Sin of Lust

CHAPTER 47

They were all oblivious of what's going to happen next until one of them screamed earning all of their attention and their heads immediately darted to where the scream was heard. And there they saw the man's body, strangled and twisted in very unhuman form.

"What the--, Constantine!" Another man that is seemingly his brother screamed his name. "Constantine! My brother!" The man madly shouted as if his sanity is fleeting away from him. But soon he immediately followed his brother to the other side.

"No one will get away from me!" Blanche growl so low as if she is a predator ready to devour all the lives within her range.

No one was able to fight against her since they can't move and all they can do is to wait for their impending death. In just a matter of seconds they soon following each other to the other side.

Meanwhile, the mayor is tapping her finger on her desk aggressively groaning in here and there with her other hand massaging her temple, "What's the news?" She asked demandingly to her assistant.

"There's no news mayor, they haven't contacted me yet." Carmelle said with her low voice as she looked at a crystal ball she’s holding while she stands by her side.

"What's going on? Why are they taking so long extinguishing that fire?!" She hollered to no one. "Those dumb witted mammals."

Meanwhile the mayor is tapping her finger on her desk aggressively ingrown in here and there with her other hand massage in her temple, "what's the news?" She asked demanding lee to her assistant.

"What should I do now, mayor?" Carmelle asked as she kept her eyes on the ball waiting for something to show up.

The mayor could only click her tongue and said, "if they will not contact you any minute… no. Just a minute from now we will go there and check it out for ourselves.” She growled.

"I understand." Her assistant simply replied, and after the whole minute of waiting Carmelle told her, "Mayor, it's been a whole 60 seconds."

Just after those words came out of her mouth the mayor hastily stood up, letting her chair fall down behind her. She then went stomping towards the door shouting a series of instructions to the men who were there to guard the office.

"Let's get going, men. We are going to tackle some dumb witted mammals! Prepare the carriage!"

All of her men immediately obeyed her orders and followed closely behind her preparing everything she needed for the so-called rescue. While they were under their way the coachman shouted from outside the carriage and said, "Mayor, I can see a large cloud of smoke from here and that is surely where they are right now!"

The mayor looked at Carmelle as if she was telling her to check it out for herself, to which the young woman did. Carmelle peaked out of the window and saw the same thing that the coach man is telling them. She sat back inside and looked at the mayor and said, "It's true mayor there's a huge cloud of smoke in that area where the orphanage was located."

"Then hurry up and bring me there! Are you still looking at me? just keep hitting the horse and it will go faster!" She grumbled irritatedly. "Why do I need men again if I am going to resolve everything happening in this city!"

They arrived at the site and they saw the house burning from bottom to top and the clouds accumulating up in the sky covering the inky canopy of the night and the only thing that is illuminating them right now is the burning rubbles.

"What the heck in the world is happening? How did this fire get this big?!" She hollard at the site. The men with her were all shocked but they came to their senses when one of the guards shouted, "Mayor, look!" they looked at the source of voice and so that the man is pointing towards the flame and all their heads darted to the location but as they squinted their eyes they can see figures of people playing and some are in deformed situation.

"What the—" the major wasn't able to finish what she's going to say and just decided to run towards the fire.

Her security guards were concerned about her well-being and they immediately demanded her to come back, "Wait mayor, it's dangerous to go there, come back here!" But of course they were not obeyed and so they could only follow her.

When the mayor got closer, she finally got the hunch of what's going on, from the tattered bodies all over she's sure that there was an attack, "Just what in the world happened?" she breathes.

She went farther to scan the area but none of her men was alive, and so she stumbled across a creature that is made of bones and she immediately recognized that kind of power and so she called him, "Cadill, what's going on what happened?!" She demanded an answer. "Where are the children?!"

Although the man is clearly mourning for the loss of his comrade he still has a duty to fulfill, and because of this, he laid him down, stood straight up and responded even though his voice was on the verge of breaking. "The children have nowhere to be found. I think the fire who did this are the same guys who let the children free."

"What the hell?!" Her eyes shoot wide-open from the information he has given to her, "Then where's Mary Jane and her assistant?!" She darted her head from left to right trying to find the said woman. “They should be the one to take care all of this–”

Cadill responded by pointing his bony fingers to a certain direction yet his eyes are just fixated on the corpses of his friends. "Then why did you let them get away?!" Out of anger the mayor struck a deal with her thorns sending him flying above and falling to the ground creating a huge crater from the impact.

