Julian's mouth was gagged with Gilas's silk handkerchief. He was cruelly dragged through the luxurious main mansion, but he was filled with fear. Even the beautiful flower gardens couldn't disguise the mansion's darkness.
Gilas didn't turn around. His large hand gripped Julian's arm tightly. Julian could only stare at Gilas' broad back from behind.
Anger...
Julian awakened Gilas's anger for the second time, but this anger was different from the anger associated with Jove. Gilas seemed like someone Julian didn't recognize. Could this be Gilas' true side?
Gilas's swift footsteps had stopped in front of the tower that was part of his mansion. He was no longer dragging Julian viciously, but his gaze was sharper than the sword he had used to sever the Moretti family's throats.
"I hope you enjoy your new home," Gilas said sarcastically.
The slightly rusted dungeon door swung open. Julian's senses weren't greeted by dust, but by the smell of moss from the narrow, unlit passage. Only small torches were attached to the walls at carefully spaced intervals.
Gilas dragged Julian back into the dark place. Climbing the steep stairs, Julian's eyes could clearly see from the dim light that this was no place for humans.
Julian passed the iron-clad cells. Inside, there were dismembered human beings, and even numerous skeletons still bound in chains.
"Argh!"
"Argh!"
"Argh!"
The scream jolted Julian's heart, which nearly stopped beating. The scream wasn't a sign of pain, but rather one that had surpassed the limits of human pain.
What happened? thought Julian.
Julian passed a cell with iron bars in it, where a man sat in a rusty, old iron chair. His hands were tied behind his back, and his feet were chained with barbed wire that pierced his bones.
The two men, dressed entirely in black, carried no axes, but scissors and knives whose sharp gleams reflected shadows like mirrors. They weren't just silhouettes of people being ripped from their bones, but Julian saw the horror with crystal-clear clarity, hearing the groans and the grinding of chains, which grew ever tighter, a symphony of death.
Gilas's footsteps stopped again. He turned around as Julian remained transfixed on every deadly weapon in every cell at work. The grip on Julian's hand shifted to the man's jaw, forcing Julian to stare intently into Gilas's angry gaze.
"Take a good look, Julian," Gilas whispered. "The new house you wanted so much," he continued.
Julian was pushed into a large room surrounded by thick glass partitions. Through the glass, Julian could see what was inside. Again and again, humans were being tied up as if their lives were worthless.
Gilas removed the silk gag from Julian's mouth and the ropes restraining his hands. He patted Julian's shoulder with an unwavering sneer. "Enjoy it until you can thank me," Gilas said.
Julian held Gilas's hand. He was trembling. The smell of blood and rotting flesh had been shaking Julian's stomach for a while now. He didn't want to stay in that cursed place any longer.
"Don't leave me here. Please," Julian pleaded softly, his head bowed.
"This is the place you wanted." Gilas slapped Julian's hand away. "Isn't it for a place like this that you left the luxuries I prepared?" he continued.
Julian shook his head. "I… I'm afraid of the dark. Please, Gilas." Julian was shaking even more.
"I am not your father that you are defending!"
Gilas turned around. His steps were so fast that Julian couldn't keep up, especially since Julian wasn't feeling well. Julian was alone in the room. He stared at his dark surroundings.
"Crazy! Crazy!" Julian shouted.
The execution began. Julian heard footsteps, but they weren't Gilas's, but rather those of an executioner wearing a black robe and a mask. Behind the thick glass, Julian watched with a sense of awareness. The executioner was skinning his victim.
Julian recoiled in shock. A thick red liquid soaked the glass in front of him. The crimson color was so intense that a scream accompanied it before the tongue was finally severed. Julian couldn't look away from what was before his eyes. He was surrounded by the same horrific scene.
Hoekkk!
Hoekkk!
Hoekkk!
Julian couldn't contain the churning in his stomach. He witnessed the dismantling of a human body, from skin to flesh, and most horrifyingly, the captive's heart, which was left to beat, as if in that state, the helpless prisoner was forced to endure pain until his last breath.
"Gilas! Gilas! Gilas!" Julian shouted.
Julian ran towards the door, ignoring the pain in his legs. He tried to open the door, but to no avail. He banged on it, screamed, and locked himself in fear.
"Gilas, please! Please let me go," Julian pleaded. "Gilas, I beg you." Julian's voice grew weaker.
Julian desperately wanted to die. However, for the first time, he felt fear of death. Death now seemed like a terrible fate that would engulf him in agony.
The Red Mansion turned out to be a place greatly feared by the traitors because it was a place of death, not life.
***
"Mr. Gilas." A large man bowed his back respectfully.
"Victor!" Gilas, who had just emerged from the Red Mansion, turned around. "Have you brought what I ordered?" Gilas asked with a cold, flat expression.
"I've brought it, Mr. Gilas. About Miss Keilla or even the Moretti family's evil plans," Victor replied. He gave Gilas what he needed.
Victor is the head of the guard whom Gilas deeply trusts. He was supposed to meet Julian, but because Julian's actions aroused Gilas' anger, he didn't meet him.
"Sir, why are you here? Was there a traitor or an intruder while I was gone?" Victor asked.
"No. I'm just punishing fools," Gilas replied indifferently.
"You are punishing Mr. Julian?" Victor shouted in surprise. "Mr. Gilas, but . . ."
"I know he's afraid of the dark. Let him learn to obey," said Gilas.
"Sir, I apologize for being presumptuous. Isn't what you're doing only making Mr. Julian hate you even more?" Victor asked. "Why don't you just state your intentions?" he continued.
"It's good that he hates me," Gilas said. "Hate is also a feeling."
Gilas opened the black box Victor had given him. A bitter smile curved his lips. Inside, he stared at a photo of a woman holding a tiny baby for a moment. Behind the photo was something that left Gilas speechless. Puzzles of memories began to appear one after another, stacked together.
'Auntie, I will definitely repay your kindness,' thought Gilas.