Episode # 4:- (The Fateful Night.)

Flashback:

“Austin, Austin!” Justin barged into Austin’s room.

Austin, who was sitting there regretting slapping Saraya, frowned after seeing Justin’s state.

“Not now, Justin. I don’t have the mood to talk,” Austin replied, turning his face to the other side.

“Austin, it’s important. It’s about Saraya,” Justin said, trying to catch his breath.

“What do you mean?” Austin asked, getting up from his bed with a jerk.

“I heard Dad talking to Mom. He owes money to someone, and in return, he said he’ll sell Saraya to the Scorpion Clan,” Justin said. Austin was shocked.

“This much hate in their hearts for Saraya? And we both, like fools, kept following them blindly. Today, when I raised my hand on her, I felt as if I had committed the biggest sin of my life. She is so innocent, so pure, and we, instead of behaving like her elder brothers, behaved like certified jerks,” Austin said, his voice full of guilt.

“When I heard them talking, I realized we were fools. I wouldn’t even sell my enemies to the Scorpion Clan, and here they are trying to sell Saraya to them. Austin, please, we have to save her; this is our only chance to repent. Maybe if we save her, she’ll forgive us,” Justin said. Austin nodded.

“It’s difficult to fight the Scorpion Clan. We can’t save Saraya alone; they are dangerous and will find us if we try to run,” Austin said. Justin nodded in agreement. What Austin said was true. A common man couldn’t fight the SC—they were infamous for painfully selling human organs.

They organized bidding ceremonies, where people bid on human organs. In front of everyone, they extracted organs from conscious victims. No matter how much the person struggled, shouted, or screamed, no one paid attention.

“Only one clan can help us,” Austin said suddenly. Justin gave him a questioning look.

“The clan that has never failed against the SC. The clan even SC fears,” Austin said. Justin’s eyes widened.

“THE BLACKTHORNS!” both said together.

“But to reach them, we have to pass the jungle,” Justin said. Austin thought for a moment.

“I know it’s difficult, but for Saraya, we have to do this. Thirteen damn years, we’ve caused her pain, but now she won’t tolerate any more torture,” Austin said.

“Let’s go,” he added, and both left the room. They looked around for Thomas and Alisha, but they were gone. It was afternoon, and Saraya had already left the jungle after meeting Vidhant.

Austin and Justin reached the back of their home, gulping. Going toward the Blackthorn Palace meant entering a lion’s den.

“We have to do this for Saraya,” Austin said, and they held hands.

They had never seen the Blackthorn Palace. Everyone knew it was on the other side of the jungle. After about two hours, they reached a spot. Exhausted, Justin’s eyes fell on something.

“Austin, look! I think it’s the palace,” he said, pointing. Austin followed his gaze, seeing a faint outline through the thick fog.

“It’s the palace,” Austin said cheerfully, running toward it with Justin following.

They reached the palace in twenty minutes and looked around.

“Hey, you! What are you doing here?” a guard snarled, spotting them. They froze at the gun in his hand but tried to compose themselves.

“We need help! We have to save our sister. Only the Blackthorns can help us, please!” Justin pleaded.

The guard shook his head. “No one can meet them. Leave now, or I’ll shoot you.”

“Sir, please, we can’t fight the Scorpion Clan. Only the Blackthorns can help us,” Austin said, his tone pleading.

Another guard overheard and stiffened. He approached.

“Did you just say Scorpion Clan?” he asked. They nodded vigorously.

“Come with me,” the guard said, leading them inside. Walking through corridors, they stopped at a door.

“Come in,” a voice said. The guard knocked.

“Sir, these two are here for help. The Scorpion Clan is involved,” the guard reported.

“You can go, John,” the voice said, dismissing him.

“Names?” the person asked. Austin and Justin couldn’t see his face; he was turned away.

“I’m Austin, and he is my brother Justin,” Austin replied.

“What’s your issue with SC?” the person asked again.

“Our parents are planning to sell our sister to them, and only you can save her,” Justin said.

“What’s your sister’s name?” the person asked.

“Saraya,” Austin replied. The person turned sharply in his chair.

“What?” he shouted in anger.

Austin and Justin stepped back, scared.

“What did you say? Come again? Did you say Saraya?” the person asked in a low, dangerous voice, rising from his chair.

“Ye…s…s, sir,” Justin stammered.

“Tell me the details,” he demanded. Austin explained everything.

“One last question: who hit her today?” the person asked, revealing none other than Vidhant.

