The masked assassin let out an exasperated sigh as he gazed down at Jenkins' fallen form. He turned to see Eon watching fearfully from the broken window above.
"Man, your butler put up one hell of a fight," he called out, running a hand through his long hair. "I'm beat. Think your old man's got some snacks laying around?"
Eon just stared in confused terror, not sure how to respond to this strange killer making casual conversation.
The assassin tilted his head, mask facing Eon. "What, never seen a dude in a mask before? Don't be rude, kid, I asked you a question!"
Eon stammered, still processing the surreal situation. "I, uh, don't know if we have any snacks. But please, just leave us in peace!"
The masked man ignored him, gazing around inquisitively. "Nice place you got. Bet there's all sorts of tasty treats hiding around..."
Alicia spoke up angrily from the medical bay window. "Enough of your games, assassin! You'll get nothing more from us."
He tilted his head at her. "Man, you're all so uptight. Can't a guy take a break after a long day of killing?" When no one replied, he sighed dramatically. "Fine, have it your way. But I'm telling you, I'm starving over here."
Without warning, the assassin leapt impossibly high.
in a blur of motion, the masked assassin crashed through the window of the medical bay, shattering glass everywhere. Before anyone could react, his katana sliced through the air and cleaved Alicia's head from her shoulders in a spray of blood.
Her body slumped to the floor as the assassin landed lightly amidst the debris, blood dripping from his blade. Samuel and Eon stared in horror at the gruesome scene that had unfolded in an instant.
The assassin let out an exhausted sigh. "Man, what a drag. Boss is really cracking the whip on this one." He flicked droplets of blood from his katana nonchalantly. "Never-ending assassinations, and now I gotta deal with superhumans too? Gimme a break."
Eon stared in horror at the masked man standing amidst shattered glass, feeling paralyzed by terror. His mind raced as fast as his pounding heart, struggling to comprehend what had just happened. One moment Alicia was speaking to them, the next she was...gone.
All he could see was the pooling crimson staining the pristine white medical bay. The acrid scent of spilled blood invaded his nostrils, turning his stomach. But more chilling than any of his senses was the cold realization of how fragile life could be. In the blink of an eye, with casual ease, this man had ended it.
The assassin tilted his head, regarding Eon with an empty stare behind that featureless mask. Eon wanted to look away, to shut out the gruesome scene, but found himself frozen in place. A million thoughts screamed inside his mind, each more panic-stricken than the last. Who was this creature that could kill without remorse? What did he want from them? Were they next?
As the assassin spoke again in that nonchalant tone, Eon struggled to process any words over the roar of adrenaline and sheer terror pounding through him. He felt like a helpless puppet at the whims of this unpredictable killer. All he knew was that it took only a flick of this man's wrist to snuff out life, and they were utterly powerless to stop him. In that moment, Eon understood true, primal fear.
The masked assassin sighed again as he gazed down dispassionately at Alicia's lifeless corpse.
Without a word, he turned and strode towards the shattered window, and leaves without a word.
Eon's entire body was trembling as he stared in horror at Alicia's decapitated head rolling across the floor, leaving a gruesome trail of blood in its wake. His mind was reeling, unable to process what had just transpired in the few terrifying moments since the assassin crashed through the window.
As the killer retreated without a word, Eon felt his legs begin to shake uncontrollably. The last thing he saw was the mask stained crimson before his vision spun and faded to black. His knees buckled and he collapsed to the ground in a dead faint.
Meanwhile, Samuel maintained a calm, stoic composure amidst the carnage, as if completely unaffected by the violent scene. He watched impassively as the assassin took his leave, not a single indication of shock or dismay registering on his stern features. Once the threat was gone, Samuel turned his attention to Eon's prone form, kneeling down to check on his grandson without any outward sign of distress.
To an outside observer, it would seem Samuel was made of ice, appearing entirely detached from the gruesome murder that had just transpired. Not a muscle twitched in his face, nor did his steady breathing accelerate at all. One would never guess he had borne witness to such a macabre display of killing.
"who would have thought that I'd hear about patient zero again after 20 years" Samuel thought to himself
Samuel, carefully picked up Eon and left the medical bay.
Samuel cradled Eon's unconscious form gently as he strode through the ruins of the estate. Making his way outside, he gazed coolly over the battlefield Jenkins and the assassin had left in their wake.
Without a word, Samuel continued on. He walked with purposeful steps towards the expansive gardens beyond, appearing completely at ease despite carrying a limp body. There he came upon a sleek hovercraft awaiting him, servants having anticipated his next move.
He lay Eon down within tenderly before taking the controls himself. The craft hummed to life, rising smoothly into the air. Samuel steered it away from the smoldering ruins, setting a course for another location untouched by the day's violence.
As the estate receded into the distance, Samuel finally spoke, though his words were meant for none but himself. "Patient Zero...so that demon still survives after all these years. I had thought our sins were buried long ago."
His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, the only crack in his stoic mask. Memories of past horrors bubbled to the surface, ones he had spent decades repressing. But there was no time for reflection now. Others depended on him keeping composure.
To be continued…