The image seared into Samantha's mind: Ren, bound and beaten, a grotesque caricature of her kind-hearted brother. A wave of nausea, sharp and acidic, clawed at her throat, but the burning rage that followed consumed it entirely.
"I'm gonna fucking kill them," Samantha snarled, the words a low, guttural growl ripped from her core.
Mochi zipped frantically, his blue eyes wide with terror. "Samantha, no! You can't! It's suicide! You need to get help—"
"Help won't get here in time," Samantha spat, her voice laced with venom. "They'll finish him off. I'm not letting that happen."
She broke into a sprint, every muscle screaming in protest, fueled only by the burning need to protect Ren. The old warehouse loomed, a skeletal monstrosity against the dying light, reeking of rot and despair.
Mochi pleaded, his voice a frantic buzz. "Samantha, listen to me! This is a trap! They lured you here! You're the target, not Ren!"
Samantha ignored him, her mind a maelstrom of violent images, each one more horrifying than the last. "Fuck it," she hissed, the words laced with cold fury. "I don't care what they want. They hurt my brother. They're going to bleed."
She slammed the warehouse door open, the rusted hinges shrieking in protest, the sound swallowed by the oppressive silence within. The interior was a gaping maw of darkness, punctuated by slivers of moonlight piercing through shattered windows, casting long, grotesque shadows that danced like mocking specters. The air was thick with the stench of decay, urine, and something else… something metallic and sickeningly sweet.
"Ren!" Samantha's voice cracked, raw with fear and fury. "Ren, where are you?!"
Her voice echoed through the cavernous space, swallowed by the darkness. Mochi flitted nervously, his light casting feeble, dancing shadows.
"Samantha, be careful!" Mochi's voice trembled.
Samantha moved forward, her senses on high alert, every nerve ending screaming in warning. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the drip, drip, drip of water, each drop a tiny hammer blow against her skull.
"Ren!" she called again, her voice stronger this time, laced with a desperate hope.
A voice, thick with malice, slithered from the shadows. "Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in."
Samantha whirled around, her heart hammering against her ribs. Three figures materialized from the darkness, their faces obscured, but their presence radiating a palpable aura of menace.
"Where is he?" Samantha demanded, her voice shaking but firm. "Where's my brother?"
One of the figures chuckled, a dry, rasping sound that sent shivers down Samantha's spine. "Your brother? He's right over there."
He gestured towards a far corner. Samantha strained her eyes, and through the gloom, she saw him. Ren, slumped in a chair, his head lolling, his body a twisted mess of bruises and cuts.
"Ren!" Samantha cried, a wave of relief washing over her, quickly followed by a tidal wave of rage.
Then, another figure stepped forward, and Samantha recognized him. It was Kenji, a senior from Ren's so-called "club," a group of older boys known for their predatory behavior. His eyes gleamed with a sickening hunger.
"You!" Samantha hissed, her eyes burning with hatred. "You did this!"
"That's right, little Kisaragi," Kenji sneered, his voice oily and mocking. "And you're next."
"You think you can touch me?" Samantha challenged, her voice trembling with fury.
Kenji laughed, a harsh, guttural sound. "Oh, we're not going to 'touch' you. Not in the way you're thinking. We just need you. You see, someone wants you very badly."
"Who?" Samantha demanded, her voice rising. "Who wants me?"
Kenji shrugged, a dismissive gesture. "That's not for you to know. But don't worry, you'll find out soon enough. Let's just say… you're a pretty little thing, and some people have… specific tastes." His eyes raked over her body, a vile leer twisting his lips.
Samantha's stomach churned. She knew what they meant. The rumors about Kenji and his "club"… the whispers of girls being cornered, harassed, assaulted. They didn't want her for some mysterious purpose. They wanted to use her, to violate her.
"I'm not going anywhere with you!" Samantha shouted, her voice filled with defiance.
"Ren!" Samantha yelled, her voice breaking. "Are you okay?!"
