Bab 26: Price of Naivety (EDITED)

As they got closer to that place, Lily looked at it, and horror filled her eyes, making her scream, "Big Brother, scary place...."

Asher comforted the girl in his soft voice, "Lily, it's ok, I am here."

Listening to his calming words, Lily nodded, and she hugged Asher's neck. She tightened her grip with an affectionate expression.

Meanwhile, all of them ignored the immobilized Oswald on the ground as he struggled and shouted, fury emitting from his face, "Stop! You can't enter that place! I won't allow it!"

Once they entered the chamber, Asher noticed how Nadia was observing the room in silence.

Eleanor also examined all around the chamber, noticing shackles and chains attached to the wall while empty food and water bowls were placed nearby.

Nadia said, "Young Master, there are signs of people being chained here."

It was obvious, but when Nadia spoke, Eleanor was taken aback by her claim. She could see it herself but couldn't believe it.

....

In the cell within the underground chamber, the loud cries of the boys echoed.

Lackey sneered while looking at two young boys crying and shedding bitter tears, shackled, and locked up to the wall.

He enjoyed looking at their fearful expression as he gloated in his heart, 'Look at you stupid brats. Cry all you want, as nobody cares about you. You belong to me now!'

Lackey took out the whip and whipped both boys, showing no mercy.

Two young boys cried in pain, tears flowing down their cheeks non-stop.

"Hahaha... scream... scream more, be loud...." Lackey laughed like an insane man while whipping both young boys without any sympathy.

William shouted, anger visible on his face, "Why... Just why... are you doing this to us, Uncle Ben? We trusted you."

David said in a low voice, "We thought you were our friend...."

Lackey sneered upon listening to them blame him.

"Friend? Hah... why would I be friends with you orphan children? If you want to blame someone, then blame your naive self. You shouldn't have thought that you could report Mr.Oswald, the Head Caretaker, without any consequences." Lackey said while thinking, 'Your suffering is just the beginning...'

Uncle Ben recalled how they reported to him about Mr.Oswald's evil deeds they witnessed and grinned like an evil monster while saying, "You guys are such idiots. Mr.Oswald is my boss, and you reported to me about him; that is a foolish thing to do. So Mr.Oswald asked me to capture you brats and punish you. I will make sure you never complain again. Never." Uncle Ben threatened both William and David.

Lackey whipped both kids with brutal force while blood flowed from numerous wounds as the boys cried, filled with despair and hopelessness.

Soon, Lackey looked at the lone girl trembling in fear, sitting at the corner of the cell, she was quiet, hugging her knees in dread, and ordered, "Come here, little bitch."

The girl, Zoey, refused to go to Lackey, staying rooted in her spot.

"Damn you, Little Bitch. Come to me...." Seeing that the girl ignored him made Lackey angry, as he screamed aloud and kicked the boys.

Lackey looked at the girl, then turned towards the boys and stared them in the eyes. While licking his lips, he said, "Now it's her turn."

The boys panicked at that moment, and William couldn't help but shout, "No, Uncle Ben. Don't touch Zoey. Don't."

David also pleaded, his pitiful eyes ignored by the tyrant, "Uncle Ben, no. Please don't."

On the other hand, Zoey froze in fear when she heard about Lackey intending to harm her. She started sobbing harder, and her whole body trembled due to fear.

The boys continued their pleadings, but Lackey just laughed and sneered.

Soon, Lackey walked towards Zoey, causing her to scream, "Ahhh, leave me alone. Please, please, I beg you...."

William cried; he could do nothing; he was helpless; he could see Uncle Ben's intention to hurt Zoey. "Let her go. Don't do anything to her."

David also pleaded in desperation, "Uncle Ben, please stop."

"Hahaha, cry more, you brats. I will let her experience the same pain as you brats." Uncle Ben mocked the boys without stopping.

William screamed, "If you touch Zoey, we will kill you."

David said in a low voice, "If you dare to harm her, we will make you regret it."

Lackey became incensed listening to the boy's threats and whipped them multiple times, shouting, "Fucking brats, how dare you threaten me? You are just mere orphans."

Blood flowed non-stop due to severe injuries while the boys cried, but they endured it, as it was better being beaten than Lackey harming Zoey.

After a few hits, the boys groaned in pain and couldn't shout or move anymore due to the excruciating pain.

Lackey whipped them without any pity and stopped after getting exhausted. Then he glanced at the shaking Zoey and said in a cruel tone, "You little bitch, now it's your turn."

Zoey wept in misery when she saw Lackey come towards her, pleading in desperation, "Please spare me. I am begging you. Please."

Lackey looked at Zoey and sneered, "Little bitch, I will make sure to enjoy your screams well. Hahaha..."

"Ahh...." Lackey grabbed the girl, forced her, and pinned her onto the hard surface, facing the two boys as he tried to hit her.

-----

Asher smiled at Lily when everyone entered and said, "Lily, you should sleep for now."

Lily became confused and replied, tilting her head, "But I am not sleepy, Big brot..." As she was saying that, Asher used Spirit Essence and made her fall asleep on his shoulder.

Eleanor took a look at him in confusion and asked, "Young Master, why did you make Lily sleep?"

Asher replied, "Ms.Eleanor, you will soon see why I did that."

As they inspected the chamber, Nadia looked at the bed placed at the center of the room, which contained numerous blood stains.

A hush fell over the chamber, and all eyes looked at the surroundings in silence. A single passageway attracted their attention, and as they followed its path, it led them to a strange door.

The silence hung in the air as they opened it, just to be met with a scene that sent chills down their spines.

The sight beyond the door was nothing short of horrifying, leaving them in shock.

The mood in the room thickened with intense anger as the group rushed into the room.