Tom and Jerry stood atop the tower, gazing at the lands beyond. All across the mountain peaks, forests, and valleys, the world sparkled like a mirror broken into a million pieces.

  “The snow is melting,” Jerry said.

  “It is, Master…” Boney sighed. “Our time is running out.”

  “And the Billies have still not returned.”

  Back in the early days of November, the squad of soldiers led by Captain Reymond had demanded that Jerry leave the tower. He had refused, and they’d promised to return with their superiors. Later, when Jericho similarly came and threatened Jerry to join him, those soldiers had become his ray of hope.

  Alas, despite the entire winter having passed, the Billy squad had not yet returned, and any attempts at having Birb deliver a message to Milaris had failed, too. The tiny bird was physically incapable of carrying any sort of wooden case that far, and the paper by itself got terribly soaked by the falling snow and moisture. He’d even tried securing an eagle’s body for this job, but to no success.

  Now, Jericho’s deadline had arrived. Jerry would either submit to him, joining the bandits…or perish.

  “And the mayor has no way to contact the Guard either…” Jerry shook his head. “We’re out of options, Boney. Before Jericho arrives, we must flee.”

  “Are we really going to leave everything behind, Master?” The skeleton’s voice carried a hint of pain. “Shorty’s revenge, the fence, the basement, your soft chair…”

  “We’re taking the soft chair. As for the others, we’ll have to leave them behind for now. I won’t risk you all for a lost cause.” Jerry sighed. “This tower was a nice home, but all things come to an end. Let’s not delay; Jericho could arrive any day now. Have the others pack up and let’s go.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  Boney agreed readily, but how could Jerry not know what the skeleton was thinking? Not just Boney, every single one of his undead had a bitter fire burning in their souls. For them, Jerry was their Master, their world. To see him forced to flee, to see another person cause him pain… How could they not be consumed by burning anger and seething hatred?

  Alas, nothing could be done.

  The two turned around and quickly left the terrace, each hastening to make their own preparations. They had packed many things already, but some couldn’t be handled until the nick of time.

  Skeletons and a zombie ran around packing and preparing, and the entire tower was bustling with activity. Jerry, meanwhile, sat on the doorstep and looked at the trees and mountain ahead.

  Unlike his previous journey through the forests, he was not alone this time. He refused to leave behind any of his beloved undead. They would travel as a group, and it would work out.

  Jerry really didn’t want to leave. Not only was his tower here, which felt like a warm home, but his friends, Derek and Ashman, were in Pilpen, too. He’d finally found a village willing to accept or at least tolerate him, and now he was forced to abandon everything and walk away again.

  This time, things would be even more difficult; what village would accept an entire host of undead? At least, they had an entire nine months until next winter—plenty of time to visit dozens of villages, or, if things didn’t work out, construct their own home in the wilderness.

  Jerry would like the occasional human contact, but he wasn’t willing to abandon his undead friends. Where he went, they would follow, and of that there was no debate.

  In truth, other than fleeing, they had discussed several alternatives during the long winter nights, but none seemed promising.

  The ideal scenario would be if Jerry had the power to destroy the entire bandit group. Not only would he rid himself of them, but he would also save many surrounding villages and people—the Greenskin bandits plundered, robbed, killed, raped, kidnapped, assaulted, blackmailed, and were quite unpleasant neighbors overall.

  Jerry wanted to help everyone, but unfortunately, he didn’t have the strength. Jericho’s monstrous power had been evident; as much as Jerry wanted to act like a hero, he was a good guy, not a stupid guy. He was unwilling to let himself and his undead friends die for nothing.

  Another alternative would be to contact the Milaris Royal Guard for assistance, but alas, they had not shown up. Moreover, if they really wanted to deal with the Greenskin bandits, they would have done so long ago.

  Therefore, as much as it pained Jerry, fleeing was the only option he had. He wouldn’t think too much. If he did think, he wouldn’t be Jerry.

  Standing up from the doorstep he was sitting on, he whistled and went inside to help with the preparations. They had to leave soon.

  However, fate loves toying with mortals. Unbeknownst to Jerry, just as he was preparing to leave this place forever, another person was inadvertently, and very unfortunately for himself, working to keep him here.

  ***

  Somewhere in the woods, in a small hut partly sheltered from the elements, Holly sat on Brad’s lap and kissed him passionately.

  Her palms were on his chest while his hands wandered over her body, under her clothes. They caressed her belly, then rose higher until they reached her small chest.

  She gasped and pulled away a little, causing his hands to slip back down.

  “Brad…” she said in a trembling voice. She gulped. “Can— Can we please go slower?”

  “Don’t worry, baby,” he said. “It’s okay.”

  He pulled her back into his embrace, passionately locking her mouth with his, muffling her protests. His hands rose, once again reaching for her chest, and they firmly grabbed on. She squirmed helplessly.

  Holly’s mind was hazy. She felt vulnerable, not in control. Was she ready? Was she not? How would she know? She did not want his hands there, but when she pushed them, he refused to budge. His tongue was still entangled with hers, drawing her into a sea of pink, and her mind was in total disarray.

  Was she ready? Was it too fast? Too slow? They’d known each other for months now, and she had always kept him at bay, insisting on taking things slow. Now, he insisted, too. If he really wanted to, shouldn’t she just let him? He had been patient for her. She could be brave for him.

  And yet, her chest was feeling uncomfortable. His hands squeezed and pulled greedily, and she was aching a bit, and she was not at all sure whether she was enjoying this or not. Everything was hazy, unclear, and she was lost in his arms.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Even if she didn’t like it, it was natural, right? She should be brave, right?

