The warehouse lights flickered, casting eerie shadows on the stacks of crates lining the walls. Beads of sweat formed on the faces of Hajun and his lackey as fear crept through the cracks of their faltering confidence—they hesitated.
"Go stop that car, if we let them leave, they might call the police," Hajun instructed his remaining lackey. Unlike before, he didn't immediately follow Hajun's command.
With a surge of adrenaline and determination, he ran towards Calyx, arms swinging wide, intending to slam the metal pole he held into him.
Yet with a low-effort sidestep, Calyx evaded the swinging pole. His hands shot up to the lackey's neck, gripping tightly as he lifted him effortlessly off the ground. The man flailed his legs as he struggled for breath.
"It seems you are more brain-dead than I initially thought. If we had planned to inform the authorities, they'd have been waiting here before you all arrived. So rest assured, I'll be the one ending your worthless lives," Calyx said as he squeezed tighter on the man's neck.
"Isn't he just supposed to be a normal kid? He's even more ruthless than us. And that punch earlier—what the hell was that?" Hajun thought to himself, his sweating intensifying.
Halaine and Haze had boarded the car, and the man who had been with them started driving them away from the warehouse. Hajun watched as the car left, not daring to intervene.
"What is this? I'm sure you all came here with clear motives, so why so silent now?" Calyx said, releasing the man he held by the neck and letting him drop to the ground, moments before he went unconscious.
The man's chest heaved heavily as he took repeated gasps, trying to catch his breath. He was so occupied with breathing that he didn't notice when Calyx grabbed his arm.
With a swift movement, Calyx broke the man's arm, the sickening snap that followed was greatly overshadowed by the guttural scream of pain the man let out. Then, suddenly, his screams became muffled as the wind circulated the man's face, stifling the sound.
"No, don't scream now. The night just begun, and we are only getting started," Calyx's words carried a terrifying malice, sending shivers down their spines—even the man he had sent flying was now regaining consciousness.
"We are doomed. This kid is a psychopath... a strong one at that," the man regaining consciousness thought to himself as he watched the scene unfold.
"And you," Calyx said, shifting his gaze to the girl who had accompanied them.
*****
A car pulled into the warehouse, the same car that had carried Halaine and Haze away a while ago. It had been a couple of hours since they first left. The car only carrying Haze now parked, and Haze emerged from the back seat, having used the self-driving feature.
As he walked towards the warehouse, a deadly silence enveloped it. However, not too long ago, this was not the case—screams of pain and agony had filled the warehouse, screams that were promptly muffled by Calyx's abilities.
Haze walked into the warehouse to quite the scene. The men all lay motionless on the floor, their forms bloodied and battered. Calyx stood amidst them, his hands and clothes also stained with blood—none of it his.
"Are they alive?" Haze asked as he walked over to Calyx, handing him a rag to clean his bloodied hands.
"I'm not sure," Calyx replied with a detached tone, looking remorselessly at what he'd done.
"Good," Haze replied as he turned to the Starborn girl, who did not look as bad as the men, although she was still in bad condition as she sat on the floor, leaning against one of the crates.
"How about her? Did you get any information about the cult?" Haze asked as he scrutinized the girl.
"She wouldn't talk. She can really take a beating," Calyx explained as he wiped blood from his face with the rag.
"Well, that's to be expected from a cult member," Haze remarked.
"Although, I was able to get these ones to talk," Calyx said, shifting his gaze to the bodies on the floor.
"Oh?" Haze said, intrigued.
"Yeah, they don't know much about the cult, though. Seems they're only aware of the business they have with them," Calyx explained.
"What business?" Haze asked.
"Their gang is to deliver some prominent individuals to them, possibly for a sacrifice," Calyx revealed.
"It's too late now; you can't save them. They have already been delivered," the girl mumbled from the floor.
"Save them? What nonsense are you saying?" Haze questioned.
"She must think we are heroes?" Calyx chuckled.
"Did you see capes on our backs? We are not saving anyone, although we might tell the police about your plans," Haze said with a shrug.
"You think this is over? The Starborns and the Xeno Cartel will definitely come after you," the girl warned.
"Good, I wouldn't have it any other way, although for the next ones, I can't promise their survival," Calyx declared before turning to leave.
"You think all your friends and family are safe?" the girl said, causing Calyx to stop in his tracks.
"I really wasn't going to kill you, but you just had to say that, didn't you?" Calyx said, turning around, murderous intent flaring from him again.
Then, just as he was about to take his first step towards her, the sounds of cars entering the warehouse broke the night's silence, and lights pointed at Calyx and Haze.
"This is Zenith P.D. Put your hands in the air and make no sudden movements," the words of the authorities echoed through the warehouse.
"Could this night get any worse?" Haze mumbled under his breath.