Chapter 146: Stabbed in the Soul

Angelica ran through the tunnels, her knees buckling with each step against the uneven ground. The faint glow of her lantern trembled in rhythm with her, casting frantic shadows across the cracked stone walls. Screams echoed in the distance—sharp, warped by stone and death. They wouldn’t stop. People were being slaughtered. She didn’t need to see it to know. The sound alone was enough.

Sweat poured down her temples, soaking the strands of hair plastered to her forehead. Her hands trembled so violently she could barely hold onto the lantern. Her heart pounded like a war drum—too hard, too fast, as if it were trying to shatter her ribs from the inside.

“It’s happening again… it’s all happening again…” she muttered, legs dragging, breath faltering.

The roar echoed from somewhere deep ahead, and panic surged through her chest like lightning. She saw it again. The fortress. The blood. Her brother.

“This is my fault… again… I brought everyone here…”

Angelica suddenly stopped running. Her feet locked into the dirt, like her body had finally given up. She clenched her eyes shut, teeth grinding together, trying to push the pain down—deep, far, away—like she could seal it there forever. Every nerve screamed in agony, but she couldn’t collapse. Not yet. She had to go back. She had to pull the Wardens toward her. Give the others a chance.

But then—

“Angelica!” A voice behind her. “Finally found you.”

She turned fast. “Paul…?” Her eyes blinked in disbelief. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve got a tracking skill,” he said, stepping closer. “Can mark people nearby. I tagged you before leaving the group.”

He kept walking toward her.

“The Haven is still holding. The chaos at the Safe Zone’s under control. I came alone… figured I’d try to help with the Queen.”

He paused. “Then I heard the screams…”

“You have to run, Paul. The Midnight Wardens—they’ve entered the mine. They came from the Wild Zone!”

He didn’t respond right away. Just took another step. Then it happened. Angelica felt something cold and sharp punch into her stomach—like the world itself had stabbed her. She looked down. Her entire body froze. Paul’s hand gripped the knife tightly. The blade was buried to the hilt. Warmth began to spread across her robes. Blood. So much of it.

“W-what…?” The words barely left her mouth before he shoved her back. She hit the ground hard.

Paul stared at her with a soft smile—almost kind. Like he’d just delivered good news.

“Of course the Wardens came,” he said gently, tilting his head. “I’m the one who brought them.”

Angelica’s world stopped. Her eyes widened. The blood in her veins turned to ice. “What…?”

The knife came down again. She screamed, kicking, trying to crawl. Paul laughed—a sound that echoed through the tunnels.

“What are you doing?!” she screamed, stumbling, blood soaking through her tunic.

“Why…?” Her voice cracked and tore at her throat as she collapsed onto her side, the pain lighting up every nerve in her body.

Paul just laughed and opened his arms, as if explaining something obvious to a stubborn child.

“Why?” he repeated with mocking sarcasm. “Because no one should ever leave this world, Angelica. Here, reality bends. Here… I can be whoever I want.”

He stepped forward, smiling. “This world is perfect. No bills. No bosses. I’m not a failure here. Here… I’m somebody.”

Angelica tried to reach for her bow, her trembling fingers instinctively seeking the quiver. But her muscles wouldn’t respond. Her hands felt like they were made of lead. The edges of her vision began to darken, like the world was closing into a funnel. Everything throbbed: her head, her gut, her chest. Something burned in her veins like a slow fire.

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“It’s poison,” Paul said casually. He kept walking toward her, calm and steady.

“You should’ve been dead a long time ago. You knew too much. Always been a liability. No more nostalgia, Angelica. Although… I admit, it was poetic. It happened exactly like last time.”

She froze. “What do you mean…?” she whispered.

“I was the one who lured the Midnight Warden that night. I’m the reason your brother died.” Paul tilted his head slightly, eyes gleaming with pleasure.