Chapter 82: The Empty Gaze
"Brak!" Frans kicked the wooden door shut. He slammed the three iron bolts into place with a rough, heavy jerk.
"Get him to the sofa! Fast!" Melynda yelled.
Frans grabbed Xavier’s shoulder. He hauled him toward the old sofa in the corner of the room. Fresh blood dripped from Xavier’s pants. It left dark red spots on the dusty wooden floor.
"Ugh... my leg..." Xavier groaned.
Melynda ran to the kitchen. She came back with a basin of warm water and a medical kit. She ripped the fabric of Xavier’s pants. The material was scorched and black from the fire.
"Get me a clean cloth, Frans!" Melynda barked.
"Here, Ma'am," Frans said. He handed her several white rags.
Melynda pressed down on the wound on Xavier’s thigh. "Akh! Mom! Stop! It hurts!" Xavier screamed. He gripped the arm of the sofa until his knuckles turned white.
"Hold on, Xavier. You are losing way too much blood. I have to stop the pendarahan right now," Melynda said.
Frans poured alcohol over the open wound. Xavier’s body jerked. His back arched off the sofa. His teeth ground together as he fought the stinging pain that felt like a hot iron.
"Mmhh... enough... just stop it..." Xavier whispered. He was gasping for air.
"Almost done, Xav. Just hang in there," Frans said. He started wrapping the bandage with quick, practiced movements.
Frans stood up once the bleeding slowed down. He checked the magazine of his rifle. He peeked through a small gap in the curtains. The searchlights from the helicopters were still circling the woods like hungry birds of prey.
"We have maybe ten minutes before they reach this door," Frans said.
"Xavier, listen to me. You need to rest for a second. Just until you can stand up straight," Melynda said. She looked her son in the eye.
"I can't just sit here while they surround us," Xavier argued. He tried to sit up. His head started spinning.
Melynda pushed his shoulders back down. "You can't fight anyone like this. Once you have a little strength, you need to go through the hidden tunnel under the kitchen. You have to escape."
"What? No! I am not leaving you and Frans here!" Xavier yelled.
Melynda shook her head. She walked to an old cabinet in the corner. She pulled out a long box hidden under a pile of heavy blankets.
"Klik. Klik."
Melynda unlocked the box. Inside was a long range sniper rifle. It was perfectly maintained.
"Mom!!" Xavier asked. He was shocked.
"I was the top sniper in my unit before I met your father, Xavier. I already lost my husband. I am not losing my son too," Melynda said. Her voice was cold and steady.
Frans took his position by the door. "I will handle them on the front line. Your mother will take them out from the attic."
"This is crazy, Frans. You guys are going to die. There are too many of them out there," Xavier growled.
"Our job is to make sure you get out, Xavier. You are the last hope for the Valois family. If you die, it all ends," Frans said. He didn't look back.
"Brak!"
A branch snapped outside the front porch. The room went silent.
"Go now, Xavier! That is an order!" Melynda whispered.
Xavier crawled off the sofa. He dragged his leg toward the kitchen. Every movement on the floor felt like a thousand needles stabbing his skin.
"Boom!"
The front door didn't just open. It blew into pieces. A small explosive had destroyed the hinges. Thick white smoke filled the room.
"Cough... cough..."
Xavier coughed behind the kitchen table. He gripped Agatha’s dagger.
A man stepped through the smoke. He wore a clean black suit. He looked like he was heading to a gala. His footsteps were calm on the broken wood.
"Impressive. You really have nine lives, Xavier," the man said. Marco.
Marco kicked a wooden chair out of his way. He looked at the empty sofa.
"Look at you. Crawling on the floor like a wounded bug. You are so weak. How did a man this pathetic give me trouble for so long?" Marco mocked.
"You..." Xavier’s voice was raspy.
Marco laughed. He sounded satisfied. He stepped to the side. He made room for someone behind him.
"I brought a special gift for you. I want you to see my most perfect work," Marco said.
A girl walked into the cabin. She wore all black. Her hair was pulled back tight. Something was wrong with her face.
"Agatha?" Frans asked. His voice shook. He lowered his gun.
The girl stood still next to Marco. Her eyes were wide open. There was no emotion in them. Her gaze was empty. She looked like a dead glass doll. She stared straight ahead. She looked right through Frans like he didn't exist.
"Agatha, it is me! It is Frans!" Frans yelled. He tried to take a step forward.
Agatha did not react. She did not blink. She did not recognize her best friend.
"Who are these people, Master?" Agatha asked. Her voice was flat.
Xavier froze. The pain in his leg was gone. His heart hurt way more hearing that word from his wife.
"They are just trash that needs to be cleared out, Agatha," Marco said. He rubbed her shoulder.
Agatha stayed silent. She didn't move away from Marco’s touch. She just kept staring at the room with dead eyes.
"You know me, right? Agatha? Look at me!" Xavier screamed. He tried to stand up using the table.
Agatha turned her head toward Xavier. She looked into his eyes for a few seconds. There was no memory. There was no love.
"I do not know you," Agatha said.