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"What the—" Arnest stopped in his tracks the moment they entered the courtyard.

The buildings were decorated in festive lights and illuminated the path that led to an open area full of dining tables and seated guests.

Giada was setting plates full of pasta and baskets of bread on the tables. She caught a glimpse of Arnest from her peripheral and clapped her hands.

"Scusi! Everyone!" She called, but the noisy chatter of all the villagers invited went over her. Giada became frustrated, and took a deep breath, before shouting. "SILENCIO!"

The sound of her yell had shut everyone down immediately. Arnest even jumped in fear.

"Mi boys have come home!" She skipped over to the three and grabbed both Hyde and Arnest by the arm. "Arno, and Hyde. Both came back."

The crowd began to cheer and clap. Giada waved her hand, and a boisterous beat began to play. Harper noticed the band of tambourine, violin, and accordion players stationed on the side happily playing tunes.

A line of dancing women in long skirts began twirling and skipping toward them.

"Mama... where did you find the time to—"

"Hush, mi figli. Eyu must help eyu Sorella with the drinks. Must go." She shooed Arnest away. Hyde was whisked away by the women dancing around.

Giada grabbed onto Harper's hand and dragged her toward one of the tables. "Come! Eyu must be hungry! I prepared big feast for eyu!"

Harper saw Yanpu in the distance, standing awkwardly aside as one of the little girls, Anna's child, tried to play with him. "Yani— Agh!" Harper tried to get his attention, but she was shoved into a seat at a table in front of a large plate of pasta.

"Must eat!" Giada smiled and sat beside her. "Eyu skin... much more tan. Itaria sun is good for the skin."

Harper forced a smile and picked up one of the forks. The food looked delicious. But Harper was very overwhelmed by all the music, the talking, and the setting.

Everyone seemed so happy and were close. She felt like an outcast, despite Giada trying her best to make her feel welcome. Harper just wasn't used to so much interaction.

She had many quiet dinners at her home with her mother back in Westona. So to see so many people in one area talking and laughing was a huge culture shock.

"Did eyu enjoy the tour? How is Piccposto?"

Harper rolled the pasta onto her fork and took a small bite. The flavor and spices melted onto her tongue, and Harper moaned softly. "Fun..."

"Fun? Speak more."

"It's very different from where I'm from. I've never seen so much color and light. And the air feels..." Harper sighed when she looked at the evening sky. The stars weren't as visible, but the moon was bright and full.

She was amazed that despite her circumstances, she felt a warm fuzzy feeling as if she was meant to be here and call it home.

"Hyde treated eyu well, yes?"

"Huh?"

"Hyde..." Giada tusked when she saw the dancers crowding around him.

"Um..."

"Hyde isseh stubborn boy... but he will care for eyu and cherish with all of his heart. Don't mind him."

"Believe me, I'm not worried about him in the slightest." Harper rolled her eyes and stabbed more of the pasta.

"Sweet femalia..." Giada chuckled. "Trusting him so."

If only Giada knew that her dismissal of his flirty behavior isn't a sign of trust, but one of disgust.

"Yanpu... isseh he eyu figli? Son?"

"Sort of."

"I notice... Yanpu looks like Hyde. A twin. But eyu? Non."

"I noticed that too." Harper hummed. Perhaps Hyde and Yanpu were related somehow. Both of them had long black hair and an intense look in their eyes. And according to Hyde, both of them had Puron in their blood.

"Eh?" Giada furrowed her eyebrows.

"Oh. I meant. He was adopted by me. Hyde and Yanpu may be more related than me."

"Que?"

"He's my son, not by blood."

"Oh. Blood non matter. Familia isseh Familia."

"Uh huh." Harper pressed her lips thin.

"Hyde, non mi figli. By blood. But heart? Hyde is mi son. Mi boy."

Harper didn't understand it. Hyde was a deranged killer. Had she been fooled so easily? What was convincing her that he was a good person?

