《Snow Butterfly》


 A Deal with the Devil

    In a dimly lit alley, a young boy sprints for his life, the sound of his ragged breaths drowned out by the shouts of armed men chasing him.


    "Stop, or we¡¯ll shoot!" one of them yells, his voice sharp and menacing.


    The boy¡¯s heart pounds, fear gripping him, but he doesn¡¯t stop. Somewhere deep inside, he¡¯s already accepted his fate. Still, he runs. Above them, perched on the edge of an elevated walkway, a tall man and a woman in a sleek coat watch the scene unfold. The woman smirks, her eyes gleaming with interest.


    ¡°Look at what we¡¯ve got here,¡± she murmurs. Then, leaning over, she calls out, ¡°Hey, boy! Need a hand?¡±


    The boy doesn¡¯t answer. He¡¯s too focused on escaping, only to find himself cornered in a dead end. Desperation takes over, and he screams, ¡°I need help!¡±


    Before he can blink, one of the men raises a shotgun and fires. The blast tears through the boy, sending him to the ground in a heap. Blood pools around his mangled body as the woman sighs.


    ¡°I really didn¡¯t want to ruin my coat today,¡± she says flatly. Then she raises her hand.


    The air grows heavy, and the two gunmen freeze. They clutch at their throats, their faces contorted in silent agony. Blood trickles from their mouths, eyes, and fingertips. Their screams, though muted, seem to echo in the boy¡¯s fading consciousness. His vision blurs as he watches in horror. What¡­ is happening?


    The large man beside the woman speaks. ¡°We could just leave him. He¡¯s not exactly prime material.¡± The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The woman tilts her head thoughtfully. ¡°I¡¯m feeling generous today. Besides, I don¡¯t want to go hunting for another candidate. It¡¯s tedious.¡±


    With a flick of her wrist, she weaves intricate signs in the air. To the boy¡¯s shock, his body begins to piece itself back together, as if time itself rewinds. He gasps, his hands trembling as he looks down at his once-shattered form.


    ¡°I¡­ I was dead,¡± he whispers, his voice shaking. ¡°What the fuck just happened?¡±


    The woman crouches down, her piercing gaze locking onto his. ¡°You¡¯re alive because I made it so. Now, your life belongs to me.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± the boy shouts, panic rising in his chest. ¡°My life is mine! No one owns me!¡± He tries to run, but the moment he does, his body seizes up in violent convulsions, pain ripping through him like lightning.


    The woman grabs his face, her fingers cold against his skin. ¡°Ah, ah. There¡¯s an old saying: you can¡¯t outrun fate. And I, little bird, am your fate. I am your master.¡±


    The large man steps forward, his tone more pragmatic. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t fight it, kid. You need money, right? I saw you steal from those men. Why not work for us¡ªfor her?¡±


    The boy stares at them, his mind racing. ¡°And if I say no?¡±


    The woman¡¯s smile is razor-sharp. ¡°This isn¡¯t a negotiation.¡±


    Defeated, he lowers his head. ¡°Fine. But¡­ what even are you?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to know who we are,¡± the woman replies, her voice dripping with authority. ¡°You just need to do what you¡¯re told.¡±


    The large man crosses his arms. ¡°When she brought you back, she made¡­ modifications. Your muscles are stronger, your speed unmatched, and your body enhanced with abilities beyond any human¡ªor even most animals. You¡¯re a one-man army now.¡±


    ¡°A¡­ one-man army?¡± the boy murmurs, the weight of those words sinking in. His thoughts drift for a moment. With this kind of power, I could rob a bank, get my family out of poverty, maybe even become a soldier or an athlete¡­


    The woman interrupts his thoughts. ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself. You belong to me. I¡¯ll need you for one job, and then I¡¯ll get your powers back. But trust me¡ªyou¡¯ll be paid more than you¡¯ve ever dreamed of.¡±


    The boy¡¯s eyes glimmer with a spark of hope, unaware of the dark road he¡¯s about to walk. A faint smile forms on his lips, oblivious to the chains tightening around him.

 Cannon Fodder

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 The Price of Survival

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 The Team Assembles

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 Bargains of Blood

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 Predators at the Gate

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 The cost

    Arthur took too long preparing. The trio grew restless, the tension between them boiling over. Every second stretched into eternity, their anxiety suffocating. Then, a sudden explosion shattered the night, lighting up the sky with fire and chaos. Gunfire followed in an unrelenting storm, shaking the earth beneath their feet.


    ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± Tommy growled, his voice hard and guttural.


    Without hesitation, they leapt into action. Using their enhanced legs, they vaulted over the towering walls of the residence, their movements eerily inhuman. But something was wrong. Almost immediately, they were met with a flood of enemies¡ªfar more than expected.


    ¡°Fade, cover us!¡± Rita yelled, her voice sharp with urgency.


    Fade¡¯s arm cannons roared to life, spitting searing rounds that tore through the first wave of guards. Flesh and bone disintegrated in bursts of blood and ash, the stench of burnt bodies thick in the air. But more forces kept coming, well-armed and relentless.


    ¡°That son of a bitch played us so well!¡± Fade screamed, his voice raw with fury.


    Tommy¡¯s blood ran cold. The implication hit him like a thunderclap. ¡°No... Arthur wouldn¡¯t...¡± His mind reeled, the thought of betrayal too bitter to swallow.


    Before he could process it, a blur of motion caught his eye. A man with long, flowing hair and twin swords appeared, moving with an unnatural speed. He descended on Fade like a whirlwind, severing the cannon from his arm before slicing the limb clean off. Blood sprayed in a grotesque arc, and Fade stumbled back, his screams of agony lost in the chaos.


