The situation unraveled too quickly for Noah to process. There was no time to react, no chance to mount a counterattack. The Villa, his supposed sanctuary, was overrun within seconds. Worshipers poured in like a flood, covering every exit with precision that left him stunned.
His mind raced, clinging to one desperate hope: Kali's quick thinking. If Kali had managed to grab Judy and hide before the worshipers swarmed the Villa, there was still a chance. As long as the cult believed Noah was alone, they might remain safe. That thought kept him grounded, even as dread clawed at his chest.
The Apostle strode into the room with unnerving confidence, his boots echoing against the wooden floor. He crossed the room with purpose, his towering figure radiating a dark presence that seemed to suffocate the air. Without hesitation, he settled himself next to Noah on the sofa, his movements casual, almost friendly, as if they were old acquaintances.
His eyes roamed the interior of the Villa, and he let out an exaggerated sigh of appreciation.
"What a lovely place you have here," he said, his voice deep and crawling with an eerie undertone.
"You sure know how to live, heretic."
Noah barely registered the words. His focus was elsewhere, his mind cataloging the chaos. In front of him, fifteen worshipers stood armed with makeshift weapons, their crude clothing stained with blood and dirt. The faint light caught on the sharp edges of their tools, a haunting reminder of what they were capable of.
'Damn it,' Noah thought bitterly. His pulse quickened as he tried to calculate a way out. He needed to stall, to give Kali and Judy every second they needed to stay hidden.
Forcing his voice to remain steady, he asked, "How? How did you manage to follow me?"
The Apostle turned his head, his grin widening unnaturally. The gleam in his eyes spoke of amusement, as if he relished Noah's confusion.
"Well, it's easy, my friend," he replied, his tone as casual as if they were discussing the weather.
Noah's heart slammed against his ribcage, his instincts screaming that whatever came next would be worse than he could imagine.
The Apostle's grin stretched further, his voice dropping to a low, sinister rumble.
"Because I was the one who let you go."
A loud, bone-chilling laugh erupted from him, shattering the tension and sending a wave of unease rippling through the room. The worshipers remained silent, still and obedient, their expressions unreadable as their leader reveled in his revelation.
Abruptly, the laughter ceased, his tone snapping back to one of cold authority.
"Out of my savior's infinite mercy, I allowed you to meet your daughter and your friend one last time."
He leaned closer, his eyes boring into Noah's.
"Don't tell me you thought you fooled me back there?"
Noah's blood turned to ice as a chilling realization gripped him. They knew. The Apostle had been in control all along, every move calculated, every decision orchestrated to lead to this very moment. The smug look on the Apostle's face confirmed Noah's worst fear: they knew he wasn't alone. They knew about Judy and Kali. His breath hitched, panic clawing at his chest as the walls of the Villa seemed to close in around him.
The Apostle leaned back against the sofa, his demeanor exuding confidence and malevolence. His eyes sparkled with twisted delight as he continued, his deep voice cutting through the tense air.
"Well, did you enjoy the performance back there? we can be quite theatrical, don't you think?" He let out a low, humorless chuckle.
Noah's face paled further, his mind scrambling for a way to stop what was coming.
The Apostle leaned forward, his expression hardening, a wicked smile curling at the edges of his lips.
"Let me tell you something, my friend. Back there, I made you a promise. I told you I'd make you suffer. And now..."
His voice dropped into an icy tone that sent shivers down Noah's spine.
"I'm here to deliver my savior's judgment."
Without hesitation, the Apostle raised his hand and gestured to the worshipers. "Bring them here," he commanded, his voice laced with authority.
Noah's heart pounded in his chest as the worshipers moved with eerie synchronicity, their footsteps echoing through the Villa.
'No. No. This can't be happening,' he thought desperately. He struggled to push himself off the sofa, his battered body protesting every movement, but he couldn't just sit there. He had to do something. Anything.
The Apostle turned his head slightly, catching Noah's futile attempt at resistance with a glance.