There was nothing good about Hyde. He was wicked. He was the type of person to throw a boulder onto a small family of bunnies and laugh when blood was shed.

"Eyu chose a good man... Hyde will protect eyu." Giada tapped Harper's hand gently. But Harper was terrified of her obliviousness to everything Hyde had done.

Thinking of her being kidnapped, threatened, and even harmed by him was a lot. And Hyde still planned on making her suffer. So why was it that this older woman was expressing joy about him?

"Giada..." Harper started, wanting to confess everything. But she stopped when she realized the consequence of her telling the truth. Hyde would probably kill all of these people. They didn't deserve that.

"Si?"

"Never mind."

"What worries eyu?"

"I just... feel a bit hot. May I have something to drink?"

"Oh! Yes! Mi familia drinks are strong! Eyu will like! Arno! Come bring Harpy eh drink! Per favor!"

"No. She can't have alcohol." Arnest placed a glass of water in front of her before sneering. He remembered how frustrating she could be when she was drunk.

"One drink! She can have!"

"I shouldn't, Giada." Harper refused. She was a bit thankful that Arnest was helping her. "But thanks anyways."

"Anna Bella! Bring the box from the kitchen." Giada huffed. "Arno, bring Hyde here next to his Amora."

"Why do I have to do everything mama?"

Giada narrowed her eyes, and Arnest grumbled before walking in the direction of the dancers to get Hyde's attention.

Harper saw the troubled look on Hyde's face when Arnest nudged him away from all of the women and closer to her.

He grunted when Giada forced him to sit beside Harper.

"Did you have your fun flirting with all those women?" Harper huffed.

"You sound jealous."

Harper felt her stomach tighten. She took another sip of the water she had been given, not wanting to respond to his teasing.

Giada picked up a glass and used a fork to tap against it. The dancers stopped and gathered together away from the guests. Everyone's attention was on Giada again.

"Graci for coming. All of eyu. To celebrate! I prepare big feast in honor of Arno and Hyde's return. Can eyu believe? 4 years have gone by and mi figli is still poking holes through his socks."

The crowd began to laugh, and Arnest lowered his head in embarrassment. Harper let out a soft snicker.

"But the big reason I invite all of eyu, is non for feast andeh reunion. But I want to give Hyde big Graci. Eyu know, Hyde is Mi casa savior. Big hero of Piccposto."

"Hero?" Harper rolled her eyes. She mumbled disdainfully.

"Pa Arnesto, left this world with condition. Eyu know, Hyde. Arnesto adored eyu." Giada brushed her hand down his hair and caressed his shoulders softly.

"Pa Arnesto loved eyu so much. He want to give eyu cherished gift. But on one condition, eyu must bring beautiful Amora to our casa."

"Giada," Hyde clenched his jaw and sat up straight.

"Eyu protect our loved Piccposto. So, eyu must protect beautiful Amora as well. Si?" Giada motioned for Anna to come closer.

In her hands was a long wooden box, coated in an intricate painted pattern. Anna set it in Giada's arms, who gracefully opened the locks and raised the cover.

Giada smiled lovingly at Hyde. "Before Pa Arnesto left us, he made this for eyu. A final gift. For his precious apprentice. Arnesto viewed eyu as other grandson."

Inside the case were two blades, similar to the ones Harper had seen when she first met him. They shone as the moonlight reflected on them. Hyde's eyes softened when he saw them.

He stood for a while as if he were hesitant to accept the gift.

Harper's heart raced. It was all he needed to finish her off the way he intended to before. Her hand slid over her stomach as she remembered the pain she felt when Hyde cut her.

The look in his eyes frightened her. Was he thinking about killing her? Or was he thinking of ways to torment her further?

Hyde's hand reached up and for the handle of one of the swords. However, the moment his fingers glazed across the firm leather, Hyde grunted and withdrew his hand.

Giada gasped softly when he collapsed to the ground. Confused at first, Harper furrowed her eyebrows at him. But she noticed the faint glow of red around his neck.