Ester can tell that she has no use of her right hand as of now because looking at him, she can tell that he's not being himself. Due to this fact she began to take things in her hands and started to run to the direction given to her and there she found another bunch of men in deformed situation.

This whole scenario made her question her sanity, but the woman she's looking for is there dead on the ground. She decided to go there and examine her corpse but before she could even take a single step towards her an animalistic beast was caught in her peripheral vision. Blanche attacked her with her scythe, but the mayor was fast on her feet and she was able to deflect her assault using her thorns to defend herself.

"Who are you?!" She hollered her question but soon she realized that the one who attacked her was not a stranger at all. "You're… you are the b*tches pup!" She growled at her. "I should have known this. I should have listened to what my guts said when I heard your name… Blanche.” she growled her name with pure contempt.

"I am no one's pup, I am her daughter!" Blanche blindingly attacked the mayor but even though Ester can deflect all attacks and defend herself using her own powers but even with all of that she wasn't able to take a stand and turn the tables and have the upper hand.

Until she got a stand against her and this time she sent a barrage of undeniably sharp prickles on her way, Blanche wasn't able to hold her ground when those attacks hit her. Luckily her weapon was able to handle all the pressure of the attack but still can’t deny that strength sent her a few meters.

"Where are the children of god damn woman!" Ester roared at her.

"They are safe, that's for sure." She grumbled she tried to stand up straight but the impact took a toll.

Out of anger Ester asked her, "Why are you doing this? I offered you a job and you are only wasting it. You are so ungrateful."

“Like hell, that I would be grateful for something like this.” She growled internally. But Blanche returned the question, "What about you? Why are you doing this?" Her words made Ester lose her composure, "Why are you selling children as if they are just livestocks, an item, a shipment, why are you doing all of this, they are humans as real as you and me for god damn's sake!"

"That is none of your business!" Ester shouted back and tried to send spines towards her. “So get the f*ck your nose out of my way!”

"You are the real monster!" Blunch screamed on top of her lungs and that word brought Ester memories that she didn't want to even remember. “You're not saving anyone.”

"Ester, come here I’m going to show you something beautiful!" Raccoon chimed as he held the young Ester's hand and dragged her across the beautiful garden of his family.

"Where are we going?" The youngster asked with her tiny voice filled with curiosity and bafflement yet her eyes were lingering around.

"Just come with me and I’ll show you!" Raccoon beamed at her and pulled her harder as they went faster.

The young Ester didn't even hesitate to follow her friend. "Ok!"

It was sunset and they were going in the central part of the garden that seemed like a forest from all the trees that darkened the place but they were not scared at all since they knew there was no monster or animals lingering around. Just a couple of other smaller kinds of animals like squirrels and deers.

"Here hold this, this is my gift for your birthday." Raccoon smiled at her As he handed her a small and dry twig.

Ester was happy to hear that her friend has a gift for her but then her smile suddenly fell when she saw what he gave to her, "A… a stick?"

"This is not just an ordinary stick." He whispered, as if there's something magical in the stick.

"What's so special about it?" She asked with a small pout on her lips.

"You will see, come on hold it." Ester begrudgingly holds the stick that was given to her and yet he still followed him with a cute pout. "Are we there yet?" She asked in a whined.

"Come on, you were so excited about it but now that I tell you that you're not happy at all?" Raccoon joked at her reaction, "You got to trust me in this, I'm sure you're going to love it."

"Of course I trust you." She mumbled. ‘But I didn't expect that you will give me a stick when I asked for the most beautiful flower in your garden. Just one single strand of flower though, that would be enough.’ She whined internally but then proceeded to sigh out loud since she can’t do anything about it anymore and she just let herself be engrossed with the ecstatic view.

Her internal thoughts were interrupted when her friends suddenly spoke, "We're here now."

"What is this? I've never seen this before. Is it still part of your mansion?" She asked in an awe, from the fact that her eyes can't believe it because the place where they are right now is like they are in a different dimension. “This place is so…”

The garden they have in the entrance is filled with different kinds of flowers and trees but this place is much far superior than that. The youngEster couldn't help but gawk in the sight.

Raccoon was happy to see that her friend was enjoying this place he really reserved for the both of them. ‘I'm glad she liked it.’ He internally smiled.

"Don't worry about it, this is our main garden. We don't actually bring a lot of people here because we are keeping this as a sacred sanctuary for all the harmless animals." Raccoon said. "Come on, let's go further inside."

