleek black suit, but his hands trembled as he held a musket aimed directly at Blackbeard.
The pirate stopped, evaluating him with a contemptuous glare.
"If you kill me, my men will slaughter everyone in the village," he said in a gravelly voice, his tone heavy with menace and certainty.
The man swallowed hard, his finger trembling on the trigger when a feminine voice suddenly broke the tense moment:
"Merry, lower the weapon!"
From the shadows emerged a young woman, about 17 years old. Her golden hair framed a pale face, and she wore a simple white dress with yellow embroidery. Her large, frightened eyes locked onto Blackbeard as she approached with hesitant steps.
"Do as the lady says," Blackbeard added with a twisted smile.
Merry, unable to resist, lowered the musket and stepped back to stand beside the young woman.
"Now that we have some sense," the pirate sneered, "let me introduce myself. I am Blackbeard, and I'm here to claim what is rightfully mine."
Kaya raised her chin, trying to conceal the fear in her voice.
"What do you want?"
Without answering, Blackbeard stepped closer, his cutlass glinting in the light streaming through the windows. In a swift and ruthless motion, he delivered a diagonal slash across Merry's torso. The man let out a choked cry before collapsing, his blood pooling in an expanding stain that painted the marble floor crimson.
Kaya stood frozen, her eyes fixed on Merry's body. Blackbeard grabbed her by the hair, forcing her to look at him.
"Now that I have your attention, tell me where the jewels and gold are."
The young woman said nothing, her lips trembling as she tried to stifle a scream. Blackbeard sighed in irritation.
"Very well, we're leaving. Maybe you'll feel more like talking down there."
Grabbing her by the hair, he dragged her out of the mansion, ignoring her sobs and pleas. The path to the central square was filled with curious glances from the pirates, who smirked at the scene.
"Eight of you!" Blackbeard shouted upon arrival. "Go to the mansion and bring everything valuable."
Eight men broke formation and headed in the direction their captain indicated. Blackbeard handed Kaya over to one of them.
"If she doesn't cooperate, have some fun."
The young woman screamed at those words, but the pirate dragged her away mercilessly toward the mansion. Meanwhile, Blackbeard looked at the villagers kneeling before him.
"Load everything onto the ship," he ordered the rest. "Then do whatever you want with them."
The men eagerly set to work carrying out the order. By 2:30 PM, one of his subordinates returned to report:
"Captain, everything is on board, including the girl's treasures."
Blackbeard nodded.
"Take the girl to my cabin."
As the pirate turned, an elderly woman crawled toward him, clutching at his boot.
"Please, spare my children! I'll do anything!"
Blackbeard looked down at her coldly, unsheathing his cutlass and plunging it into her head without hesitation. Blood splattered onto his boots as her body crumpled lifelessly to the ground. The villagers' cries grew louder and more desperate.
"Have fun, boys!" Blackbeard shouted, sheathing his cutlass and walking toward his ship, ignoring the heart-wrenching screams that filled the air.
As he strode away, the blood on his boots left a trail leading him to his cabin, where his spoils awaited. Outside, the village descended into chaos, marked by fire, death, and the echoes of the pirates' laughter.