Chapter 3 Monster

That single word-

"Mommy..."

It hit Scarlett like a shockwave.

Her heart jolted.

For a split second, she was dragged back four years... back to the tiny life she had lost the moment it entered the world.

If her child were still alive-

He'd be about this age now.

The thought tightened painfully in her chest.

As she looked at the boy, her gaze softened without her realizing it.

A storm of emotions surged through her-

Longing. Grief. Guilt. Tenderness.

Feelings she couldn't quite name... all tangled together.

At that moment, Howard walked over, his eyes flicking between Scarlett and the boy.

"Bo-Boss... is that your kid?" he blurted, stunned. "He looks just like you. Same eyes, same face-it's like a copy-paste."

Good grief.

The leader of Obsidian Unit... the infamous War Goddess...

Had a child?

If word of this got out, it would send shockwaves through the entire underworld.

Scarlett shot him a look.

"I don't know him," she said evenly. "He's probably just scared and mistook me for someone else."

Still, she studied the boy more closely.

There was a resemblance.

But lookalikes weren't exactly rare...

And deep down, she knew-

It wasn't possible.

Her child...

Was gone.

The boy's expression crumpled the moment he heard her answer.

The light in his eyes dimmed, replaced by quiet disappointment.

"Let me check if you're hurt," Scarlett said, her voice softening.

But before she could move-

A harsh shout cut through the air behind them.

"There he is! Grab him!"

The boy's small body stiffened.

His eyes widened in fear as he stared at the group rushing toward them.

"Hey... it's okay," Scarlett said gently, resting a hand on his head. "I've got you. No one's going to hurt you."

The warmth of her touch-

It steadied him almost instantly.

Without thinking, he leaned into her, clinging to that rare sense of safety.

Scarlett rose slowly, her expression turning ice-cold as she faced the group closing in.

"Get over here!" the scar-faced man barked at the boy.

Terrified, the child instinctively wrapped his arms around Scarlett's leg, holding on tightly.

That was when she noticed-

Bruises on his arms.

Fresh wounds along his neck.

Some still bleeding.

Her eyes darkened instantly.

The air around her seemed to drop in temperature.

They did this...

To a child?

Disgusting.

Before she could speak, the scar-faced man sneered.

"Stay out of this if you know what's good for you," he growled. "Or I'll put you in the ground."

Howard almost laughed.

Put her in the ground?

The person capable of that probably hadn't even been born yet.

Cracking his knuckles, he stepped forward-

Only for Scarlett to stop him with a raised arm.

"I'll handle it."

Her expression was cold. Merciless.

Like a judge passing sentence.

Four years ago, her child had died.

Back then, she'd been powerless.

Too weak to protect him.

But now-

She would never let something like that happen again.

Howard glanced at her, half amused.

"Boss, these guys aren't even worth it. Using you on them is like bringing a missile to a street fight."

Scarlett ignored him.

She gently guided the boy toward him.

"Keep him safe."

Then-

She moved.

A blur.

Fast as lightning.

Before anyone could react, she was already in front of them.

Her leg snapped out-

BAM-

The impact was brutal.

The man she struck let out a guttural scream as several ribs cracked on the spot. Blood sprayed from his mouth before his eyes rolled back and he collapsed.

Out cold.

The rest froze.

Fear crept across their faces.

What the hell was she?

Even they weren't this ruthless.

She broke bones without hesitation-

Without even blinking.

Scarlett turned slowly, her face expressionless.

Her voice was calm.

Cold.

Lethal.

"Who hurt him?"

A pause.

"Break your own arms."

Arrogant.

Unbelievably arrogant.

"Damn it! You've got a death wish!" the scar-faced man spat. "You think you can take us on alone?"

He waved his hand sharply.

"Get her! I don't care how strong she is-she's still just one person! The client's paying a hundred grand each if we bring that kid in!"

That was all it took.

Money lit a fire in their eyes.

"Boss is right! No way we lose to one woman! Get her!"

Fueled by greed, they charged forward, steel pipes raised high.

The boy clenched his small fists, his body tense as he watched Scarlett surrounded.

His eyes filled with worry.

Scarlett, meanwhile, remained perfectly calm.

She rolled her neck.

Cracked her knuckles.

Pop. Pop.

A steel pipe swung straight toward her head-

She raised her hand-

And caught it.

Effortlessly.

The man holding it froze.

He had swung with everything he had.

And she just... stopped it?

But what happened next-

Was worse.

Scarlett tightened her grip.

Creeeak-

The metal started to bend.

Right before their eyes.

Warping. Twisting.

Until-

It folded.

The harsh grinding sound echoed through the sudden silence.

Everyone stopped dead.

No one dared take another step.

Scarlett bent it into a perfect right angle-

Then casually ripped it from his hand and tossed it aside.

Silence.

Heavy.

Suffocating.

Someone swallowed hard.

"Monster... run! RUN!"

Panic broke out instantly.

They scattered in every direction.

Scarlett's gaze darkened.

The boy's injuries flashed through her mind.

And then-

Her own child.

If he had lived...

He'd be about this age.

Her eyes narrowed.

Run?

Not happening.

She crouched, scooped up a handful of small stones-

And flicked her wrist.

Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-

The stones tore through the air with deadly precision.

"AAAGH-!"

One by one, the fleeing men collapsed, clutching their legs, screaming in pain.

The boy's eyes lit up.

She was incredible.

So strong.

So cool.

She had to be his mom.

He remembered-

He'd dreamed about this before.

A dream where he was in danger, and his mom appeared just in time to save him.

And now-

It was real.

But then-

The scar-faced man, still on the ground, pulled out a gun.

The barrel aimed straight at Scarlett's head.

"Mommy! Watch out!" the boy screamed, his face going pale.

The trigger was pulled.

BANG-

The bullet fired.

***