Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

CHAPTER 107: Reeza's Selfless Resolve

"Mommy has to go now," Bridgette said urgently, her voice trembling slightly. "Remember to stay still and not make a sound. Mommy and Daddy love you very much, sweetheart."

Desperation filled Reeza's eyes as she reached out, her mother's words echoing with the finality of a farewell. Just as her fingers extended, the trapdoor closed, enveloping her in pitch-black darkness.

Loud explosions followed, and then the muffled sound of screams and a tussle. The sudden transition to laughter made Reeza's heart fall to her toes. But when she heard the faint sobs of a woman, a sliver of hope returned.

Moments passed in agonizing silence.

Defying her mother's wishes, Reeza tentatively emerged from the hidden chamber. The room was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos that had preceded it.

As she cautiously turned around, her eyes took in the devastation surrounding her—the wreckage of her home and the desecration of her cherished memories. But the heartache of that realization paled in comparison to what she saw next—her father's lifeless body sprawled on the cold wooden floor.

Reeza's knees buckled as she approached, every atom of her being rejecting the sight before her. But, despite her desperate efforts, the horrifying reality refused to vanish, etched indelibly into her memory.

PLOP.

A hesitant step disturbed the surface of a red liquid. As the ripples subsided, Reeza saw her reflection in the thick pool and immediately recognized it as her father's blood.

"B-Blergh!"

The remnants of their last meal as a family spilled out across the floor. Drawing in a shaky breath, Reeza forced herself to her feet and began to run, her face a mess of tears and snot. She needed to escape; if she stayed in that house a moment longer, she knew the horrific scene she had just witnessed would become unquestionably real.

"Mom!"

That's right—her mother could make this right. Her father was strong, but her mother had always been the clever one. Reeza desperately needed her mother's comforting words, the soothing touch of her hand patting her head, and the reassurance that this was all just a very bad dream.

WHOOSHHH!

Outside, roaring pillars of fire consumed the houses, casting writhing shadows on the nearby trees. Motionless bodies littered the once-peaceful streets, their shocked, bloodstained expressions frozen in time.

The serene village had been transformed into a nightmarish landscape. Reeza kept her head down as she ran, terror gripping her at the mere thought of encountering Hatice and the girl's mother among the fallen.

The distant sound of neighing horses jolted Reeza from her panicked thoughts. Startled, she raised her head and quickly ducked behind some brush. From her hiding spot, she watched as the humans—the harbingers of death—stowed their weapons and mounted their steeds, preparing to depart.

Several of the horses were secured to large wagons fitted with metal cages. Inside were imprisoned women and children, their faces ashen and stained with tears and blood.

Reeza cautiously crept closer, her eyes darting around desperately until she finally spotted her mother among the captives. She sighed in relief, but knew it was far too early to let her guard down.

Trying in vain to steady her racing pulse, she observed the raucous and animated men with a keen eye. They exchanged wild tales of their brutal exploits—the number of men who had fallen by their swords and the women and children they had abused.