He was having another one of his episodes.

"Hyde?" Giada frowned. "Hyde!"

She and Arnest quickly rushed to his aide.

"Anna! Quickly! Go into my bag and give me the antidote!" Arnest shouted at her.

"I can't run!" Anna retorted in a panic, gesturing toward her round and plump stomach.

Harper shot out of her seat and shoved herself through several guests.

"Wench! She's escaping!" Arnest hollered.

His mouth quickly shut when Harper snatched his bag and poured out its contents. In the process of sloshing things aside, one of the tubes filled with the antidote broke and seeped onto her skin.

She panicked, but her gasp was soft. The red liquid faded instantly and didn't seem to have an effect on her. Although suspicious of the content, she grabbed onto another secured capsule and handed it to Arnest.

He filled a needle from his pockets with the liquid and inserted it into one of Hyde's arms. As the antidote began making its way into Hyde's body, Arnest would glance up a few times to stare at Harper.

"Graci, Harpy!" Giada sighed in relief. "Eyu saved him!"

"Arno... did you mention something about escaping just now?" Anna glared at him.

"What?" Arnest scoffed. "I didn't. You're hearing things again."

Harper tightened her fists. She couldn't believe that once again, she helped the dastard who kept threatening her.

But really, what good would running away do? Where could she go?

Hyde leaned back while Arnest helped guide him. "Mama... I don't want to cut festivities short, but... he needs rest."

"Mi poor boy... Hyde is still suffering?" Giada pushed a hair behind Hyde's ear.

Suffering? Did these people know about Hyde's illness?

"Harpy, can eyu take Hyde back?"

"Me?" Harper blinked.

"Si. He's your Amore." Anna voiced, suspicious of her. "So, you should take him. Right?"

"Oh! Yes! Sorry, I'm just..."

"No doubt. Eyu overwhelmed by his condition... aiy?" Giada gloomed. "Come, Hyde. Harpy, will take eyu to rest."

Giada guided Hyde's weight onto Harper's. She almost fell because of how heavy he was. Giada gestured for her to go, and the guests all separated and made a path for Harper to take Hyde away.

As she helped him, she noticed the looks on everyone's face. They all appeared to be very concerned about him. The deranged killer actually fooled everyone into caring about him.

Harper walked with him all the way back to the building full of weapons. When they finally got inside and into his room, she let him fall onto his mat and didn't even bother helping him get settled.

Hyde only grunted when she dropped him. Rather than taking it out on her as he usually did, he rolled over and covered his face with his hand.

"You've got a lot of nerve. Those people out there don't know what kind of person you truly are." Harper crossed her arms. "A hero? A savior? Hah. If you're a hero then I must be one of the overseers!"

"It's none of your business." Hyde seethed.

"It becomes my business when I see blatant lies happening right in front of me! What are you gonna do when those people find out the truth? Are you going to kill them like how you did with my coworkers at the facility?"

"Bring me some water," Hyde demanded.

"Are you actually going to kill them?" Harper felt her heart sink. "You would kill Arnest's family quickly, wouldn't you? Because you're a selfish prick who—"

"Get me water."

"I can't even believe you actually worked as a serviceman with that attitude! And you dare to lie and take on the position of a hero? You're sick! You're—"

"So help me, Vixen, if you don't shut up and get me a glass of water I will drag you over and rip your tongue out before gutting you like a fish and leaving your blood to be licked up by the stray dogs outside."

Harper glowered at him.

"I'm only down for a few minutes. I'm not severely weakened, so I'm very capable of moving around once I'm stable."

"Then go and get your water yourself, jerk!"

"I'd be more than happy to. But there is no guarantee that the kid will be alive by the time I come back."

"If you touch Yanpu then the entire village will know how wicked you truly are!"

"So you are willing to find out how far I can go being wicked, huh?"

Harper groaned and turned on her heel, storming into the open living room. Harper walked by all of the swords, mallets, shields, and daggers hanging on the walls.

