7:45 AM
With every step Almond took, blood burst out from the cuts on his bare feet.
And with every step, curses echoed around him.
"Die!"
"Monster!"
"Filthy criminal!"
But all those voices… felt distant.
Almond only tightened his grip around Cashew.
So tight—as if loosening it even for a second would make her disappear.
7:47 AM
Ahead of him, an old man stood in the way.
Old man Gouda.
Behind him, his young grandchild trembled in fear.
In his hand—a sickle.
As Almond rushed forward, the old man swung it down.
That strike… was aimed straight at Cashew.
Almond immediately bent down, tilting his whole body forward, taking the blow with his shoulder.
Slash.
The blade sank deep into his flesh.
Blood splattered.
A piece of his sweater was torn apart.
His body staggered, nearly collapsing.
7:48 AM
He didn't stop.
His legs trembled, almost numb, but he forced himself up.
"No matter what happens… you have to endure."
Cashew's voice echoed in his mind.
Almond gritted his teeth.
"Endure…"
He pushed forward, holding her tightly in his arms.
"What… would happen if they saw us together?"
"I don't know… but I want to try."
Almond let out a shaky breath.
The question he once asked her on that hill… now had its answer.
"…I understand now…"
7:49 AM
A line of villagers stood ahead.
Iron hoes. Wooden clubs.
All raised, waiting for him.
But Almond didn't stop.
"As long as you're safe…"
He tightened his arms around her.
"I'll do… anything."
He charged straight into them.
A hoe came crashing down on his head.
A blow struck his face.
His vision spun—
Almond fell face-first onto the ground.
But the moment he fell, he twisted his body.
His head slammed hard into the ground—
so that Cashew's body wouldn't touch it.
7:50 AM
Almond pushed against the ground, trying to stand.
But it was too late.
The villagers rushed him.
A hand gripped his face.
Another forced him down.
Then more. And more.
His entire body was pinned.
Rough hands tore Cashew away from his arms.
The pink sweater—
the most precious gift she had ever given him—
was ripped apart.
His bloodied hands couldn't hold onto her.
His exhausted body was crushed beneath the crowd.
Pain flooded through him—
not just physical, but something far worse.
Cashew was being dragged farther… and farther away.
7:51 AM
She slipped away, little by little.
Almond could only watch.
His hand reached out—but couldn't touch her.
"Thank you… for everything."
Her face.
Her smile by the riverside.
"No…"
His voice broke.
Pinned to the ground—
"I won't…"
He clenched his teeth, forcing his body up with everything he had left.
"I won't lose her… again!"
Almond roared.
His body surged with desperation.
He threw off the people holding him down.
His fingers clawed into the dirt, nails tearing, blood mixing with mud.
"I have to… take her… to the hospital!"
He staggered to his feet.
And rushed forward again—
snatching Cashew back into his arms.
7:53 AM
Up ahead—
Mayor Heguel was treating villagers when a woman rushed in, breathless.
"Mayor… Cashew… Cashew has—"
Heguel immediately stood up.
"What happened? Speak clearly!"
The woman gasped, panicking.
"That girl… was killed by the traitor!"
A bottle slipped from his hand.
It shattered.
Heguel froze.
"What… what did you say…?"
He couldn't believe her words.
"That man is being beaten by the villagers outside—they're trying to take Cashew back!"
An old man nearby spoke up.
"Mayor, you should go out there and see for yourself."
Heguel's voice trembled.
"…I'm sorry, Sophie…"
He turned and rushed out, pushing the door open.
7:54 AM
"It's the traitor!"
A shout rang out.
From afar, Almond appeared—his body drenched in blood.
Staggering… but still moving forward.
"…God…"
Heguel froze at the sight.
Cashew lay in Almond's arms—covered in wounds, unconscious.
He trembled, stepping down the stairs, then ran straight toward them.
In the distance, Almond was being pulled back.
The villagers grabbed onto him.
He lost his balance and fell again.
But immediately, he twisted—
landing on his back so that he would hit the ground instead of her.
Her bruised hand lightly touched the dirt.
"Maybe… they're not afraid of you anymore."
Her voice echoed faintly.
But the face before Almond now was nothing but bruises and wounds.
7:55 AM
The crowd surged again.
They locked Almond's arms—
and tore Cashew away from him once more.
But this time…
he had no strength left.
He could only watch helplessly.
"Please…"
His hand reached out, trembling.
"Don't… take her away…"
At once, his arm was slammed into the ground.
Tears streamed down his face.
But no one looked.
No one stopped.
They pressed him down even harder.
Fingers pointed at him.
Cruel words filled the air.
No one cared about how he felt.
7:56 AM
"Please… save her…"
Almond struggled weakly, begging, his red eyes looking up at the crowd.
No answer.
They held him down, unmoving.
"Please… let her live…"
His voice shattered.
"Just kill me… Kill me instead…"
Tears fell onto the ground.
But no one cared.
In the distance, Cashew was carried away—
while Almond remained pinned to the earth.