Forsaken Hunter-Chapter 15: The Song Beneath the Cherry Tree

A Restless Night

The faint scent of antiseptic filled the quiet hospital room, a sterile tang that clung to the air like a ghost. The ticking of a wall clock was the only sound, its relentless rhythm slicing through the silence, save for the occasional shuffling of nurses outside,

their footsteps muffled echoes in the dimly lit corridor. The room was a cocoon of stillness, shadows pooling in the corners, the faint glow of moonlight seeping through a cracked window.

Two patients lay on adjacent beds, separated by a thin, faded curtain that swayed slightly with each breath of the ventilation system. Charles lay there, wide awake, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, its cracked plaster a map of his spiraling thoughts.

His heavy eyes burned with exhaustion, but sleep eluded him, his mind a storm of unanswered questions.

Why does he remember nothing? Why only the dungeon and cultist incident?

He clenched his fist beneath the covers, knuckles whitening as frustration gnawed at him. Beno, sleeping silently beyond the curtain, was a puzzle that refused to fit together.

The King side knows everything about Beno, yet Beno himself remembers nothing. It makes no sense. The contradiction gnawed at Charles, a splinter in his mind he couldn't dislodge.

Charles closed his eyes tightly, the weight of confusion pressing down until his temples throbbed. But in the stillness of the room, a faint murmur drew his attention, a whisper that cut through the haze.

Beno was sweating heavily, beads of perspiration glistening on his pale forehead, his breathing uneven, shallow gasps that hitched in his throat.

His fingers twitched, clawing at the sheets as if grasping at something invisible, his body a prisoner to a nightmare's grip.

In the prison of his mind, Beno stood amidst a crimson-drenched dungeon. The air was thick with the stench of blood and ash, forests ablaze with roaring flames that painted the sky a hellish red. Rivers ran thick with blood, sluggish and viscous, bubbling as they carved through the scorched earth.

Corpses piled like mountains, their twisted limbs jutting out, faces frozen in silent screams, a grotesque monument to slaughter. At the center loomed a black skeleton throne, its bones gleaming with an oily sheen, radiating a malevolent presence that pulsed like a heartbeat.

To his horror, he found himself sitting upon it, his hands gripping the armrests, the cold bones biting into his flesh.

"No... No, I don't want this..." Beno mumbled in his sleep, his body trembling, a shudder that rippled through the hospital bed.

He tried to awaken, thrashing against the nightmare's chains, but it held him fast. Suddenly, as if fate itself weaved a different thread, the hellish vision melted away. The red sky shifted into a gentle blue, clouds parting to reveal a serene expanse.

Cherry blossoms bloomed, their petals drifting lazily through the air, and soft grass replaced the scorched ground, cushioning his feet with a tender embrace.

Under the shade of a grand cherry tree sat a figure—Luna, her silver hair catching the sunlight, humming a song with closed eyes. Her delicate voice swirled through the air, a soothing melody that danced like a spring breeze, washing away the blood and fire.

Beno's panic softened. Luna looked up and smiled, patting her lap gently. Without words, he sank down, resting his head there, the warmth of her presence a balm to his fractured soul.

The nightmare faded into a quiet dream, the tension draining from his body as his breathing steadied.

A Song Like Magic

Outside the dream, Charles blinked in disbelief. Luna stood by Beno's bedside, singing softly, her voice a thread of light piercing the room's gloom.

The melody was ethereal, weaving through the air like a spell, each note a brushstroke painting peace over chaos.

[Verse 1] Beno, let the darkness fade / Nightmares break in Luna's shade / Through the green, a soft light gleams / Cherry tree will guard your dreams

[Verse 2] Rest, my love, beneath the sky / Where the stars in silence lie / Plants will whisper, shadows flee / On my lap, find peace with me

[Pre-Chorus] Close your eyes, don't be afraid / Even sorrow's tears will fade / I will hold you through the storm / In my arms, you're safe and warm

[Chorus] Branches cradle whispers low / Tales of love we'll never know / Blooming hearts and petals fall / This haven hears your silent call