"Ah, ah, ah," he chided, his voice dripping with mockery. "Don't ruin the moment. You'll want to see this."
Noah's stomach churned as the worshipers disappeared into the shadows of the Villa. His mind raced, screaming at him to act, but his body felt frozen in place, weighed down by dread. Moments stretched into eternity as he waited, the suffocating silence broken only by the distant, approaching footsteps of the cultists—and the terrified voices of his loved ones.
Noah's voice cracked under the weight of desperation, trembling as he pleaded,
"Your fight is with me! Leave them alone! I'll submit!"
The Apostle threw his head back, a loud, bone-chilling laugh breaking the oppressive silence. The sound echoed through the Villa, filling every corner with its mocking resonance.
"A fight? Me, have a fight with you?" His laughter abruptly stopped, his expression twisting into something far darker.
"Don't be so full of yourself, heretic!"
The Apostle's voice grew sharper, laced with a fury that made the air feel heavy.
"There was no fight to begin with! I was sent to this earth to purify, to manifest my savior's will."
He took a step closer, his towering presence pressing down on Noah like a physical force. Then, in a lower, venomous tone, he added,
"But you... you chose this. You chose to refuse mercy. You chose to deny the truth. And now, this..." He gestured broadly, his eyes glinting with cruel satisfaction. "This is the result. You will witness my savior's punishment."
Noah's heart stopped as the worshipers reappeared, dragging Judy and Kali into the room. Their hands were bound tightly, the cultists' iron grips forcing them forward. Judy was crying, her small body trembling as she screamed for her father, her tear-streaked face turning toward him in sheer terror. Kali, teeth clenched, glared at their captors, his fury palpable, but his restrained arms left him powerless.
"No... no, no, no," Noah muttered, his worst fears realized. His nightmare had taken shape before his very eyes, and his mind raced frantically for a way to save them. But every idea crumbled under the weight of the Apostle's looming presence.
"Please!" Noah's voice broke, his words tumbling out in frantic desperation. "Please, let them go! I was wrong, I'll do anything. I'll commit myself to the savior. Or—"
He choked on his words, but pushed through, his voice trembling with despair.
"Or better—take me as the sacrifice! I'll give my life to the savior! Please, just... let them go!"
The room fell deathly silent for a moment, the weight of Noah's plea hanging in the air. Judy's sobs were muffled, but her tear-filled eyes stayed locked on her father. Kali shook his head subtly, as if trying to urge Noah not to give in, but there was no time for words.
The Apostle stepped forward, looming over Noah, his expression unreadable. For a moment, there was a flicker of amusement in his gaze, but it quickly turned cold.
"A sacrifice, you say?" His voice dripped with mockery, yet there was an edge of cruelty beneath it.
"How noble of you... but your sacrifice means nothing to my savior. Watching your suffering, though—ah, that is the true tribute."
Noah's breath hitched, the realization sinking in. There was no reasoning with the Apostle. No words or bargains would save Judy and Kali. This wasn't about faith or mercy. It was about pain. About breaking him.
Now, the Apostle was ready to deliver the final blow. Summoning every ounce of strength he had left, Noah staggered to his feet, blood seeping from his reopened wounds. "No!" he cried, desperation fueling his shaky steps as he lunged toward Judy. But before he could reach her, the worshipers intercepted him with brutal efficiency, their hands grabbing him like iron clamps.
With one swift motion, they tossed him aside like a ragged doll. He hit the ground hard, pain shooting through his battered body as fresh blood stained the floor beneath him.
"I beg you!" Noah gasped, his voice hoarse from anguish. "Please, show me the savior's mercy! Let them go!" His plea echoed through the Villa, met only by the Apostle's cold indifference.
The Apostle rose slowly from his seat, his tall frame casting an ominous shadow over the room. He moved toward Judy, his footsteps deliberate, the sound echoing like the toll of a bell. Judy struggled violently, her small body twisting against the worshiper's unyielding grip, but it was futile. Beside her, Kali knelt on the ground, his hands restrained, his breathing ragged.
