Chapter 11

Reina’s POV

“Why the sudden change of attitude, hmm?” he said to me. “There’s your target, now… shoot. Just like you did just now.”

No… No… I screamed inwardly, but all I did was shake my head violently as tears rolled down my cheeks. I looked at him, pleading.

“No? You don’t want to shoot it? It’s a cute little animal, right?” he said and chuckled loudly.

“Well, welcome to my world, Petalo. Those things don’t matter in my world. You have to understand that.”

I looked at the monster in front of me. He had no empathy, no emotions. His eyes were void.

“Shoot now! I hate waiting.” My chest tightened even more. He wasn’t asking. He never asked.

He placed the gun in my hands again and nudged me forward.

“Now.”

I turned back to him, dropping the gun slowly as I met his eyes. I shook my head slowly, then brought my shaky hands forward and clasped them together, pleading…my fingers trembling so badly I could barely hold them still.

He looked at my teary face, then slowly at my clasped hands.

“Really now? You do know how to beg in your own little way, huh?” he scoffed. “Can you say it out loud? Speak it, then maybe I will listen.”

I looked at him, stunned.

He knew I couldn’t speak.

How could he?

“Can you speak for me, Petalo? Hmm?” he asked, invading my personal space.

I shut my eyes tight.

“No? Then shoot the fucking animal!” he spat, and I quivered, my hands still clasped. His face looked angry.

“Okay… I guess I’d teach you again.”

He snatched the gun from my hand, aiming it at the rabbit as it struggled helplessly, squeaking.

My eyes widened.

He was going to shoot it.

I rushed to him, tugging at his clothes, making all the sounds my mute voice could manage.

His eyes ran over me, and I could swear… they changed.

Like something in him paused.

They weren’t emotionless anymore.

But it lasted only a few seconds before they darkened again.

He looked at me still, aiming the gun at the rabbit.

Then I suddenly heard a loud bang.

I covered my ears, bending down as he flung the gun to the floor and walked out.

I slowly straightened, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears, preparing myself to look at the scene in front of me.

The rabbit was not there anymore.

It was on the floor, chewing on some grass.

My breath hitched as I looked at the rope… then at where he had been standing.

Why would he…?

I exhaled sharply, relieved.

Then, looking properly, I noticed a hole from the bullet in the rope that had been used to tie the rabbit.

Rai had released the rabbit.

Shooting the rope holding it in place instead.

And I didn’t understand why that scared me even more.

I stood there, still breathing hard, my chest rising and falling as I stared at the rabbit.

It was alive.

Alive.

My eyes followed it as it moved weakly, nibbling on the grass like nothing happened. Like it wasn’t just about to die a few seconds ago.

Tears blurred my vision again.

My knees suddenly felt weak.

I slowly turned… my eyes searching for him.

Rai.

He was already walking away. Like it meant nothing. Like I meant nothing. Like he didn’t just…My chest tightened.

Why? Why would he do that?

He could have killed it.

He wanted me to kill it. He forced me to…But he didn’t.

My brows pulled together in confusion, my hands still shaking at my sides. I looked back at the rabbit again.

Then back at him. He didn’t turn back.

Not even once.

But something about it… didn’t feel normal. It didn’t feel like mercy.

It felt like something else.Something worse.

Something I didn’t understand.

My fingers curled slowly.

My heart was still racing, but now it wasn’t just fear anymore. It was confusion.

And that scared me even more. Because I didn’t understand him. Not at all.

And somehow…

That felt more dangerous than anything else.