So here I am...

Staring down a barrel of a gun...

I have to be honest. I didn't think I would ever encounter a gun in this world. Albeit, even an antique looking gun that must take minutes to reload...

I had heard that guns still existed in this world, but they were still in their initial stages. Everyone still fought with swords and arrows because gun powder was extremely rare to find and the process of making guns were too much of a hassle. They still haven't figured out how to optimize the process. But that isn't the important part...

Who the hell brings a gun to a sword fight?! That's not even fair!! I call shenanigans!

I gulped and forced myself to talk, "Uhhhhh. So nice weather we are having today."

The man glanced up at the sky then looked back at me. He spoke in a calm voice, "It's not bad."

I nodded, "Right... Right... So what's going on here? You going to shoot me? Or are we going to go somewhere?"

He chuckled, "They said you were too brave for your own good. I am starting to believe them. I thought you would have started crying once I pointed my gun at you. I am impressed."

My eyes still didn't leave the gun, "Brave? Hah... No. I'm almost pissing my pants right now."

He frowned, "That is disgusting."

I shrugged, "It happens."

He motioned in a direction, "Start walking."

"Yup. Not a problem." I started walking obediently while wanting to cry.

Too bad I didn't have a loaf of bread. How can I leave a trail behind for Dante to follow? I shouldn't worry too much. This is Dante we are talking about. I'm sure that if Dante and Millie team up, they will find me in no time. Their stalking skills are just too great.

I walked until we came to another road. There, a carriage was waiting. He spoke firmly, "Get in." I winced slightly as I stepped into the carriage. This one was even worse than the one I had. I don't want to puke in front of my enemy... But at the same time...

If I projectile vomit on the gun, would it still fire?

I looked at the man across from me who was still pointing the gun at me. His face was passive and his eyes were cold. He had tan skin and brown eyes. He almost reminded me of Simon.

I raised an eyebrow, "Sanki Kingdom?"

He gave a nod to confirm, "I was told you were observant and smart."

I frowned, "You seem to have been told a lot of things about me."

He smiled, but it looked more creepy than happy. "Of course. No one had a shortage of things to say."

"I'm going to take that as a compliment." I tapped my finger on the seat, "I can't believe Duke Blythe would say that about me though."

He shook his head, "No. Duke Blythe merely paid me. Naturally I had to do my research on you before I kidnapped you."

I rolled my eyes, "Of course."

After a few hours in a carriage ride, we pulled up to a house. He led me to a room that had no windows and put me inside. I felt a chill crawl up my spine as I heard the door shut and lock behind me.

He spoke through the door, "Don't worry. We will take good care of you. In the meantime, just sit back and relax."

I immediately went to the door and tried to open it, however nothing I did helped. I couldn't even use a bobby pin to unlock it from the inside. It was like this room was specially designed to lock me in.

I looked around and saw that while it was nicely furnished, it was dark. Too dark. My breathing quickened as I realized how similar this room was to the one I was locked in at the orphanage. My breathing grew quicker and shallower as I felt tears sting my eyes.

Out.

Let me out.

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to take a deep breath. I whispered to myself, "You're not in the orphanage. You're not in the orphanage. Dante will come. He will knock the door down and save you. You just have to relax and stay patient..."

After gaining control of my breathing. I went to a corner and slid down to sit against it. I held my knees as I trembled. I kept whispering to myself to calm down.

During the next few days, or what I just figured was the next few days, they slid high quality food under the door and didn't treat me roughly. However, this made me wonder just what exactly they had planned. After a few days, I finally figured out what.

The man reentered my room and put down a piece of paper. "Sign your name so he knows we aren't lying."

I picked up the paper and looked at it closely. When I read it, I realized this situation was far darker than I imagined. I had become a hostage. Not only that, but the letter was written to Dante. It stated that if he did not meet us at a certain day and time, then they would kill me. Also, he needed to come alone and tell no one.

So this kidnapping wasn't about me... It was about Dante... But why? As I pondered this, I signed my name and put a heart over the I in my name.

He picked it up and frowned, "Your handwriting is atrocious."

"Your mom's handwriting is atrocious."

"My mother is dead."

"...Oh."

After he left me, I was all alone in the room again. I didn't even know how long I had been trapped in this room. I sighed and held my forehead, "I will be rescued soon... Soon Dante will come and save me..."

"Since when have you been a damsel in distress? Why won't you save yourself?!"

I groaned as I heard the familiar voice, "Oh goodie. You're back."

The other me dressed in a hoodie bent down and looked at me with a smirk, "I have always been here. You can't get rid of me. I'm part of you."

I forced myself to look away from her, "You are just a figment of my imagination. Go away."

She shook her head, "I will go away if you stop acting like a weakling."