[Verse 3] Winds hum sweet and clouds drift slow / Underneath the moon's soft glow / Here no fear can hold its claim / Cherry tree will know your name

[Verse 4 - New] When the cold winds bite your skin / Let the lullabies begin / I'll sing for you till dawn arrives / With every note, your hope survives

[Bridge] Roots run deep, they tie us tight / Safe within the velvet night / Stay with me, you'll never part / You are calm within my heart

[Chorus] Branches cradle whispers low / Tales of love we'll never know / Blooming hearts and petals fall / This haven hears your silent call

[Outro - Soft Whisper] Petals falling, softly glow / In your dreams, you'll always know / When you wake, I'll still be near / Luna's song will calm your fear

Charles felt as if even his own anxiety dissolved under the melody, the weight on his chest lifting, his racing thoughts slowing to a gentle hum. The song was a lifeline, tethering them both to a fragile calm.

But what happened next made his eyes widen.

Luna glanced around cautiously, her movements deliberate, her serene facade masking something deeper. She wasn't merely singing.

From her pocket, she pulled out a small syringe, its needle glinting faintly in the moonlight. Without hesitation, she took Beno's arm, her touch gentle yet precise, and gently took a sample of his blood, the crimson liquid filling the vial with a slow, steady draw.

Then, softly, she kissed his hand, her lips lingering as if in prayer.

"I will cure you... for sure," she whispered, her voice a vow laced with desperation.

Charles' heart skipped a beat. His instincts flared, a jolt of adrenaline surging through him. What is she doing? The question burned, suspicion coiling tight in his gut.

As Luna exited, her footsteps silent against the tiled floor, Charles carefully got out of bed, ignoring the pain in his body.

His ribs ached, his muscles screamed with every movement, but curiosity overpowered his injuries. He trailed after her, keeping to the shadows, his breath shallow to avoid detection.

The Hidden Truth

She moved swiftly through the hospital corridors, her Blonde hair a faint shimmer in the dim light, her pace purposeful.

Charles followed, his bare feet cold against the floor, every step a calculated risk. She stopped before a locked door marked with a faded sign: Authorized Personnel Only. The air around it felt heavier, a quiet menace lurking beneath the sterile facade.

Underground? Charles thought, his pulse quickening.

He watched as Luna pressed her hand against a hidden panel, her fingers brushing a concealed scanner. The door clicked open, a soft hiss escaping as it revealed a passage leading below the hospital, a steep stairwell descending into darkness, its walls lined with flickering fluorescent lights.

Without hesitation, Charles spotted a ventilation shaft nearby, its grate loose and rusted. Despite his weakened state, he gritted his teeth, hauling himself up with trembling arms.

He forced himself to climb inside, the metal groaning under his weight, crawling through the narrow tunnel, his elbows scraping against the sharp edges, the air stale and metallic in his lungs.

Through a small gap, he peered into a brightly lit laboratory, its stark white walls a jarring contrast to the dungeon's gloom.

Machines hummed, their screens casting a cold glow over the room. Dr. Roy, a renowned researcher with graying hair and sharp, calculating eyes, stood before several screens displaying Beno's X-ray scans, blood analysis, and brain patterns, the data scrolling in endless streams of numbers and graphs.

What the hell... is this? Charles' breath caught, his mind racing.

Luna entered, handing over the syringe, her chest heaving slightly. "Here's the sample," she said, catching her breath.

Dr. Roy nodded. "Thank you. This will help. I've been focusing entirely on him these past days."

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Charles felt chills down his spine as he saw Beno's images plastered on every screen, his skeletal structure, his blood cells magnified, his brain waves spiking erratically—a living specimen dissected in digital form.

Luna asked, "Doctor, how is he?"

Roy sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping under an unseen weight. "His condition is worse than I expected. His emotional balance is completely broken."

"His anger and happiness swing unnaturally fast, which makes him extremely unpredictable. The truth is, no medicine is working. His immune system... outright rejects everything."

Luna's eyes widened, a flicker of fear crossing her face. "Then how is he still alive?"

