With a plan already set in motion, I turned to Dorothy and asked her to trust me, my eyes locking onto hers with a fierce intensity. "Trust me, Dorothy," I said, my voice low and urgent. "I know the chances of us losing our lives in this battle are high, but we still have a chance at survival. We just need to stick to the plan and watch each other's backs."
Dorothy's eyes narrowed slightly, her face pale with fear and uncertainty. She didn't believe me, I could tell. She didn't think we had a chance at survival. But she never debated my command, never questioned my judgment. Instead, she nodded silently, her eyes flashing with a hint of determination.
With that, we moved into position, Dorothy hiding behind a nearby pillar, her body tense and ready to strike. I stood by the door, my heart pounding in my chest, my hand on the hilt of my sword. I expected to see the hunters come bursting in, their weapons drawn and their eyes fixed on us with a deadly intent. But instead, I was taken aback when Valdez came stumbling into the room, his body filled with smoke, wounds, and blood.
He was putting on his long cloak, his hood covering his head, his eyes fixed on me with a grim determination. He looked like he had just come from the depths of hell itself, his body battered and bruised, his clothes torn and tattered. I could see the pain in his eyes, the exhaustion, the desperation.
"What just happened?" I asked him, my voice barely above a whisper. "What did they do to you?"
Valdez's eyes flashed with a hint of anger, his jaw clenched in a tight line. "They paid their price" he growled, his voice low and menacing. "They thought they could take matters into their own hands, but I showed them. I showed them all."
I could see the fury in his eyes, the rage, the desire for revenge. And I knew that we had to get out of there, had to escape before the hunters came back, before they finished what they started.
Valdez's eyes locked onto Dorothy, his gaze intense and commanding. "Take him with you," he growled, his voice low and urgent. "Take him and go hide in the dungeon. We have no chance of escape, not now. The hunters are everywhere, they're closing in on us. But I won't let them take you, Dorothy. I won't let them put you through misery again, not while I'm still standing."
Dorothy's eyes widened in fear, her face pale with terror. But she didn't hesitate, didn't question Valdez's command. She knew better than to disobey him, knew that he was the only one who could keep her safe. She nodded silently, her eyes flashing with a hint of determination.
With a swift motion, she grabbed my arm and pulled me towards her, her grip tight and urgent. "Come on," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "We have to go, now."
I didn't resist, didn't argue. I knew that Valdez was right, knew that our only chance of survival was to hide and stay silent. I followed Dorothy, my heart pounding in my chest, my mind racing with fear and uncertainty.
We made our way to the dungeon, our footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. The air was musty and dank, filled with the scent of mold and decay. I could hear the sound of dripping water, the creaks and groans of the old castle.
Dorothy pushed me into a dark corner, her eyes fixed on mine with a fierce intensity. "Stay here," she whispered. "Stay hidden and silent. Don't make a sound, don't move. Valdez will take care of us, he'll keep us safe."
I nodded, my heart filled with gratitude. I knew that I owed my life to Valdez, knew that he was the only one who could protect us from the hunters. I watched as Dorothy disappeared into the shadows, her body blending into the darkness.
And then, I waited. I waited for what felt like hours, my heart pounding in my chest, my mind racing with fear and uncertainty. I could hear the sound of footsteps outside, the hunters searching for us, their voices echoing off the walls.
But I didn't move, didn't make a sound. I stayed hidden and silent, my eyes fixed on the darkness, my heart filled with hope. Hope that Valdez would come back for us, hope that he would keep us safe, hope that we would survive this nightmare.
Before I could even process what was happening, the silence of the dungeon was shattered by the sound of gunfire and screams. The echoes of pain and sorrow reverberated through the cold stone walls, making my heart race with fear. I could hear the sound of footsteps, heavy and swift, as if death itself was descending upon us.
The gunshots grew louder, more frequent, and I could tell that the battle was intensifying. I strained my ears to listen, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Was Valdez fighting alone? Was Dorothy by his side? Were they outnumbered, outgunned?
The screams grew louder, more anguished, and I could feel my own fear turning to panic. I was trapped in the dungeon, helpless and helpless, while above me, a battle for our lives was raging on.
I could hear the sound of commands being barked out, the hunters' voices cold and calculating, while Valdez's responses were fierce and defiant. He was fighting back, fighting hard, but I could sense the desperation in his voice.
Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the dungeon, causing me to stumble and fall. I scrambled to my feet, my heart racing, as the sounds of gunfire and screams grew even more intense.
I knew then that the battle was reaching its climax. Either we would emerge victorious, or we would fall to the hunters' mercy. I prayed that Valdez and Dorothy were holding their own, that they were fighting with every last ounce of strength they had.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the battle ceased. The silence was deafening, punctuated only by the sound of heavy breathing, groans of pain, and the scent of smoke and blood hanging heavy in the air.
I waited, frozen in terror, wondering what the outcome had been. Had we won? Had we lost? And what of Valdez and Dorothy? Were they alive, or had they fallen in the battle above?
As I slowly made my way out of the dungeon, the silence was oppressive, heavy with the weight of uncertainty. The only sound I could hear was a distant sobbing, a heart-wrenching cry that seemed to pierce through my very soul. I followed the sound, my heart racing with fear, my mind conjuring up the worst possible scenarios.
As I emerged from the darkness of the dungeon into the bright light of the castle, I was met with a sight that made my blood run cold. The once-grand hall was now a scene of utter devastation, a battleground littered with the bodies of the hunters. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, blood, and sweat.
But it was the figure in the center of the room that drew my attention, a figure that seemed to be the source of the sobbing I had heard. Dorothy, her beautiful face contorted in grief, her body shaking with sobs, her eyes red and swollen from crying.
I rushed to her side, my heart filled with compassion, my arms opening to embrace her. "Dorothy, oh Dorothy," I whispered, trying to console her, trying to offer some semblance of comfort in the face of unimaginable loss.
But as I held her close, she looked up at me, her eyes streaming with tears, and whispered the words that would shatter my world forever: "Valdez is gone, Gabriel. He died trying to protect us."
The words hit me like a blow, a punch to the gut that left me winded and reeling. Valdez, the brave, the noble, the selfless. He had given his life for us, had fought to the very end to keep us safe. And now, he was gone.
I held Dorothy close, my own tears streaming down my face, as we mourned the loss of Dorothy's father, our protector, our hero. We cried for what felt like hours, our bodies shaking with grief, our hearts heavy with sorrow.
And as we cried, I knew that our lives would never be the same again. We had lost a piece of ourselves, a piece that could never be replaced. But we had also gained something precious, something that would stay with us forever - the memory of Valdez's bravery, his sacrifice, and his unwavering love for us.