  One of his hands suddenly let go, and she instantly felt relief. Then, the same hand descended, reaching her naval region and heading lower. Fireworks went off in her brain. Her pulse skyrocketed. She panicked. She tried to pull away, but he held her close, smothering her with his manly kiss.

  No… No!

  Brad’s hand touched somewhere it really shouldn’t.

  Holly yelped and jumped away like a cat, unable to contain herself. She did not want this. She could not do it. She was not ready.

  Raising her eyes, she met Brad’s frown, and she immediately felt guilty and ashamed.

  “Brad…” she said weakly, panting and with her heart beating as quickly as a rabbit’s. “Please, can we please wait, just a little bit more? Please.”

  Brad’s eyes carried a dark storm. Her pleas fell on deaf ears.

  “Wait?” he spat out, clearly dissatisfied. “We’ve already waited for months. You want me to wait even more?”

  “I-I don’t—”

  “No. It’s already been too long.” He crossed his arms, striking her with a hard glare. “Come here or we are over.”

  Holly’s eyes widened to the limit. She shivered.

  “No, I— But… Please, I lov—”

  “Come here!” he thundered. She froze, unable to move.

  “You cowardly bitch!” Brad snorted. “I’ve already been patient enough. The whores at the base are fighting each other to sleep with me, but you still want me to wait? Just for you? Ridiculous.”

  Holly’s mouth moved without a sound. If she’d been frozen before, now she was petrified, unable to even form coherent thoughts.

  What is he… Brad…

  “Enough already.” Brad stood, a bulge clearly visible under his tunic. “Come here. You will enjoy this, you’ll see.”

  He reached out for her, and her mind blinked out. She only saw his hand approaching, and she wanted to escape. Nothing had ever been more important.

  If he grabbed her…he wouldn't let go.

  She fell backward, crawling away and screaming at the top of her lungs. Her arms brushed against the hard ground, cutting her, but she didn’t even notice. Brad stopped. They were very close to the village—her screams could have been heard.

  “You bitch,” he said, but Holly was already in panic. Screaming uncontrollably, she turned around, opened the door, and dashed for the village, stumbling but still faster than she’d ever been. Brad didn’t follow her.

  “Whatever. I have better whores anyway.”

  His voice trailed over but Holly didn’t listen, she didn’t want to listen. Like a banshee, she burst out of the woods and made for her house at the village edge, still screaming. Several villagers looked at her and spoke, but she didn’t hear them.

  She fell on the door, pushing it open and revealing her father’s agitated form.

  “Holly?” he said, hand already on his bow. “What—”

  She fell on him and held on tight, only now realizing her cheeks were wet with tears. She screamed and cried like a baby, and it was only a long time later that she regained her faculties. She was still in her father’s embrace, the fur he wore on his chest wet from her tears.

  She held on tightly, sniffling and panting, squeezing him hard in the hopes that she’d melt into him, no longer existing. Derek’s hand was on her hair, gently caressing it.

  “Holly…” His voice came out rough, his pain evident. She didn’t look up. “What happened?”

  “I— I—” Holly relaxed ever so slightly. Suddenly, her head was in pain and her chest felt bloated, as if her heart would jump out. She was so scared that she yelped.

  “My daughter…” Derek’s deep voice reverberated through his chest, causing her body to tremble. She smiled through her tears. That’s right. He would protect her. Her father was here.

  Not looking up, Holly’s mouth moved on its own, telling him everything. She spoke of Brad, how they’d met in the forest and struck up a conversation. How he was a bandit, and how he came from Milaris. How he’d promised to take her there, how he told her stories of the city, and how he stole her first kiss. How she snuck out to meet him when he was in the area, how her heart skipped for him. Their relationship was something new and exciting, something she loved to explore and experience.

  But Brad wanted to go further, and she wasn’t ready. She told him to wait, but he was clearly unhappy, and then he…

  When she finished speaking, Derek was silent. Trembling, she pulled away to look at him.

  She had never seen such a terrifying look on his face. Not on anyone’s face. Her heart shook, half in fear and half in joy.

  “Dad…” she said, looking at him, but his eyes stared right ahead. “Dad.”

  “Wait here,” he said. Gently pushing her away, he made for the door, reaching it in two strides and pulling it open.

  “MELISSA!”

  His deep voice boomed through the village. Within a minute, both Melissa and Ashman had arrived, having already heard Holly’s screams before.

  With a few words, Derek explained the situation to Melissa, whose face shook. Her strict eyes mellowed as she rushed to Holly.

  “Melis—” she began saying, immediately smothered into a hug.

  “Shh,” Melissa said, caressing the girl’s golden hair. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”

  Tears once again appeared in Holly’s eyes.

  “Holly.” Derek arrived by her side, looking her in the eye. His gaze was still filled with iron and darkness, but there was also caring love that could not be hidden. “I must go on a trip. Ashman and Melissa will take care of you. Be a good girl, okay?”

  “Dad?” she asked. “What are you—”

  “I love you,” Derek said, his eyes dark like moonlit lakes.

  Her heart shook in realization, and she froze. “I love you too…” she muttered. “Dad… Please don’t go…”

  “I will return.”

  With this promise and not a glance back, Derek grabbed his bow, quiver, and machete from where they rested against a wall, stepped outside, and closed the door behind him.

  Inside the house, Holly broke down into sobs. Ashman’s eyes glazed over. “May the Wall hold forever, Derek…” he whispered.

  Outside, night was already approaching. Derek closed his eyes and took a deep, frozen breath, clenching his bow so hard his knuckles turned white. When his eyes reopened, they were cold and hard, and his jaw was clenched. A murderous aura oozed from his body, filling the very air around him.

  He did not care about the cold. He entered the forest, bearing a full will to kill. Silently, his form merged into the darkness and disappeared.

  check it out!