Kali's eyes blazed with defiance. With a sudden burst of energy, he lunged forward, sinking his teeth into the wrist of the worshiper holding him. A guttural snarl escaped his throat as he fought to break free, but the Apostle's gaze snapped to him like a predator locking onto prey. With a flicker of amusement, the Apostle delivered a savage kick to Kali's stomach, sending him sprawling to the floor.
Kali gasped for air, his chest heaving as he writhed in pain. The Apostle loomed over him, a twisted smile playing on his lips.
"What do we have here? A fierce fighter? How... interesting." He studied Kali for a moment, as if weighing his worth, before shifting his attention back to Judy.
The Apostle stepped closer, closing the distance between himself and the terrified girl.
"What a beautiful child you are,"
he said, his voice dripping with mockery. He knelt to her level, his imposing presence making her flinch. Gesturing to the worshiper restraining her, he commanded, "Let her go."
Judy's arms fell free, but she didn't run. She stood frozen, her wide, tear-streaked eyes locked onto the Apostle as he leaned in closer, his gaze piercing through her.
"You have such a long life ahead of you," he said softly, his words laced with false sympathy. His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face in a gesture that made Noah's blood boil.
"But... because of your father's sins, you won't see tomorrow."
The Apostle's twisted smile widened, his tone darkening. "Oh, what a shame."
With the Apostle's last word hanging in the suffocating air, he grabbed Judy by the shoulder and turned to face Noah, who lay gasping for breath on the cold floor. The Apostle's eyes gleamed with malicious delight as he tilted his head, mockingly thoughtful.
"What do you think I should do now?" he mused, his tone both playful and sinister.
"Such a waste, wouldn't it be? Your child's life hasn't even had the chance to sprout yet."
Noah's eyes widened, his chest tightening as despair crushed him. The uselessness of his existence weighed heavier than ever, suffocating him. "I beg you," he croaked, his voice raw and broken.
"Don't do it! I'll pay the tribute. I'll do whatever you want!"
Desperation consumed him. Noah grabbed his left hand and began breaking his fingers, one by one, the sickening crunch echoing through the room.
"See? I would do anything for the savior! Oh, my savior! Take my arm, take my heart, take my life—just leave them! Please!"
He crawled toward the Apostle, his body trembling, his voice cracking as he groveled at the man's feet.
The Apostle looked down at him, the image of power and cruelty. A twisted smile spread across his face as he watched Noah unravel. "What a scene," he said, his voice dripping with contempt. "Not so powerful now, are you? Pathetic." He leaned in slightly, his dark eyes fixed on Noah's broken form.
"Well, at least this is how things should be. Groveling, weak... powerless before the will of the savior."
Judy trembled in the Apostle's grip, her wide, tear-streaked eyes darting between her father and the monster holding her. "Daddy..." she whimpered, her voice barely above a whisper.
The Apostle sneered at her plea, then turned back to Noah. "I will show you one last mercy." His tone grew darker, each word carrying the weight of finality.
"Pay the tribute, and may the savior forgive you."
He raised his right arm and drew a jagged blade from his side, slashing across his own forearm with deliberate precision. Blood began to drip from the wound, thick and unnaturally dark, pooling on the floor below.
Noah froze for a moment, his mind fracturing under the weight of his dilemma. Then, without hesitation, he lunged forward, his lips meeting the blood-soaked ground. He began to drink, the metallic tang burning his throat. His hands trembled as he gripped the floor, tears streaming down his face, his entire being consumed by the act.
The Apostle watched in silent satisfaction, his twisted grin growing wider. "Good," he murmured, his voice like a death knell.
The Apostle's voice rang out, cold and final. "Now you understand what it means to serve. But still, a punishment must be made."