Austin and Justin didn’t dare ask how he knew.

“It was unintentional, sir, and I still regret it,” Austin said softly.

“Make sure to keep her safe. I’ll contact you soon,” Vidhant said, controlling his anger.

Austin and Justin left immediately.

“I’ve heard people go unconscious before opening their mouths in front of him. But I didn’t find him that scary,” Justin said to Austin.

“Because you met his right hand, not the main Blackthorn,” the guard who dropped them off said from behind.

Both gulped again.

“I hope the Blackthorns save her,” Justin said. They returned, and Vidhant contacted them the next morning, instructing them to monitor Thomas and Alisha.

Everything was going well. Austin learned Saraya would be sold in a month. Vidhant said he would take her within a week.

But on Saraya’s birthday night, Justin, who went to drink water, overheard Thomas talking on the phone. Shocked, he told Austin.

“Justin, it’ll take time for the Blackthorns to arrive. We have to ensure she’s safe before then,” Austin said.

“We will. And if I have to die saving her, I won’t step back,” Justin said determinedly.

Flashback ends.

Present:

Austin wiped his angry tear and glared at Thomas, who stood frozen, staring at Justin’s dead body in shock.

“You killed my brother, but I won’t let you harm my sister,” Austin said and ran downstairs, gripping Saraya’s hand.

“Justin,” Saraya cried, trying to move toward him, but Austin pulled her out the main door.

“No, Saraya, we have little time,” he said, scanning the area. His car was a little farther away, but the keys were with Justin.

“Shit! Saraya, come with me!” Austin shouted, holding her hand as they ran. In his panic, he forgot to head toward the jungle. They hid in the bushes. Saraya clutched his arm in fear.

“Austin, what’s happening?” she asked, terrified.

“Nothing. You’ll be safe, I promise,” Austin said, patting her hand. He dialed Vidhant, cursing under his breath when his phone died.

They heard a car approaching.

“They’re here. Come, you’ll be safe now,” Austin said, stepping from behind the bushes. Saraya followed, holding his arm.

Austin halted as he saw the SC logo on the car.

“Saraya, run!” he shouted, running in another direction. Another car suddenly stopped near them.

“No! Leave her!” Austin shouted as someone grabbed Saraya.

“Leave me!” she screamed.

“Leave my sister, you bastard!” Austin shouted, punching the person.

“You son of a dog!” the person yelled, shooting Austin in anger.

“Austin!” Saraya screamed, biting the person’s hand.

“No, please! No! Please, Austin! No!” she cried, kneeling by his side. Austin coughed blood, shot near his heart.

“I’m sor…” Austin said, but another person struck Saraya’s head with the gun’s butt.

“Swa…ra…” Austin said, raising his trembling hand, but they picked up her unconscious body and left.

“Shit, Austin!” Vidhant said, arriving.

“We have to go to the hospital,” Vidhant said, but Austin shook his head, taking a shallow breath.

“Save her plea…se…” Austin whispered, his head falling to the side.

Saraya’s side:

“Ahh!” Saraya woke with a jerk as a bucket of water was thrown on her. She looked around in horror, seeing several people standing near her. She crawled back in fear.

“We’ll get an enormous amount for her,” one person said, eyeing her from head to toe.

“Where… am I?” Saraya asked fearfully.

“You’re in heaven, baby,” another said. All wore masks, so she couldn’t see their faces.

“Let’s go, it’s time,” one person said, grabbing her arm with an iron grip.

“Leave me!” Saraya shouted, trying to pry his arm away. She scratched him in struggle and received a tight slap, tasting blood in her mouth.

“Before them, I’ll slaughter you,” the person hissed, dragging her like an animal.

A horrified scream escaped her lips as she saw the scene before her. The area was filled with blood, and people around the stage were bidding. Saraya tried to run, but she was slapped and forced to stand near something horrifying.

She felt like vomiting when she realized it was a human body.

“We’ll start the bidding for her heart, first,” a voice said, pointing at her. Her heart nearly exploded with fear.

People began bidding. Black dots appeared before her eyes as she struggled to stay conscious.

“Anyone want to bid more?” the auctioneer asked.

“Five million pounds for the complete her and a single pound for your dead body,” a strong, intimidating voice boomed, filling the area. Everyone went numb.

Saraya tried to keep her eyes open but failed, about to fall on the blood-soaked ground. Someone caught her protectively.

“You’re safe now,” a soothing voice said as she slipped into darkness.

To be continued…