"There's nothing I can do. There's no lock inside and there's no window."

"Then attack him. You aren't completely useless, so why won't you fight back?"

I laid back on the soft bed and frowned at the ceiling, "He has a gun. Guns beat knives."

She laughed maliciously, "Has such a thing ever stopped you before?"

I rolled over and looked at the wall with a determined expression, "That was before when I had nothing to live for..."

A few days later the man opened the door. He held the gun out to me and then motioned me to come close. I hesitantly snuck that way while watching him closely.

No matter how hard I tried to think of a way to escape, I couldn't think of a single way. I knew this man was not your average person. There was something about him that sent chills up my spine. My instincts had never been wrong before, so I knew better than to try anything.

Once I walked over to him, I noticed another man next to him holding a brown sac. I sighed, "Is that really necessary?"

The man smirked, "It is necessary."

He took the brown sac and tossed it over my head. Then they led me outside. I could see the rays of light enter the brown sac. I tried to take a deep breath, but found that the bag still prevented any fresh air from coming in.

It was like I was still stuck in that windowless dark room. I took deep breaths as I tried to force down the panic I felt.

I felt as they escorted me onto a carriage and it started moving. I swallowed my puke, "Why so secretive?"

He answered, "I was warned about your nature. I can't let you come back and seek revenge."

"Seek revenge?"

Why did this seem so ominous?

I'm starting to get a bit worried.

I just can't figure out why they took such good care of me if I was their prisoner. The entire time I had a comfortable bed and delicious food. Not to mention a steady flow of mouthwatering cupcakes... Just who in their right mind would give a prisoner all of that?

The only reason would be that I'm just the bait. The bait for which I assume is Dante. But why is someone from the Sanki Kingdom involved in this? It just doesn't make sense.

I felt the carriage stop and I was forced out. I still had the bag on my head and could see nothing. After walking a few feet, they forced me on my knees.

Oh f*ck. They are going to kill me execution style.

The bag was thrown off of my head and I sat there blinking as my eyes adjusted. I realized that I was caught in the middle of a standoff. Two male mercenaries were in front of me and the Sanki man stood behind me.

Across from me, I caught sight of Dante. I wanted to cheer because he had found me. However, he didn't look like his usual charming self. He looked slightly haggard and enraged to the point where he almost looked insane.

His golden eyes met mine and a wave of relief went through them before turning rigid and cold. I smiled at him reassuringly, but felt too pressured by the tense atmosphere to say anything.

The Sanki man spoke, "Don't look so worried, Knight. I took real good care of her."

Dante glared menacingly at him and reached for his sword, but before he could I felt a barrel push against the back of my head. My eyes widened as I heard him pull back the trigger.

Please don't use me as cannon fodder...

The Sanki man spoke to Dante, "Throw down your sword. If you don't, then you will see just what this pretty little girl's brain looks like."

I promise it's a very impressive brain... You don't need to check or anything...

Dante clenched his jaw and tossed away the sword. I was surprised to see him going along with their orders.

The Sanki man nodded to another who picked it up. The other person took the sword out of it scabbard and gave an irritating laugh. Then he turned it towards Dante.

"Get on your knees."

Dante glanced at me once more and I felt the man behind push the gun harder into my skull. Dante had no choice but to do what he asked. He cast once last glance at me before looking down.

He looked just like someone preparing for their death.

I felt my breath stop as I looked forward in shock.

This wasn't just any trade off.

It was exchanging a life for a life.

I blurted out, "No! Dante! Don't you dare trade your life for mine!!!"

Dante made a complicated expression, but could not bring himself to look at me.

I pleaded with him, "DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE ME BEHIND!"

The man holding his sword chuckled as he eyed Dante's neck. He slowly stepped closer to him.

I shouted with tears stinging my eyes, "DON'T YOU F*CKING DARE HURT HIM! LET HIM GO!"

Why isn't he fighting back?! Why is he just kneeling there?!?

The Sanki man behind me whispered in my ear, "He REALLY wanted you to watch as the only man you ever loved died because of your own actions."

My breathing quickened.

My peripheral vision started to blur.

All I could see was what was in front of me.

Dante and the mercenary....

Little brother....

Mother...

My vision started to shake and I clenched my jaw.

The world in front of me began to change. I was no longer in a cold abandoned house. Instead, I was in the living room of my first childhood home.

Dante and the mercenary were in the middle of the living room where my little brother and mother should be.

The mercenary in front of me raised the sword, preparing to cut Dante down. The mercenary flashed and began to overlap with the image of my mother. The sword started to warp into a large piece of wood.

Dante began to flash and overlap with the image of my bloody little brother.

It was not Dante and the mercenary in front of me.

It was my mother and my little brother.

The other me snickered and whispered in my ear...

"Aren't you angry?"