With those words, he lifted Judy into the air with one powerful hand, his fingers wrapping around her small neck. She gasped, her hands clawing desperately at his grip, her legs kicking frantically as they dangled in the air. Her tiny, choked breaths filled the room, a horrifying contrast to the Apostle's unyielding silence.
Noah's heart stopped, his entire being paralyzed as he watched the scene unfold. His mind screamed at him to act, but his broken body refused to obey. His daughter's life was slipping away before his very eyes, her struggle growing weaker with each passing second.
"No! No! Nooo!"
Noah's anguished cry tore through the Villa as he lunged forward, grabbing the Apostle's legs in a desperate attempt to pull him down. His hands shook as he clawed and pulled with every ounce of strength he could muster, his voice breaking into ragged sobs. But it was futile. He was too weak, too broken.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl, every heartbeat dragging out like an eternity. Judy's wide, terrified eyes locked onto her father's, tears streaming down her face as the light in them began to fade. Her body went limp, her small hands falling away from the Apostle's grasp.
Her tears, the last trace of her struggle, slid down her cheeks and fell to the floor.
The room fell into a silence so profound that it seemed to swallow everything, but Noah could hear something—an agonized scream, raw and unrelenting. It took him a moment to realize it was his own voice. The sound, guttural and inhuman, erupted from his throat, filled with pain so deep it seemed to tear at the fabric of existence itself.
His trembling hands cradled Judy's small, lifeless body. Her once-warm frame was now cold, her head limp against his chest. Noah's tears streamed unchecked, falling onto her pale face as his heart shattered into a thousand irreparable pieces.
He rocked her gently, his mind spiraling into a void of despair. His lips quivered, words escaping in broken fragments.
"Please... wake up... Judy... wake up." But the stillness of her form told him the truth he couldn't bear to face.
Lifting his tear-streaked face, Noah turned to the Apostle, his voice now hoarse and desperate. "Kill me," he begged, his throat raw from screaming.
"Kill me, please."
His words fell heavy in the air, a plea soaked in agony.
"Take me to your savior! Do whatever you want, just... please..."
He choked on his sobs, his head bowing under the weight of grief. "End this."
The Apostle watched him with cold detachment, the faintest trace of amusement tugging at his lips. He loomed over Noah, his presence suffocating, yet he made no move. His silence spoke volumes—it wasn't enough for Noah to simply die.
The Apostle wanted him to live with this pain, to let it consume him, to let it fester until he was nothing more than a husk.
The Apostle, with an air of casual cruelty, gestured to the worshipers.
"Take that one," he said, his voice cutting through the oppressive silence like a blade, his finger pointing toward Kali, who lay motionless on the floor, unconscious from the brutal kick he had received.
"He will be useful."
As the worshipers moved to haul Kali's limp body away, the Apostle turned his gaze back to Noah. His expression was cold, devoid of pity, yet laced with twisted satisfaction.
"This is your punishment," he declared, his voice steady and unyielding.
"You will live with your regret. Not even the mercy of death will save you now, heretic."
Noah's hollow, tear-filled eyes looked up at the Apostle, silently pleading for a reprieve, but none came. The Apostle's words were final, a judgment handed down with cruel precision.
The worshipers began their exit, dragging Kali with them, their crude weapons clinking softly as they moved. The Apostle was the last to leave, his towering frame casting a long shadow across the room. He paused at the threshold for a moment, his presence heavy with malice, then stepped out into the night, disappearing into the darkness.
Left alone in the shattered remnants of the villa, Noah clung to Judy's lifeless body, his broken heart pouring out in guttural screams. "Kill me!" he begged again, his voice cracking, raw and ragged.
"Please, just kill me!"
But his cries went unanswered. The silence that followed was deafening, pressing down on him like a crushing weight.
He screamed until his throat gave out, his voice reduced to hoarse whispers that vanished into the cold night air.
Finally, the only sound left was the faint rustle of the wind, and Noah, shattered and alone, knelt on the bloodstained floor, cradling his daughter in his trembling arms.