Roy's expression darkened, his voice dropping to a grim whisper. "That's the strange part. When I injected poison into a blood sample to test his immune system,

the cells died as expected... but minutes later, they revived and destroyed the poison completely. His blood regenerates and resists foreign substances. It's not human."

Charles gritted his teeth, his fists clenching against the vent's cold metal. So this is how he survived so many fatal injuries... The realization hit like a punch, tying together the fragments of Beno's impossible resilience.

Luna stepped back, trembling slightly. In her mind's eye, she saw Beno, strapped to a lab table, his body riddled with tubes, surrounded by greedy nobles and corrupt researchers, their eyes glinting with avarice as they prodded him like a specimen. Tears welled in her eyes. "Doctor... I can't let this continue. Stop the research."

Roy turned sharply. "Luna, don't be naive! This is a scientific breakthrough! Do you realize what this could mean?"

"It means," Luna interrupted, her voice cutting through his fervor, "that if anyone outside finds out, they will rip him apart for answers."

Roy remained silent, his jaw tightening, the weight of her words sinking in.

Luna clenched her fists. "Beno isn't just a test subject. He's... he's someone who saved me when everyone called me a witch, when no one stood by me." Her voice cracked, raw with emotion.

"I won't let him suffer because of what makes him different."

Dr. Roy closed his eyes and exhaled, a long, weary breath. "You're right." He reached for a lighter, its flame flickering as he held it to the stack of documents. "For his sake, we'll end it."

He lit the papers on fire, the edges curling black as they turned to ash, the acrid smoke curling upward, a funeral pyre for the truth they'd uncovered.

Confrontation in the Depths

As Luna turned to leave the research facility, her sharp instincts caught a flicker of movement inside the vent above. Her eyes narrowed, her hand snapping to her blade in a fluid, practiced motion.

"Breathing Style: Wind Leaf — Silent Cut."

The ventilation shaft sliced cleanly, the metal parting like paper under an invisible blade, a gust of wind howling through the lab.

The section crashed down, a deafening clang reverberating as Charles tumbled out, landing hard on the cold floor. His knees buckled, pain shooting through his bruised body, but he winced and immediately scrambled to his feet, hands raised in surrender.

"W-Wait! Luna! It's me!" he shouted, his voice hoarse with panic.

"Charles?!" Luna's eyes widened for a brief second, shock flashing across her face, but her grip tightened around her blade.

Wind gathered sharply at the edge, a shimmering crescent of air that hummed with lethal intent, the lab's lights flickering under its pressure.

"Why were you spying on me?" Her voice was ice, each word a blade poised to strike.

Charles stepped back, swallowing his nerves, his heart pounding against his ribs. "I-I just followed you after I saw you take Beno's blood! I didn't mean to sneak around!"

Luna advanced, her boots silent against the floor, her blade halting just an inch from his neck. The cold wind brushed against his skin,

a razor's edge that sent shivers down his spine, goosebumps prickling as he felt the sting of its proximity. Her eyes bored into him, searching for deceit.

Her breathing slowly calmed, the wind dissipating as she muttered under her breath, "...You're lucky," and lowered her sword, the blade retracting with a soft click.

Charles panted heavily, sweat beading on his brow. "Luna... what is going on? Who exactly is Beno Mark? And why—why were you crying over him?"

Luna flinched slightly and turned away, hiding her face behind a curtain of silver hair. "It's none of your business," she said coldly, her tone a wall slamming shut.

Charles' eyes widened, anger surging as his hands balled into fists. "None of my business?!"

His voice trembled, raw and ragged. "I'm the one who risked everything to save him! I was the one who saved him from Dungeon! Why don't you trust me?"

Luna bit her lip, surprised by his outburst, her resolve wavering as his words struck deep.

Charles clenched his fists tighter. "I'm just as curious as you are. I also care about him... more than you think."

Luna gasped softly, her breath catching, unable to respond immediately, her eyes flickering with guilt and recognition.

After a long silence, she finally sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Fine," she said, her voice softening. "I'll tell you everything I know about Beno Mark... from his childhood to the strange things only I witnessed."

Charles was taken aback. "Why would you share something so important with me?"

