Tempting Fate

132 Chapter 132: The Sacrificed

Jasmin and Avery have nowhere else to go. Those men already cornered them. Jasmin thinks they are from the other barangay on the other side of the bridge. Emy took a stone and threw stones at the boys.

“Don’t come any closer,” Amy said.

The men laughed. Emy threw stones again, and Jasmin joined in. The men retreated.

“We will ensure that the next stone we throw hits you. Leave now.” Emy said.

“Nobody’s leaving!”

They all turned to the water and saw a creature slowly rising from the water. The men were stunned as they looked at the beast. Devin, Avery, and Reed stopped running. Reed and Devin immediately teleported and approached Emy.

The men were even more frightened by what they saw. The creature’s soldiers climbed the rock. The men retreated. The leader of the creatures looked at Avery.

“Now, man, I will take those three men in exchange for the lives of the humans here.”

“What? What is it saying?” Jasmin asked.

.....

“They raped and killed that creature’s son. That’s why he’s taking his life to see those three men again.” Devin said.

“If you don’t give them those three men, he will take twice as much life,” Reed said.

“Humans have to make up their minds.”

“Wait, that’s not for Avery or me to decide,” Jasmin said.

“Listen, Jasmin, I know what you’re doing is against people’s laws, but it’s the safety of the living compared to 3 people.”

“Can’t you just kill it?” Jasmin asked.

“That creature has nothing to do with us, demon. You, humans, owe him.”

“Are you having a hard time making up your mind? Didn’t you see what they did? They chased you all the way here to carry out their evil plan against you, and then you will have mercy on them?”

Jasmin looked at Avery. “I can’t sacrifice people.”

“Don’t give us to them...” said the men.

“Give us a reason why you can’t be the sacrifice of the people of the barangay, huh?” Avery asked. “Do you think we don’t know what you did to that creature’s daughter? After you raped and saw her true form, you killed and left her by the river? Then you’re going to beg now? For what reason? You still have a plan to take advantage of my two friends.”

“That’s not true. That’s not true...”

“Jasmin, you are the tag here in this place. You make the decision.”

Jasmin shook her head. “Why me?”

“You have to decide, Jasmin,” Reed said. “Think of what else they could do.”

“If you want to give them second chances, what about the people that that creature took because of them.”

Jasmin just cried. She didn’t know what to do. If Jasmin had allowed the creature to take the three men, it is as if Jasmin would have killed them. If she doesn’t do it, the barangay might be gone because the creature took its life in exchange for three men.

While everyone was busy, the men gradually picked up stones and quickly threw them at the creatures. While doing that, they slowly escaped, but other creatures emerged from the water.

The men quickly ran but were immediately chased by the creatures. The water coiled in the shape of a rope around their bodies, and they rose to the rock. Little by little, the water rope brought them to the water’s surface.

“Peace be with you...” said the creature, then quickly sank into the water with the other creatures and the three men.

Emy and Avery breathed a sigh of relief while Jasmin continued to cry. Avery approached her friend.

“You are not at fault for what happened, Jasmin. They are the ones at fault, so it happened to them. If the woman they raped and killed were a human being, their fate would still be punishment.” Avery explained.

Jasmin didn’t speak, and she wiped her tears. Jasmin stood up and started walking away from them. Reed raised his hand and removed the barrier he had created.

Emy looked at Reed. “How did they get through the barrier you made?”

Reed turned to Emy. He held her hand. “That means they were here in the river before we arrived. They can’t enter the barrier I made.”

They started walking. Avery took a deep breath, cast a spell, and the katana she was holding disappeared. Her clothes were wet, as were Reed and Devin.

“Is Jasmin mad at us?” Avery asked.

“Let her be..” Devin said. “Sooner or later, she will also realize what happened and know that she was right.”

——

Jasmin was a little surprised to see people busy preparing for a big celebration. She stopped in front of the barangay hall while everyone was busy. She watched them, the noisy but happy bonding of people. The people who are mourning because of the capture of those creatures are rejoicing in their villages. One of the creature’s victims approached.

