Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 23: Burning Christmas Eve (4)

Dragon Raja 3

Renata’s voice gave out, and she leaned against the door she could never open, watching these fools revel on the brink of death. She was an outsider among them. Even in normal times, she was different from them. What had trapped her in Black Swan Bay all these years wasn’t iron doors or locks but these strangers. It had always been like this—she lived in a prison made of concrete, steel, and strange people, holding tightly to her worn-down teddy bear.

She was so scared that she wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn’t come.

“Renata, why aren’t you dancing?” someone asked softly from behind.

She turned around in fear, seeing Anton leaning against the door frame, his face flushed. Anton lived in Room 14, a year older than Renata. He was thin and pale, with scattered freckles on his narrow face and a faint yellowish fuzz on his upper lip. Anton’s hazel eyes stared directly at Renata as he licked his dry lips, smelling of alcohol.

“Aren’t you hot?” Anton asked in a strange tone.

Renata backed away, retreating into the corner and shaking her head.

“You’re sweating,” Anton approached step by step.

“I… I’m not hot…” Renata said hoarsely, her voice not sounding like her own.

“If you’re hot, then dance. Let’s dance.” Anton placed his hands on Renata’s shoulders, pulling down her shawl. Her delicate, translucent shoulders were exposed, leaving only the light dress with the white chiffon hem.

Renata cried out in shock as Anton wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her over his head, carrying her into the dance floor. Someone cheered and pulled off Renata’s hat, letting her pale golden hair cascade down like a sheet of golden silk. The dancing men and women cheered for Anton’s “courage,” chanting, “Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!”

Anton put Renata down on the ground, dancing around her. He swung his arms and legs wildly as if possessed, his eyes never leaving Renata’s body. She felt his gaze strip her bare. People surrounded them, layer upon layer. Anton brazenly touched Renata’s exposed skin. Khorkina and Yakov were nearby, kissing and cheering. Renata suddenly understood their intentions. She saw their eyes, burning with desire—beasts. Tonight was a carnival, a ruleless carnival. Tonight they could do whatever they wanted, and no one would reprimand them. It was the night of their dreams come true, but they needed a sacrifice. Like in ancient, ignorant times, when people offered a virgin as a sacrifice to the gods on a good day, dancing and singing around her.

Renata was their chosen sacrifice because she was different from everyone else here.

Renata reached under her skirt and pulled out the small scraper she had hidden in the hem—a tool she had stolen from an old toolbox in the warehouse. She felt she needed a weapon to protect herself, but now she was ready to use it to stab her own heart. She desperately wanted to go home, but she didn’t mind dying either.

She always had a dream that one day she would grow up, become beautiful, and someone would politely invite her to dance, kissing her hand under the moonlight. She would fall in love with that person, and that person would love her. For him, she would do anything. She didn’t want to be devoured by Anton like a lamb, so it would be better to die.

The head nurse rushed in from the side, slapping the scraper out of her hand and shouting drunkenly, “The paper doll is disobedient again!”

“Should we punish her?” she pushed Renata to the carpet.

“Let’s see if Renata has grown into a girl yet!” Yakov shouted, pulling Khorkina in for a deep kiss.

“Approved!” the head nurse shouted.

The music turned into a lively waltz, and everyone excitedly surged towards Renata. Their hands wantonly touched her body. Someone pulled down her straps, someone yanked her hair, and someone pinched her arms mercilessly. Her body became more and more exposed, as pale as snow or salt. Someone poured alcohol on her and tried to ignite it with a lighter, but the head nurse slapped the lighter away and pressed that man onto the carpet. Renata stared blankly at the chandelier on the ceiling, her mind slowly going blank. Her body no longer felt like her own, and all the humiliation seemed like a play on stage. She didn’t feel particularly sad, but tears silently rolled down her cheeks. Anton crawled over like a dog, leaning in to kiss her lips. He hesitated, feeling like the act had lost its thrill because Renata’s lips were cold and pale—like a dead person’s lips.

“Click, click, click.” The mechanical locks released one by one. The creak of the door opening wasn’t very loud, but it instantly drowned out the noise in the golden hall. Everyone froze, instinctively turning towards the door. The unfamiliar boy stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the mahogany door. Renata had never seen Zero look so dazzling. He wore a beautiful bearskin hat, an elegant navy blue wool coat, and a silver angel brooch on his collar—he looked like a noble young hunter who had mistakenly wandered into a dance hall. Zero turned and closed the door behind him, walking towards the center of the dance floor. Wherever he went, people naturally made way.

Zero stepped between Renata and Anton, pulling Renata to her feet, calmly fixing her dress. He put her strap back in place, buttoned her buttons, tidied her hair with his hands, and used a handkerchief to wipe the liquor from her skin. Finally, he looked her over, showing disdain, “This flat body drives you all crazy?”

He turned to face Anton, a cold smirk on his face, “Hey! Why are you touching my girl?”

Anton looked like a frightened puppy, his eyes darting around.

“Why did you touch my girl?” Zero suddenly slapped Anton hard across the face, the force causing Anton to spin around.

Anton gritted his teeth, fury flashing in his eyes.

“Why did you touch my girl?” Another slap, this time in the opposite direction, spinning Anton again.

“Why?” A third slap.

Anton had no time to react before the fourth slap followed: “I’m asking you.”

Throughout it all, Zero’s roguish expression never changed—he didn’t seem enraged, nor was he particularly stern. He acted as though everything he did was perfectly natural. His girl had been offended by another boy, and now it was only right to teach that clueless guy a lesson.

“I told you to be home by ten, didn’t I? Don’t stay out too late.” Zero held Renata’s hand, leading her out of the crowd.

A sound of rushing wind came from behind them, and before Renata could react, Zero pushed her to the side. Anton charged toward Zero like a raging bull, his eyes bloodshot, his skin flushed a deep red. At that moment, Anton had the strength to overturn a calf—he could not bear to see the girl he fancied being taken away. Zero took a deep breath and suddenly sprang into action, charging toward Anton. He stepped forward, turned, and swung his fist—a powerful uppercut struck Anton’s abdomen, causing Anton to double over in pain, his chest instinctively thrust forward. Zero followed through, landing a heavy punch on Anton’s chest, followed by a strike to his jaw. Anton spat out a few bloodied teeth, his entire body lifted off the ground! But it wasn’t over yet—Zero spun around, elbowing Anton in the face, and then, with a 360-degree spin, he jumped to pursue Anton mid-air. The new round of uppercuts ended with a final spin, a move that no boxing champion could imagine performing.

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