Luna stared directly into his eyes, unflinching, her gaze piercing. "Because I'll need your help... if we are to cure Beno Mark."

Without waiting for an answer, she turned, her silhouette sharp against the lab's glow. "Follow me."

The Confession

The two quietly made their way to the empty hospital cafeteria, its vastness swallowed by shadows, the lights dim and flickering, casting long, jagged patterns across the tiled floor.

The silence was almost suffocating, broken only by the faint hum of a vending machine in the corner. They sat at one of the corner tables, the plastic chairs creaking under their weight, the surface scratched and stained with years of neglect.

Luna looked down at her hands, fidgeting slightly, her fingers twisting together as if wrestling with the weight of her words. "Beno grew up as a normal child," she began, her voice soft, a whisper against the stillness.

"He was cheerful, energetic... always smiling. We were neighbors in the past and we used to play together every day." Her lips curved faintly, a ghost of a smile lost to memory, the warmth of those days clashing with the cold present.

Charles listened carefully, his breath steady, his eyes locked on her, not daring to interrupt.

"But everything changed when Renzo awakened," Luna continued, her gaze distant, staring through the table into a past she couldn't escape. "Beno's emotions began shifting... unnaturally. He was no longer the Beno I knew."

"When he was sad, it was like he drowned in darkness. When he was angry, he lost control entirely." Her voice tightened, the words heavy with sorrow.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself against the flood of memories.

"At first, I thought it was just the pressure of being weaker than his brother. But then... I started noticing other things.

His parents... they met a suspicious man one night. He wore a black coat, a strange hat, and a mask that hid his face."

Charles leaned in, intrigued, his pulse quickening as the pieces of Beno's enigma began to take shape.

"After that day, Beno became worse. He would smile and cry at the same time. He acted like someone else controlled him. And then... he disappeared."

Luna's voice cracked slightly, a fracture in her composure as tears glistened at the edges of her eyes.

"He came to my house one night, knocking on the window. I asked him why he was there. He said he 'ran away from home.'

But... his red eyes told me a different story. They were filled with terror."

Luna's fingers trembled as she recalled the memory, her hands clutching the edge of the table, knuckles white. "I hid him, gave him a small room, and let him stay for as long as he wanted."

"I was curious, so I asked him again why he ran away. He told me... his parents no longer wanted him."

Her voice lowered, a whisper heavy with dread. "And when I asked who told him that, he said... 'A man in a coat and mask told me. He said, if you run away now, you might survive.'"

Charles froze. "Survive? Survive from what?" His voice was sharp, urgent, the question hanging like a blade between them.

Luna shook her head. "I don't know. And I fear knowing the answer."

She clenched her skirt tightly, the fabric bunching under her grip, her nails digging into her palms. "There's more... but I'm not sure if you're ready to hear it."

Charles exhaled, staring into Luna's conflicted eyes, seeing the storm of pain and resolve warring within her.

Before she could continue—

Luna whispered, almost too softly to hear: "But I will tell you... because you're going to help me save him."

Her voice trembled as tears formed at the corners of her eyes, glistening like shards of glass, her vulnerability laid bare.

[To Be Continued...]

[Bonus: Luna & Beno Special Announcement]

👑 Beno: Hey, you lot! This time it's not your usual author speaking — it's me, Beno, and Luna's here too.

🌸 Luna: Hello~! We're happy to tell you that we finally created a Discord server! If you join, you can even listen to my Cherry Tree Love Song — for free!

👑 Beno: grumbles Anyway, I'm happy you're reading our story, BUT... you're all acting like ghosts. No collections? No comments?

Beno glares fiercely

👑 Beno: Since you're so stubborn, I'll activate the King's System.

⚡ SYSTEM ACTIVATED ⚡

✨ KING'S ABSOLUTE COMMAND:

BOW BEFORE YOUR KING!

PUT THIS STORY IN YOUR COLLECTIONS AND TYPE "YES, MY KING" IN THE COMMENTS!

Or else... I'll erase you from existence. 😤

🌸 Luna: Ahhh! That's too scary! Just be kind and support us, okay~? Thank you for reading! ♥

https://discord.gg/t5gfzfDg