Stella just stared at his arm, even though she knew that Elliot was watching her. Elliot stood up from his chair with some difficulty, even Stella heard Elliot's bones crack with every slightest movement he made. Elliot sat down on the bed that Stella was on, and gently touched Stella's amputated arm, which was full of bandages.
Stella felt pain where Elliot touched, even though she knew that Elliot's gentle touch could not hurt her. She finally looked at Elliot, and only now did Elliot notice something more troubling about Stella than her amputated arm.
Her eyes. Her eyes were empty and dead, just like Elliot's, and Elliot didn't like that. Whenever he woke up and went to wash his face, Elliot would see this expressionless face and these empty eyes, as if he were a corpse that still moved and spoke. Elliot was always proud, and this pride at some point became arrogant, which caused him to almost lose his leg, and later, he was too proud of himself once again, not moving in with his sister-in-law and nephew, thinking that he could protect both of them.
Elliot was also proud of his appearance. He might not be the most handsome man in the world, but he certainly wasn't ugly. But now, looking in the mirror, all he felt was disgust at the sight of his own face. Maybe not disgust at his face and his eyes, but disgust at knowing what had to happen for him to become this. Elliot faithfully believes that a family defends and protects itself.
A family attacks together but also retreats together.
But if he is to carry the rottenness and debauchery of this world, it will be only him, no one in his family should get dirty, only enjoy life and happiness.
Elliot touched Stella's hair. Some parts were burnt, but it was still black and soft to the touch. Elliot's heart ached seeing those empty, confused eyes looking at him.
"It is good to see that you have come back to us, Stella." Elliot said in the calmest voice he could.
"Mhm" Stella just nodded.
"You've been sleeping for three days now, are you hungry? I can ask Jimmy to bring you something." Elliot said.
Stella denied with her head and instead threw herself onto Elliot's chest in a hug. Elliot accepted that rather rough hug without changing his expression, despite the pain he felt. Stella started talking nonsense, but in the midst of so many words, Elliot could feel Stella's pain from her tears and cries of pain.
"How am I supposed to create clothes now?"
"How can I have a normal life without an arm?"
"I am ugly now! No one will look at me!"
"Elli, it hurts, please make this pain go away..."
Amidst the words and tears, Stella also punched with her arms, and whenever her amputated arm hurt, she cried more and scratched Elliot, while screaming and swearing. Elliot just stroked her back and her hair. He knew that he was the reason for Stella's pain and suffering, so nothing could be fairer than to be with her at her worst moment.
After a few minutes, Stella finally fell asleep. Elliot laid Stella carefully down on the bed and stayed beside her so that she at least had a good rest in her dream realm.
Noticing that the movements inside the room were quieter, Bruja stood in front of a white door, the door opened sideways, and Bruja entered the room. She looked silently at Stella for a few moments, and then looked at Elliot. Seeing the state of Elliot's clothes and a few scratch marks here and there, she could only sigh to herself.
"Elli, I got some information about the people who attacked us that day. I still don't know who exactly it was, but we will find that out in the next few days." Bruja said in a professional tone.
Elliot didn't turn around to talk to her, he just kept stroking Stella's hair. Bruja or Stella could not see, but Elliot's eyes burned with boundless madness at that moment. If he had the power, he would surely burn the whole world if it meant getting revenge.
[Ding!]
[High levels of brain activity detected. I recommend the host calm down!]
[Ding!]
[Host has exceeded the healthy limit of brain activity, high levels of adrenaline and cortisol.]
[Ding!]
[Mental Corruption skill has gone up a level!]
None of these warnings flashing in Elliot's eyes were enough to diminish his anger at this moment.
How dare they do this to his sister?
If they wanted to attack, attack when he was alone.
They hurt her. They made Elliot rip her arm off. Stella had only cried for the past three days. The pain she felt because of the phantom limb is even hard to imagine. Elliot knew well what it is like, all the bones in the lower part of his leg had to be changed by steel and carbon bones. He knew what it was like to wake up in the middle of the night, in unbearable pain, being wet with sweat and tears.
They made Elliot rip Stella's arm off, and she would feel the same pain and agony as Elliot for the rest of her life, or something worse.
As Elliot sank into his thoughts, Bruja's voice brought him back to reality.
"What should we do Elli? Are the plans still the same?" Bruja asked hesitantly.
Elliot finally looked at her, and she shivered unconsciously. It was like standing in front of a predator in the wild. No matter what move you take, how you defend yourself, how you react, it's all useless in front of the one at the apex, at the top of the food chain. Elliot's anger was not directed at Bruja and she knew it, but even that didn't make her any calmer. Elliot's eyes seemed lighter, more faded, but somehow, they seemed more macabre and demonic.