“So there's really animals here inside… Are you sure we are safe here?” Ester asks hesitantly.

Raccoon only laughed at her reaction, “Yes, we are safe here, I tell you. Safe.”

But even though with all that reassurance, Ester couldn't help to step back from fear. And because of this, Raccoon only held her hands tighter and said., “Don't worry, I will never let go of your hand.”

That simple gesture Ester trusts him even further, Since she knows that he will never put her in danger. And together they went inside holding each other’s hand.

As they go inside, Ester's mouth is agape the whole time, as he keeps on darting her head around from left to right and bottom to top. "Wow look at the trees, they are so big! As if we are just the dwarves in here. It feels like this place is so magical"

"That's what I thought so too, every time I go here." Raccoon laughed.

"Thank you, Raccoon!" Ester bestowed him with the sweetest smile.

"Why are you thanking me?" he asked in confusion. “I haven't taken you to the main course yet.”

"Because you granted me this gift." She told him with the sweetest smile plastered on her lips.

"This is not the gift, I haven't given you the gift." He responded with a confuse smile.

"Huh? For real?"

Raccoon only gave her a kind smile as they went through the forest, "Now we are definitely here." He said as they stood in front of the lake but in the middle of the lake there's an island which is a tree but without leaves.

"Poor tree…" Ester was saddened at the side of the leafless tree.

"Don't be sad that a tree is only giving a way for the most beautiful flower to bloom." He encouraged her.

"Most beautiful flower?" Ester repeated with her eyes almost sparkling with joy.

"Yes, now we just have to wait." Chaplain said as he took a seat on the shore and tapped the space beside him encouraging Ester to sit beside him. To which the girl gladly did.

The wait wasn't long as they expected, and the fireflies started to come and they went on the leafless tree, with their numbers accumulating each of the branches, the tree became a glowing crown. And because the stick that they have together some of the fireflies came to eat to make it right it's a glowing flower.

"Woah! This is so beautiful!" She explained with pure amazement.

"I'm glad you liked it," Raccoon said, holding the same glowing flower she's holding, "this is the most beautiful flower in our garden."

“How can this happen?” Asked in amazement. “It's just a stick, but now it's so… magical.” She awed, pulling the glowing flower towards her face, furtherly illuminating her innocent orbs.

Only laughed at her limited vocabulary, “These sticks are part of that tree, that’s why fireflies are going on it too."

“Is that tree a magical being?” Ester asks in a hushed tone as if she's afraid someone will hear her. “Is it alive? Can the three hear us?”

By this time, Raccoon became a laughing pit. Resulting for him to clutched his stomach as he laughed out loud, he even ended up on the ground, rolling from all the happiness.

Ester pouted at his reaction, “Why are you laughing? I was just asking.” she whined.

“This… This is just nothing… I wasn’t laughing at all.” He said in between laughter. “Yes, that tree is alive even though it doesn't have any leaves on it.”

This earned him a loud gasp from her, “For real?!”

“Yes, but no, it can’t hear us.” Raccoon said.

“Oh my, thank goodness.” She sighed, clutching her heart through her shirt.

“Ester…” Raccoon called her name with his sweet voice, “Happy birthday, and thank you for everything.” He smiled at him.

Ester’s eyes almost glowed from admiration and lunged forward engulfing him with her arms and because of the impact the fireflies came flying away from their sticks. But none of that matters to both of them because all they enjoy is each of their presence.

"Thank you so much!”

Their short celebration was instantly cut off when a male voice from behind them spoke, "Raccoon, it's time to go." The voice was stern and adamant.

"Father, it's you.” Raccoon’s happy countenance suddenly fell when he called the man ‘father’. This was all noticed by Esther, so she gave him a glance that speaks of concern.

“I am just showing Ester our most beautiful and treasured flower." He spoke, trying to ease the tension.

The father smiled at them, "There's no problem in it and happy birthday my daughter."

"Thank you sir!" Stir immediately stood up and dashed towards him and gave him a big hug.

"Come I will show you something,” the father said. “But this time this is going to be my personal birthday present for you."

Just when those words left the father's mouth, Raccoon felt his hand tightened its grip on the grassy shore, as his father held her hand.

“Raccoon, what are you still doing there? Come on and follow us.” The father said.

“Yes, father.” He then stood up and went to follow them from behind.