“What happened, Jasmin? Did my son get justice?”

Jasmin looked at the woman as she held her hand. Jasmin was about to answer when the other couple approached her and asked her the same question as before.

Meanwhile, Avery and the group stopped walking to see how Jasmin was gathering people. Avery turned to Reed and Devin.

“Jeez, relax, Avery. They’re the family of the young people taken by the water demon. They’re not going to do anything to Jasmin.” Devin said, laughing.

Later the people saw them and immediately came to them. They thanked them.

“We didn’t do anything. Jasmin made the bigger sacrifice to eliminate the river’s curse.” Avery said. “For now, the river is safe again. You have nothing to fear. All you need to do is respect all living things in the river, including plants, water, and those who live underneath it. Keep the cleanliness and harmony of the river. If you take good care of nature, it will return good to you.”

“I like what you said, award-winning,” Devin laughed.

Avery shook her head, and the people agreed with what Avery said.

“You’re wet. You better get dressed and rest.” said a man with a big belly and a little bit of smallness.

“He is our captain here in the barangay.” Jasmin’s father said.

“Ah..” they said.

They were immediately admitted inside the barangay hall and allowed to change their clothes and rest.

——-

“Are you alright?”

Jasmin is sitting on the sofa in the waiting area of ??the barangay hall. Emy stood beside her. She held her hand.

“Yes, I’m fine, Miss Emy,” Jasmin said. “I was guilty of what happened. But when I saw the relief in the eyes of the parents of the children taken by the creature, I understood what Sir Devin, Sir Reed, and Avery meant.”

Emy smiled slightly. “That’s how life is, Jasmin. We have to sacrifice a little for the upliftment of the majority. We don’t want to, but we have to do that. Now your place is peaceful, and there’s nothing to fear not because of Avery, Reed, or Devin but because of your brave decision.”

“Right. What you did was brave,” said Avery, who sat next to Jasmin.

“Haist, girls, what will I do when you are not with me?” Jasmin said.

Avery and Emy hugged Jasmin. Reed and Devin, who had just left the room, looked at each other. They changed clothes. The three girls turned to see what Devin and Reed were wearing. Their clothes are simple, but they look like a model.

“Jeez, why is that? Where is the justice for other men?” Avery asked with a laugh. “Sir, you are still handsome.”

“Well, I hate these clothes, but since you said we’re handsome, I’ll believe these strange clothes suit us,” Devin said.

“Those are what people wear here. Anyway, you can change your clothes later. Mom has washed your clothes, and they will be dry later.” Jasmin said.

“Really? How?” Emy asked in surprise.

“Dye and iron,” Jasmin said.

“Oh, okay,” Amy said, smiling.

The barangay captain entered the room where they were. It comes with sweets and drinks. The man carefully placed the tray on the table.

“Eat now. Our food is still in the kitchen and still cooking, but our women are good at making sweets, so please taste it first.”

“Thank you, captain,” Jasmin said.

The man went out again and left them in the room. Jasmin looked at Reed.

“Sir, you’re not going to deduct the money you gave my father from my salary, are you?” Jasmin asked.

“No, but do you want to?”

“No. Sir Reed, you gave that to them willingly.” Jasmin said.

“Why is the money you gave so big? Will they spend it?” Emy asked.

“I don’t care what they want to do with that money. I just gave your barangay the money.”

Emy was silent. Reed held Emy’s hand.

“Both the firm and the money in the bank are named after you,” Reed said.

“What?” Emy asked in shock. “Why me?”

Reed smirked. “I am your husband. Of course, I will name my property after you.”

“But...”

“When we get home, I want you to join the realm,” Reed said.

“Realm?” Amy asked.

.....

“You’ve been there, but I want us to be together again in my realm,” Reed said.

Emy just looked at Reed. Meanwhile, Devin was looking at the two of them in the distance.