"I want you to find out who did this. The gunsmith who was supposed to make my gun, hurry him up. I can't wait another week to get my gun. We're out of money, so have Gustav and Margot break into some luxury condos in neighboring towns and get some money." Elliot said.
Just as Bruja was about to nod and leave, Elliot stood up almost in a leap. Elliot had looked gigantic before, but now he was like a mountain in Bruja's vision. The pressure she felt at this moment was unparalleled, similar to the pressure she felt at the meeting she went to with Mk and Elliot last week.
"Find specifically who blew Mk's head off, that person will not die a painless death. The auction will continue as planned, but it won't be so peaceful anymore. I made it clear to everyone, that attacking me meant death, and they still attacked me. I must teach them a lesson, so that the world, in the near future, will know what it means to stand in Elliot Amom's way!"
Noticing that Stella was restless in her sleep, Elliot sat up again and stroked her forehead.
"That's all." Elliot said in a low voice.
Only now Bruja awakened from her daze, she nodded and left. She doesn't know who attacked them, but she feels sorry for what will happen to them when Elliot finds them.
**************
At a private headquarters, cars and motorcycles were being parked in a separate shed, all of them state-of-the-art, with a compact flight system that did not weigh down the cars at all. From the cars and motorcycles, men and women in black military clothing emerged, all with balaclavas and helmets, guns, and vests.
Their steps were firm and free of any hesitation, their organization impeccable, showing how well-trained they were. After putting away all the equipment and weapons, they moved silently toward the meeting room. There, there was already a small extra team, and a stunning woman standing in front of a map of the entire H-City.
The woman had silver hair, pale skin, and blue eyes. Her curves were very well distributed in her 5.7 feet (1.74 m) height. Her breasts were plentiful, seeming to want to tear through the simple blue blouse she wore. With a slim waist and firm buttocks, it was quite a sight how a pair of jeans could contain such a marvel. Her legs were long and slender, and in conjunction with the high-heeled shoe, her legs were perfectly shaped. She had mature features on her face, her small eyes, and plump lips, with a small nose harmoniously forming the features of a beautiful mature woman.
The woman waited for them all to sit down, her expression was not good and she was clearly annoyed. She looked into the eyes of everyone present and made a disgusted expression upon seeing them.
"I used to pride myself on being in command of a unit of survivors of the terrible battle for the Red Sea Strait. I used to tell all my comrades that this unit was a unit of warriors. But today, to kill some petty criminals, you needed to destroy the entire restaurant, and you managed to confirm only one death? Pathetic!" She said with seriousness in her voice.
Although they were irritated by the woman's words, they knew that they had made a mistake in their operation, so they just listened in silence and saw their fists. They were also proud of their achievements in the last war, and their shameful performance would be hidden just because this was a mission that no one should be privy to.
"Bust, do you have information on where the targets went?" She asked.
One of the men who were already in the room when the other teams arrived stood up and gave a military salute. He picked up from the table in front of him a glass tablet of some sort. The tablet lit up and various information was seen.
"We have no clear information about where the targets are, but our informants have told us that someone is looking for a lot of information about us, not just one person, but several. I suggest we let the dust settle, and only then move again." The man concluded.
"We can't, they will auction the map, and the major needs that map for his plans. Any other suggestions?" The woman asked.
"We can try to track down the people who are trying to get information about us. With that, we will find our targets." One of the women in the meeting hall said after standing up with a military salute.
"Do that. Any further suggestions?" The woman asked.
Seeing that there was nothing more to be said, the woman dismissed everyone, and when she was alone, she sighed. Now she would have to tell her boss everything, a not pleasant thing to do.
************
Stella woke up once again, but this time she felt lighter. She still felt pain and was still in anguish, but it seemed that a great weight had been lifted from her chest. Her eyes were still heavy with sleep. She saw Elliot, sitting next to her on the bed. Elliot was still stroking her hair, and although there was no expression on his face, Stella knew that he was trying to be affectionate with her.
Stella moved her hand to Elliot's hand. She noticed how it was full of calluses and how thick his palm was. She moved Elliot's hand to another region of her head, and Elliot understanding began stroking that part.
"Do you feel better?" Elliot asked.
Stella closed her eyes as she received Elliot's caress, and just nodded.
"Are you hungry?" Elliot asked again.
Stella just nodded once more, and before long, Jimmy entered the room with a plate of food. Stella had a lot to ask and talk about, but she wouldn't be able to do anything on an empty stomach. While Stella was being fed by Elliot, who was happy to pamper his little sister, he said in a soft voice:
"As soon as you leave here, we will get the best prosthesis for you. It will be the most modern and the most beautiful, no one will have one like it, even if the creator of the prosthesis has to disappear from the world to do it."
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