Both children followed him as they walked under some basement. Everything is normal from the entrance but as they go further everything feels eerie for the both of them, especially Ester since she’s not familiar with this place.

“Are you scared, Ester?” the father asked as he looked down to see her reaction.

Ester only yanked her hand away from him and instead ran towards her friend to hold his hand. The father saw this and the son and his eyes met for a moment, but that’s enough for him to know that his son is not pleased about anything regarding the place and what they are about to do. But he only turned his back to his own child and just simply said, “Follow me.”

Even though the kids are quite hesitant they still follow him. As they walked further deeper to the basement there they saw lots of other children that are seemingly living in good condition but still they are not living some sort of royal life.

"Who are they?" She asked his friend in a whisper. But before he could even reply, his father beat him from doing so.

"They are children just like you and my son, Raccoon. And I am taking care of them because they don't have any family." The father said.As he told her, an eerie and menacing smile.

But of course, the child was oblivious about it. And she immediately trusts him."Wow! mister you are so kind." She chimed, and this time she dashed back to his side and held his hand to which the man gladly took.

"Yes my daughter, this is the best thing you could do for them." He spoke ever so gently. “Everything I do for them is for their own good and for the welfare of others as well.”

"Father,” Raccoon butted in and said, “I think we shouldn't let her see any further."

"What why?" Ester groaned but her questions weren't answered because Raccoon only held her other hand and started to pull her away from him, but the father didn't let the other hand go and instead held it firmly while he gave his own son a stern glare as if he’s saying that he should let her go or else there will be consequences if he will not let go of her hand.

Raccoon wasn’t able to do anything, since as much as he wanted to despise his father, he had no courage and strength to do it. And in the end he let his friend’s hand go.

"Come my child, I will show you more." The father said.

Even though Raccoon was defiant in this idea he wasn't able to do anything but follow them. With his fists clenched on his side and his jaw is in a tight clamp.

The father let her see each of the children's condition and all of them are healthy, "You see, Ester my child. We are doing this not because they don't have family but we are doing this because I know that they want to help as well."

“How can you know they wanted to help you?”

“Because that’s the unwritten rule of this world, if you are helped, then you should return something to those who helped you.” He spoke.

“You helped me so many times, then I should return something for you too!” she chimed.

“Right, you really are a brilliant child. You’re getting it.” He grinned at her, a smile that Raccoon can’t bear to see.

“But how can they help, they are just children?" She asked and this time Raccoon could only beat his lower lip from frustration.

"Their bodies,” he spoke.

“Their bodies? Are they going to work for you? But that’s bad, right? You can’t make children like us go to work.” She stated innocently.

“Yes, that is right as well. But I will not take them and work for myself.”

“Then what?”

“I am asking for their help because if you don't know my son is terminally ill and he needs an instant operation or else he will die." He said in a fake sad tone.

This sudden information shook Esters' whole being, she then instantly darted her head towards her friend, "You are sick, why didn't you tell me."

"No, I am completely fine." He tried to reassure her.

"Raccoon, don't lie, it's not good to lie to a friend." His father said.

"Will Raccoon still heal?" she asked, clearly concerned about her friend.

"Yes, he will and thanks to the help of this children"

"That's good to hear then. Can I ask how they will be able to help him?"

"Raccoon needs a new organ and they will give that to him."

"But why do you need so many children just getting a new organ? What’s an organ anyway?"

"Because I want the best and only the best for my son. And they are the most suitable for him." He replied, not even bothering to answer her latter question.

"Father, you don't have to do this, let's just accept everything." Raccoon tried to reason out.

"Accept? Raccoon, do you know what you're talking about? Do you really want to die that bad?" His father gets angry with him, “Are you just going to give up? You shouldn’t give up as long as you see someone is fighting for you. I am exerting all my life just to give you everything, so please, at least let me know that I am not alone in this battle.”

"But father we've been trying to find the suitable organ for me but just look what happened. We have lost so much life but still we can find the right organ." He told him his sole reason for his defiance. But it still remained unheard.

"So, what? just because we couldn't find the right organ does it mean we have to give up? My foolish child." The father's attention then went to Ester.'' Ester, my child these things will help a lot of people just like your friend so you have to keep it going."

Raccoon gripped his hand from the thought that someday her friend is going to do such things, but he has no courage to disobey his father.

"This will help a lot of people like my friend?" she said with her almost glistened from the simple thought of helping many. “I can help lots of people with this?”

"Yes absolutely."