Ren stirred, his head lifting weakly. He looked at Samantha, his eyes filled with pain, but also with a fierce protectiveness.
"Samantha… run," Ren managed to croak out, his voice a ragged whisper. "It's dangerous… you should leave me alone…"
"No!" Samantha screamed, tears streaming down her face. "I'm not leaving you here with these animals!"
"You don't understand," Ren said, his voice strained and desperate. "The one they want… is you. You are their target."
Samantha's eyes widened, a horrifying realization dawning on her. They hadn't just grabbed Ren to lure her. They'd grabbed him to break her, to weaken her resolve.
"What?"
"Just go, Samantha!" Ren pleaded, his voice cracking with pain. "Please! I'll be okay."
"No way!" Samantha yelled, her voice filled with anguish.
Ren struggled against his restraints, his body convulsing in a desperate attempt to break free. "Samantha, please!"
"You're not saving anyone," Kenji sneered, his voice dripping with sadistic glee. "Especially not your brother."
"Don't you dare touch him!" Samantha roared, her voice a primal scream.
"Oh, we already did," Kenji said, his voice a low, suggestive purr. "But don't worry, we were… gentle. We need him alive, after all. For now."
Samantha's rage reached a fever pitch. She charged forward, her fists clenched, her eyes burning with a murderous intent.
"I'm gonna fucking kill you!" she screamed, the words a feral roar.
The thugs laughed, stepping aside with practiced ease. They had no intention of fighting her head-on. They wanted to wear her down, to break her spirit before they took what they wanted.
She reached Ren, her hands trembling as she desperately tried to untie the ropes that bound him.
"Ren…" Ren whispered, his voice weak and broken.
"I'm here, Kuya," Samantha said, her voice thick with tears. "I'm going to get you out of here."
Suddenly, Kenji stepped forward, holding a cloth soaked with a pungent liquid.
"Oh no, you don't," he said, his voice a chilling whisper.
He moved towards Samantha, but Ren, fueled by a surge of desperate energy, lunged forward, kicking Kenji in the shin with surprising force.
"Don't you ever dare to touch my little sister, you bastards!" Ren shouted, his voice hoarse but defiant.
Kenji yelped, stumbling backward, the cloth falling to the ground. The other two thugs rushed forward, grabbing Ren and shoving him roughly back into the chair.
"You fucking idiot!" one of them shouted, his face contorted with rage. "You're going to regret that!"
They began to viciously attack Ren, their blows landing with sickening thuds. Samantha watched in horror, her heart shattering as she saw her brother's body being brutalized.
"Ren!" Samantha screamed, her voice cracking with despair.
She tried to fight them off, but they were too strong, too ruthless. They shoved her aside, continuing their brutal assault on Ren.
"Stop it! Stop it!" Samantha cried, tears streaming down her face, her voice a desperate plea.
"You all think that you're gonna beat me??" Ren shouted, his voice a defiant roar despite the pain. "You just put me in sleeping gas, you idiots, and brought me here! If you touch a single hair, or even try to harass her, I'm going to kill you all!"
The beating continued, a horrifying symphony of violence. Samantha watched in helpless terror, her mind reeling, her body frozen with fear.
"Samantha, run!" Ren managed to gasp, his voice a broken whisper, laced with blood.
Suddenly, a blinding light flashed, and a chime, sharp and urgent, echoed in Samantha's mind.
[Main Mission #2: Save Your Older Brother]
[Difficulty: ★★★★★]
[Time Limit: 10 Minutes]
[Reward: ???]
[Penalty for Failure: Death and Violation]
Samantha's eyes widened, her blood turning to ice in her veins. Death and violation? They weren't just going to kill Ren. They were going to…
No.
A surge of adrenaline, cold and sharp, flooded her system. The fear didn't vanish, but it was overshadowed by a primal need to protect, to destroy, to survive.
She pushed herself to her feet, her body trembling, but her eyes burning with a fierce, unwavering determination.
"I'm not running," she said, her voice a low, dangerous growl. "I'm going to fucking kill every single one of you."