She had the thought of yanking one off of the many displays and bashing Hyde in the head with it. That would cost her, her life. But it sounded gratifying in her mind.

The open room, with hardly any furniture other than a small coffee table and cushions for seats surrounding it, also had a small countertop kitchen area lined up against the wall.

There was a sink, a stove, and a small refrigerator lined up next to a small counter space.

Only two cabinets hung high above them. Harper pulled a cup from one and turned on the faucet. The soft sound of streaming water wasn't enough to calm her nerves.

"You're upset." Hyde leaned against the doorway with one foot out of the bedroom.

"No, Really? What makes you think that?" Harper muttered sarcastically.

"You'll be a lot more than just upset if you break anything. I won't hesitate to make you pay me back for every bit of attitude you have involving my stuff."

Harper felt something tick within her. "If it weren't for me, you'd be sprawled across the courtyard in front of Giada and everyone else. I could've ran, but I didn't. Would it hurt to just show an OUNCE of respect to me?"

"You actually think you're a person deserving of any respect?" Hyde took the glass of water out of her hands and chuckled.

"Everyone deserves decency and some level of respect. None of us are better than the other! And I'm being far too humble when I say that."

"I used to say the same shite years ago..." Hyde sipped slowly. "Reality is, Westona is a country full of indecency, and with it comes brainwashed and brainless people. You think you're so perfect."

"I never said I was."

"Then what makes you think you deserve to be treated like you're worth something?"

"I don't understand. Do you think a person has to be perfect to have any worth?"

"Your Facility and employers think so. The whole government operation is bloody corrupt. So anyone is to assume that you have the same values since you admire it so much."

Hyde tilted the empty cup playfully. "And when everything you see as valuable is destroyed, I look forward to seeing your priceless expression. I wonder,"

He hummed. "Will you be angry? Frustrated because there's nothing you can do? Or are you going to cry?"

Her lips parted, but she couldn't say anything. Tears welled in her eyes, but she held back.

"Look at you," Hyde smiled at her devilishly. "I haven't even started yet, and already your eyes are swelling up."

Hyde set the cup on the counter, and Harper lowered her head.

"If you're bent on ruining my life, can't you let Yanpu go? He's a child. He doesn't deserve any of this."

"Nope."

"Why?"

"Because it's no fun." Hyde folded his arms. "What to do... I've grown accustomed to being entertained by your fear and worry. It's funny when you try so hard to reason with me. But I think it's hilarious when you think of trying to get away, only for me to prove to you every time that I'm the one who's in control. And the brat is just a bonus. I'm keeping him alive because of you."

"I can't do this anymore." Harper groaned. "You win. Do whatever you want."

"You're not fighting back?" Hyde raised a brow.

"You want me to suffer, right? So do whatever you want. Rip my tongue out, chop off my arm, leave me to bleed until I'm dry." Harper sighed.

"That's what you want, right? Because I'll scream, I'll cry... until I'm dead. But, seriously, just end it. Because if I'm just going to feel more pain with each passing day, I don't want to take it anymore."

Hyde stepped forward dangerously, and Harper dared not to move. "Don't expect me to believe your bullcrap."

"Do it." Harper urged him. "I won't even run—"

Hyde's palm clenched around her neck before she finished her sentence. But she was still able to breathe, as he only shoved her against the counter and was holding her in place.

Harper exhaled repeatedly. Her heart was hammering against her chest.

"If I placed my thumb here, I could cut off your airways, and you'd slowly succumb to your death. But I think you should go out in a way no one has ever before. Let me think..."

Harper winced when he leaned closer. "Do... your worst."

The two eyed each other for a moment. Both were competing for the final say.

"It's late..." Hyde hummed. "I don't have the energy to deal with you."

"Not so tough now, are you?" Harper spat.

"You don't want to find out just how much strength I'm holding back." Hyde released her. "Night."

And without another word, Hyde strolled back into the bedroom.