Blood Bound

Lucky Survivor

"What hap--" 

A head of a man, peek inside, and his movement quickly stopped when his eyes met Bess's.

"M-Miss Redhound, I live here. I-I just got back from Orro to deliver an order, I didn't mean any harm!" The man lifts his arms. Bess believes him, he looks quite weak. She puts her gun down, and the man walks in, slowly, carefully. Behind him, a young man around Brook's age, follows.

"What happened here?" The man whispers, he seems devastated, watching his village empty with all doors open. It's probably around 6 in the morning, at six, usually, the village was already busy with women strolling out of the house to gather clean water near the mountain, and several of them starting to march to the tea field.

"That's what we want to know, Mr..." Bess puts her hand forward. The man was still shocked but he took Bess's hand, and shake it a bit, and also took Brook's hand that politely stood up to present himself to the man.

"Turner, Haley Turner. This is my son, Jason." He points to the young man behind him that looks really surprised by the strange view in front of him.

"Mr. Turner." Bess nods. "I came around eight or nine, last night. I'm sorry for being rude, I got in to rest in this house--" Bess points at the house behind her with her thumb. "But I and Brook have made sure it's safe here, at least for now."

Bess's words didn't change anything. Definitely didn't change how worried the man is.

"But... is everyone..."

"Yes, we're also not sure what happened, but only Mrs. Bestow, and her daughter left. The crops are all safe, no things were taken." Bess tried to make things better for the man.

"Bestow? Janica? Did she see something? What happened she said?"

Bess glances at Brook, hesitating. Maybe for the hundredth times this day.

"Nightwalkers came and manipulate the villagers into walking out of the village, towards mount Savarah." Brook answers.

Mr. Turner looks at the mountain and squint his eyes.

"The mountain was supposed to be empty. It was declared active, after several weeks ago and someone from the government came to make sure there's no one living on the mountain, we know because it rained ashes around this area. That's why our business is great these days. The ashes made the soil better for us to work on."

This time Brook's the one throwing glances at Bess.

"We'll still make sure if there's someone on the mountain. So for now, we won't be able to offer any security around here." Bess answered. Actually, they can. Redhound's a big clan, they can ask anyone to help to guard. But no, Bess hates talking to her family.

"Oh... I see. Such a shame, I really hoped you can help." Mr. Turner turns all puppy eyes. Bess almost rolled her eyes.

"Forget it, Mr. Turner. You just made it clear to me that your business is going well these days, so I will surely ask for a great payment for the security. It would be better for you to ask another deadslayer. They won't ask for a high payment, looking at the situation." Bess knows too well, who she's speaking with. They stopped hiding after she stayed here a couple of times.

"Bess." Brook scolded, like a good brother he is.

"You're right, Bess. Thank you for making sure it's safe for us here. Is there anything you'd like to take for your journey?" Mr. Turner walks towards his house, a simple house on the middle row.

"No thanks, Mr. Turner. I think we'll be going home for some time. I--" Bess glances at Brook that's glaring at her. "might know someone who can give me more information about this attack." Bess lifts her eyebrows. Brook quickly tried to control his expression.

"Alright. You said Mrs. Bestow was still in her house?" Mr. Turner turns around, looking for Mrs. Bestow's house after telling his son to get inside the house and check on everything. Bess and Brook follow Mr. Turner.

Brook pulls Bess a bit away from Mr. Turner while keep walking behind the man.

"What the hell?" Brook whispers.

"Calm down, Brook. I said I know them well."

Brook hissed. "No, let's talk about that later. What is it with going home? I'm not--" 

"Brook, listen." Bess pulled Brook over to stop to distance themselves more from Mr. Turner. Bess glances over the man's back until he's far enough, and look back at Brook. "I have a theory. We need to know who's behind this case, and behind the blackmailing too. You know there's someone near home that would know, right?"

Brook rolls his eyes and continue to walk.

"We're not visiting them."

"We should."

"Bess..."

"And I feel like we need to talk with the rest of the Redhounds. It's almost... the anniversary too." Bess whispered the last part.

"We skipped last year."

"That's the more reason we should come home."

"Alright, sis, whatever you say. But--" 

"Now that it's come to us we should divide the village in half."

Brook and Bess stopped on their track, hearing the words come out from Mr. Turner's to Mrs. Bestow that is walking out of her house.

"I want the paddy field. And the apple trees." Mrs. Bestow crosses her hands in front of her chest. Brook throws a look at Bess and she just lifts her eyebrows.

"Told ya." Bess whispered.

"No, the apple trees aren't working without the teas." Mr. Turner took a step closer to Mrs. Bestow.

"Then I'll take the apple trees, rice field, and the teas too."

Mr. Turner laughed. "It doesn't work like that. The teas, apple trees, and the potato fields are mine."

"Then what am I left with? Just rice and the corns?" Mrs. Bestow rose her voice, stepping closer to Mr. Turner.

"Here we go." Bess grins. Brook shakes his head.

"Children." He whispered before taking a step forwards to moderate the conversation.

While Bess walks away.