Chapter 23：Gate of Fear (1/2)

Mack turned his head and seeing what was ahead his spine went numb. It was disgust mixed with fear and rage.

He could not believe what was in front of him.

Mack forced himself to keep looking, but his contorted face displayed vividly his emotions.

”Please tell me this is all fake! Is this another kind of dream I'm in?”

[...]

But no response came from the Arcane Legacy.

”ANSWER ME!!!!!”

[...]

Mack took his pistol from his back with his right hand and in a rapid motion pointed his gun to his own forehead.

”FUCKING ANSWER ME! YOU KNOW ME ALREADY!!!!

~click~

Mack removed the safety lock of the gun and put his finger on the trigger.

[You already know the answer.]

Hearing what he feared, Mack dropped the gun and he fell on his knees.

He could not believe someone could be this cruel.

Mack looked to his right side and more of the same presented in front of his eyes.

Children. Hundreds of them. On spikes.

Small disfigured bodies covered in fresh blood.

Some with perforated eyes, others without them. Some with legs broken and dozens without a leg.

Guts filled the ground and the screaming and cries resounded in Mack's ears.

Thousands and thousands of children's impaled in wooden spikes.

Mack looked close to him and saw a familiar signboard.

”The children's of the wicked. It was the way they called us. But to me, they were my friends, family, and neighbors.”

”For the ones with our blood, there ain't peaceful days in life. Don't let the past repeat itself one more time. Choose wisely.”

”Know your enemy.”

Reading the sign, Mack could feel all the rage and pain inside every rune carved.

”There is no way to avoid this?”

Asked mack aloud.

[...]

”ANSWER ME!”

[This scene repeated itself several times in history already. Every warlock found would be hunted down, and, all people around them have the same fate too]

”WHY?!”

Asked Mack, not believing his eyes. Children's. Only kids. Why be so cruel? Why this way? Why?

”WHY?!”

[Fear]

”Fear?”