Chapter 109 - The Strength Of Friendship
Tails
It was either Mira or Eline first.
This is one difference that Hanon got from his vision. Although he knew what's to come, he still was unable to bear it.
Josh and Dan sighed in relief. Even though they don't know what will happen to the chosen person, no one thinks that it's going to end up good for that person.
Both Eline and Mira's faces sank.
"Heads for Eline and tails for Mira."
Without further words, Teren tossed the coin after just picking it up.
The coin flipped up to the air. Heads, tails, heads, tails... it kept switching. Eline and Mira both knew that it was selfish for them but internally, they wished that please God, don't let it be them!
Ting*
The coin dropped but it dropped an uneven rock, letting it rise again. It was just a faint jump but the two felt it meant their life and death. They may be overreacting but the truth is, this coin toss determines something that is close to their life and death.
The coin finally landed one last time, silently. Teren crouched down to take the coin. His eyes then landed on of the girls.
"Mira..."
Eline was intensely relieved when she heard this but she didn't dare show it. Meanwhile, Mira's heartbeat skipped when she heard this.
Eline wanted to say some consolation but felt that it would not only be unnecessary but it will just irritate Mira, she thought.
With a paled expression and her composure lost, Mira muttered.
"W-what will you do to me?"
Hearing her cry, her friends felt their chest becomes heavier. If only they're tough enough to take her place. But... they don't even know what will happen.
Teren walked forward and without saying a word, he grabbed her hair without compassion and dragged her to the middle where everyone can see.
"Ah! Let go of me!"
With this in front of their eyes, with one of them actually being hurt, all thoughts and doubts about this being something else than what it looks like have shattered.
Almost everyone held their breaths. Rage, anger, confusion, and all other emotions were overridden by fear.
"NO! Someone! Help me!"
She cried but no one was courageous enough to mutter a word. After dragging her into the middle, helpless and scared, her skin rashed by the rope as she tried to pointlessly resist, Teren released the hold of her hair.
His smile was gone, only his emotionless, guiltless, and unhesitating eyes.
Iesa held her chest, seeing this expression.
Badump badump baadump*
She lightly huffed, unable to take her eyes off those two voids.
"I actually don't know what to do yet. I'm not the kind of person who tortures before killing."
Teren pondered and searched for his Spirits. He remembered having that one - the Spirit of Healing. When he was shot on the leg back then, he used it after he remembered he had one. It was not al-powerful like the Great Spirit of Healing but it was enough to fasten one's recovery, not leaving any scars.
In other words, he can just do anything he wants as long as he doesn't kill them.
While he thought of this, the others shivered from what he just said. This is not the Teren they know. The quiet one who didn't move when being insulted from his behind. Who is this?
Who is this demon?
"Hanon, how much blood loss a person can handle before dying?"
Teren asked, making Hanon's expression darken while the others paler.
"I don't know..."
He answered.
"This is tricky, if I cut your finger, what if you die before your friends sign their contracts?" Teren asked Mira.
"C-contracts?"
Mira looked at the papers that Mike and Catherine held.
"You're saying if they sign it? You will not do anything to us?"
She asked.
"That's a part of our deal, yes."
Once they heard Teren's answers, the four who were roped looked at Mike and Catherine, putting immense pressure on the two.
"M-mike? Catherine...? Why... why are you not signing the contract?"
Josh muttered but was audible enough to be understood.
Mike was unable to answer. It was Catherine who replied.
"If... we sign it... we will be Teren's loyal dogs..."
"Then why-"
"We want to sign it to save you all!" Catherine can't handle the judging eyes from her friends so she said, "But! But if we were just forced and we didn't sign it wholeheartedly, the contract will be one-sided! We will be loyal dogs but Teren won't still let you go!"
"What are you talking about...? Are you saying... you're not wholehearted on saving us, that's why you're hesitating?"
Eline muttered, heartbroken.
"... d-do you think I don't care about myself...? Once I've practically become his slave, what do you think will happen to me? Huh!? Did you think that!? He can do whatever he wants with me! Do you understand that!? I'm just waiting for the time that I will sign it, I'm considering selling myself for your lives! I will sign it but I want it signed where it will actually take effect!"
Catherine shouted which Josh raged at.
"You're just signing at a fucking paper! Can anyone tell if you're signing it wholeheartedly or not!? That psychopath is just scamming you! Just please, help us!"
"Josh, don't you have eyes!? This fucking thing just appeared out of nowhere and you're telling me I'm being scammed!?"
"Come on and cut that superstitious magical bullshit! Do you think that's real? Huh?! Catherine, how dumb can you-"
"Josh!" Eline shouted, interrupting his words, "Why are you fighting Catherine?" she looked at him with sad eyes, "She's trying to sign it wholeheartedly. If you're going to continue being a dick to her, do you think she will have the heart to save you?"
With these words, Josh was speechless. He was stuck between a hard place and a rock. The pieces of paper did come out of nowhere, he saw that. There's this chance that what Catherine is saying is true. However, there's a large chance that it is not and they're letting themselves be tricked, harming their friend, when they can just fight back now and help them!
"You're talking as if I'm not here..."
Teren said but he didn't intend to intimidate anyone. He just honestly felt left out, not that it actually matters to him. However, everyone shut their mouths up with that one sentence.
"Catherine, thank you for the explanation."