The chilling scene unfolded before Adam's eyes like a nightmare he could neither escape nor control.
He was still trapped in the future vision, unable to move, unable to act.
His breathing was shallow, and his heartbeat thundered in his ears as Eric charged forward, fury radiating from every step.
The dark-cloaked man, his figure towering and ominous, stood still, his sword gleaming coldly in the moonlight.
His eyes seemed to glint with cruel amusement as Eric sprinted toward him.
"Eric, stop!" Adam screamed internally, his desperation mounting.
But no sound left his lips. His body remained frozen, a helpless observer to the horrifying events.
Eric swung his weapon, aiming to strike the man down.
But the cloaked figure moved with lightning speed, sidestepping Eric's attack effortlessly.
With a single, brutal motion, the man swung his sword in retaliation.
Adam's heart stopped.
The blade cut through Eric's body with terrifying precision, slicing him cleanly in two.
Blood sprayed across the ground as Eric's lifeless form collapsed, his torso and legs falling in separate directions.
"Eric!"
The anguished scream tore through the night, coming from Ricky, Adam's father.
Ricky's eyes widened in horror as he saw his son's body crumple to the ground.
The raw pain in his voice sent shivers down Adam's spine.
"No!" Adam shouted in his mind, his frustration and grief mounting.
He struggled against the invisible chains that bound him, willing his body to move, to act. But it was futile. He could only watch.
Ricky's grief quickly turned to rage. Dropping his tools, he bolted toward the cloaked man, his eyes blazing with determination.
"Father, don't!" Adam wanted to scream, but the words remained trapped inside him.
As Ricky charged, two more cloaked figures emerged from the shadows behind the first man. Both carried bows, their movements smooth and calculated.
They nocked arrows onto their strings and pulled back, their aim precise and deadly.
The arrows flew, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle.
Adam's breath caught in his throat as the projectiles found their mark.
Both arrows embedded themselves deep into Ricky's chest, their impact forcing him backward.
He stumbled, his eyes wide with shock, before collapsing onto the blood-soaked ground.
"Father!"
Adam's entire body trembled as he watched Ricky struggle to breathe, his chest heaving as blood poured from his wounds.
A strangled cry escaped from Sophia, who stood nearby, tears streaming down her face.
"No… this can't be happening," Adam thought, his vision blurring with unshed tears.
George, Sophia's older brother, broke into a desperate sprint, rushing to Ricky's side. "Stay with me!" he shouted, his voice cracking.
Adam remained frozen, his legs refusing to move. Beside him, Rachel—his mother—lay sprawled on the ground, still clutching her own wound.
She reached out with trembling hands, gripping Adam's arm weakly. Her face was pale, her breathing labored.
"Adam," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You need to go. Take Sophia and run. Leave this place. Now."
Adam's heart clenched at her words. "No! I can't leave you!" he wanted to say.
Sophia knelt beside Rachel, sobbing uncontrollably. "We can save you! Don't give up! Please, don't give up!"
Rachel's trembling hand moved to clasp Sophia's. Her voice grew firmer, though the pain was evident in her eyes. "You can't save me. Take Adam and leave. Do as I say!"
Sophia hesitated, her body trembling with indecision.
Before anyone could act, a sickening sound cut through the air—a blade slicing through flesh.
Adam's head snapped toward the source of the noise.
George's body crumpled to the ground, his head severed cleanly from his neck.
The cloaked figure who had killed him stood nearby, his bloodied sword still in hand. The eerie smile on his face sent a chill down Adam's spine.
"George!" Sophia's scream was piercing, filled with anguish and fury.
She tried to rush toward her brother's fallen body, but Rachel grabbed her wrist, holding her back with surprising strength.
"You have to leave now!" Rachel yelled, her voice filled with desperation. She pushed both Adam and Sophia away, using every ounce of her remaining strength.
The force of the push jolted Adam out of his stupor.
Grabbing Sophia's hand, he began to run, his legs moving on pure instinct. Sophia stumbled beside him, her sobs choking her breath, but she didn't resist.
Behind them, Rachel staggered to her feet, turning toward the cloaked figures. Her movements were slow, her body weakened by blood loss, but her resolve was unshakable.
"Come on!" Adam shouted, his voice cracking as he pulled Sophia along.
The sounds of Rachel's screams and the men's sinister laughter echoed behind them, but Adam didn't dare look back. His mind was a blur of panic and grief, his only thought being to keep running.
As they fled, the village around them descended into chaos. Flames consumed the wooden houses, their fiery glow illuminating the night. The air was thick with smoke and the metallic stench of blood.
Bodies littered the ground—villagers who had fallen in the attack. Their lifeless forms lay scattered across the streets, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.
The cloaked figures moved among the carnage, their smiles twisted and unnatural as they surveyed their handiwork.
Adam's chest tightened as he took in the devastation. *Why is this happening? What is this nightmare?*
The burning houses cast long shadows, and the cries of the dying filled the air. Adam's grip on Sophia's hand tightened as he forced his legs to keep moving, his vision swimming with tears.
Suddenly, the world around him began to shift.
The flames flickered and dimmed, the cries growing fainter. The buildings, the bodies, even Sophia—all of it began to fade, as though someone were wiping a canvas clean.
Darkness consumed everything, leaving Adam floating in an endless void.
And then, just as abruptly, the sunlight returned.
Adam gasped, his eyes snapping open to find himself back in the present. The warm glow of the sun bathed the fields, and the gentle rustle of the wind filled the air.
He was sitting under the tree, his father still eating a short distance away, unaware of the horrors Adam had just witnessed.
Adam's heart raced, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he struggled to make sense of what had just happened. His hands trembled, and his body felt weak, as though he had just run a marathon.
"What… was that?" he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible.
"Adam?" Ricky's concerned voice broke through his thoughts.
Adam turned to face his father, only to realize something was wrong. His vision blurred, and a sharp pain shot through his head. Warm liquid dripped from his nose, and he touched it instinctively.
Blood.
"Adam!" Ricky's voice was filled with panic as he rushed toward his son.
Adam's surroundings spun, the colors blending together as his strength left him. His body slumped backward, his head hitting the tree trunk with a dull thud.
"Adam, stay with me!" Ricky shouted, shaking his son gently.
But Adam's eyes fluttered shut, and the world faded to black.
Ricky caught Adam before he fell to the ground completely, cradling him in his arms. Panic and fear filled his eyes as he called out again.
"Adam! Wake up! Please, wake up!"
But Adam didn't respond. Blood trickled from his nose, staining his father's hands as Ricky lifted him and began running toward the village, his voice breaking as he yelled for help.
And with that, the chapter came to a close, leaving Ricky's desperate cries echoing in the sunlit fields.
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End of Chapter Thirteen