    Tommy rushed to help, but his reflexes took over, forcing him to dodge as a shotgun blast tore past his face. He turned to see a hulking figure¡ªa man with a blond beard, a metallic jaw, and glowing red eyes. This was no ordinary man; this was a machine, a beast designed for one purpose¡ªdeath.


    ¡°Those two¡­¡± Rita hissed, her voice shaking. ¡°Mr. Bird hired them.¡±


    Tommy¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Why weren¡¯t they in the files?!¡±


    ¡°Because,¡± Rita spat, ¡°the bastard hired them after the assassination attempt. Damn it, he¡¯s qui¡ª¡±


    Her words ended in a wet gurgle. The swordsman¡¯s blade sliced through her neck with such speed that her head flew cleanly into the air before her body crumpled. Blood spurted like a geyser, staining the ground in crimson.


    ¡°RITA!¡± Tommy roared, his voice cracking as rage took hold.


    Fade, clutching his severed arm, managed one desperate shot with his remaining cannon. The bullet pierced the swordsman¡¯s chest, shattering bone, but he didn¡¯t go down. The blond giant raised his shotgun to reload, but Tommy moved faster.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Fueled by a primal fury, Tommy rushed the giant, grabbing his hands and tearing them off with a sickening crunch. Blood poured from the stumps as the man screamed, his metallic jaw snapping uselessly.


    Tommy¡¯s face twisted into something monstrous. He slammed the man¡¯s head into a jagged rock over and over, each impact shattering bone and splattering blood. The skull caved, but Tommy didn¡¯t stop. He roared like a beast, lost in his rage, pounding what was left of the head into a pulpy mess.


    Fade staggered back, his face pale with horror. ¡°Tommy¡­ what the hell are you¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish, Tommy turned on him. Weakened and bleeding, Fade had no chance. Tommy pounced, pinning him to the ground with terrifying strength.


    ¡°Tommy, wait¡ª!¡± Fade choked, his voice desperate.


    But Tommy¡¯s grip tightened around his neck, his knees pressing into Fade¡¯s chest. The larger man struggled, his one remaining arm clawing at Tommy, but it was useless. Fade¡¯s eyes bulged as his life drained away.


    Tommy¡¯s face was unrecognizable¡ªwild, savage, inhuman. He rose from Fade¡¯s lifeless body, blood dripping from his hands, and grabbed a fallen shotgun. Without hesitation, he stormed deeper into the mansion, his steps leaving bloody prints on the polished floors.


    Guards fired anti-tank rounds at him, the explosive shells ripping into his enhanced body. Chunks of flesh and muscle were torn away, and his belly was left gaping open. But he kept going, his screams not of pain but of unbridled fury.


    He kicked open a door and found a woman, two children, and an infant huddled together. Mr. Bird¡¯s family. Their terrified screams echoed in the room, but Tommy didn¡¯t see them as people. They were obstacles. Without hesitation, he raised the shotgun and fired.


    The woman fell first, her body crumpling in a pool of blood. The children screamed, their voices shrill and desperate, but he silenced them with two more blasts. The infant wailed, its tiny cries piercing through the chaos. Tommy aimed, his hands steady, and pulled the trigger.


    The door burst open behind him, and a guard fired, blowing off Tommy¡¯s leg. He fell to the ground, blood gushing from the stump. Gritting his teeth, he turned and fired, the shotgun blast tearing the guard¡¯s chest apart.


    Then came the jolt. Electricity coursed through his body, paralyzing him. He collapsed, writhing and screaming.


    ¡°It¡¯s not over!¡± he roared, his voice hoarse. ¡°I want blood! I hate this world and everyone in it! I just wanted a good life, but even that was refused to me! If I can¡¯t have it, I¡¯ll take everything from all of you!¡±


    Arthur stepped into the room, holding Mr. Bird over his shoulder. He aimed a pistol at Tommy, his face heavy with regret.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, kid,¡± Arthur said softly. ¡°Life doesn¡¯t owe you anything. The Dustland isn¡¯t fair¡ªit¡¯s not unfair either. It just is.¡±


    Tommy¡¯s eyes burned with betrayal. ¡°You... You lied to me! I trusted you!¡±


    Arthur sighed. ¡°I know. I¡¯m sorry for that too. But this is my chance¡ªa chance to start over, to be a butterfly in a world that cuts your wings.¡±


    Tommy¡¯s screams grew weaker as Arthur continued, ¡°I talked to that woman. She said after Mr. Bird¡¯s death, even if we die here, your family won¡¯t suffer any harm. I¡¯ll make sure of it. I promise.¡±


    Tommy, trembling and in pain, seemed to finally accept his fate. He looked at Arthur with tear-filled eyes. ¡°Kill the man before I die¡­ and please, show my mother the snow. Take her and my sister over the wall. Let them see the life there¡­ please...¡±


    Arthur nodded, his expression resolute. Without hesitation, he turned and fired at Mr. Bird, killing him instantly. He looked back at Tommy and said firmly, ¡°You have my word, kid. I will show her the snow.¡±


    Tommy¡¯s body began to dissolve, fading as though it had never been there. His face, etched with pain and sorrow, remained turned toward the ceiling. He was like a butterfly in this world¡ªliving fast and dying young, his fleeting existence marked by a dream so pure, like the untouched snow. But there are no butterflies in the snow, and his dream, like his life, melted away into the cold void.

 Epilogue

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