Chapter 30
The things Ethan saw were making his head hurt and his heart skip a beat. The horrors of humanity flooded his soul and were eating him alive. Vomiting, nausea, and losing muscle strength were the only things his body could react to. Ethan has a strong mind and will; he even took pride in this and assured himself that he could overcome any problems, but witnessing this kind of evil was too much for him to comprehend.
They were the worst acts of any human being , the evil he saw beyond normal , as they were demons, no regret, no empathy. The darkness he witnessed consumed him, leaving him questioning the very nature of humanity. The images of such depravity haunted his thoughts, threatening to shatter his belief in the goodness of people.
As he walked and tried his best to make a step, Ethan's right hand was holding the strap of the FN P90 as it dangled around his back, while on his left he was holding the pipe. As he leaned on the wall and dragged his feet, he forgot that this place wasn't safe, and every minute he wasted his time and succumbed to the dark undertone of his surroundings. The weight of the weapons in his hands reminded him of the danger lurking around every corner, causing his heart to race with fear.
His courage and faith in humanity crumbled as everything that he once believed in seemed to fade away in the shadows of the abandoned factory building. The eerie, chaotic sounds of discord and suffering were now permanently lingering in his ear, and a sense of impending danger made him question if he would ever make it out alive. As tears flowed down his cold cheeks, he finally came near the last door frame. The curtain wasn't moving, and no sounds were heard inside. Ethan's vision was like he was in panic mode. He thought to himself, Was he feeling that moment? Was it the same feeling when his father was working for the government?
As Ethan recalled, his father's eyes looked empty and void of any emotion, and he was like empty inside. The only thing that made him put a hint of a grin on her lips was his love for his wife. His father was a silent and strong willed man; he spoke hard, so the moment he spoke, Ethan would embrace and remember every word that came out of his father's mouth and caress it into his soul.
Ethan swallowed his emotions and focused on one thing, which was to look for Katarine and
This was the last room at the that did not have a closed door. door, the room looked like it was renovated for the soul purpose of being a pleasure den for the organization's guests. guest, as the wall surrounding the place seems new, Ethan assumes that each room is bigger and holds no secret, but he is running out of time. And the things he saw inside were not pleasant and prompted him to investigate further.
The factory was huge, and seeing just four average-sized rooms was strange and out of place. As he entered the final room his fear finally washed away as he saw Katarine lying on an old, broken-down sofa. sofa, she was still unaware, but this was much better because she wasn't aware of her surroundings; carrying her out was more in his favor. Ethan untied Katarine's hands and carefully checked her vital signs and condition. He place to pipe down, to free his hand to give Katarine proper arm support. Ethan carefully lifted her and made sure she was sure when she opened her eyes and told him in a weak tone.
"What took you so long?!"
And she fell unconscious again; did she unconsciously just react to or respond to Ethan's presence? Ethan knew he had to act quickly to get her out of there before it was too late. Ethan physical strength was put to the test as he carried Katarine out of the dangerous situation, feeling a sense of urgency as he rushed to safety. He knew that every second counted in ensuring her survival, and he focused on getting her to safety as quickly as possible. As he passed the rooms, his resolve was strong, and understood the task he needed to accomplish first. As he was nearing the corridor exit, Ethan carefully assessed the area. He knew that the guard roaming or patrolling the area should have noticed that one of their men was missing.
The chance this was a trap just occurred to him, and Ethan took a deep breath and lowered his stance. This position was optimal for stealth , but carrying a person was tearing his muscles and straining his body to its maximum tolerance. The pain surging in his back and legs was making him bite his lips. The burning and crippling pain was running through his body, but he knew he had to push through in order to save Katarine.
This situation shouldn't be that hard, knowing who Katarine was., but the people managing this place were not some shabby thugs; they were well equipped with signal jammers, and as he already confirmed, they were armed to the teeth. Calling the police was a huge risk, knowing the situation might be more hazardous for him because the police might be connected with the criminal organization.
As he crept towards the exit, Ethan's was sweating hard from head to foot, and he had to maneuver within the shadow while holding Katarine. His mind raced with the possibility of being caught. The weight of the person in his arms reminded him of the risk he was taking for this mission. Despite the physical challenge, Ethan knew he had to continue moving quickly and quietly to avoid detection. With determination in his eyes, he pushed through the pain and focused on completing his mission.
Each step was precise and calculated, and every breath was controlled as he made his way towards a location that was safe. The huge broken machines were a perfect hiding place, so Ethan placed Katarine down and took a peak at the path he needed to take; he could no longer use the walkway above the factory. Their weight would instantly create circumstances that would lead to their capture, so going up was no longer an option. Katarine was five feet six and was not in a condition to move. Ethan was holding her near his chest, and he was breathing deeply as he was catching his breath. Ethan knew he had to find an alternate route quickly to avoid detection. He scanned the area for any other possible paths, hoping to find a way out without being seen.
His lips were now dry, and he was having a hard time moving. The momentary break every few steps while hiding in the shadows was a perilous risk, but Ethan knew it was necessary to ensure their safety. With each passing second, the weight of the situation pressed down on him, urging him to make a decision quickly. Until he reaches the very wall the dead guard is supposed to
Located, Ethan was sure this was the place, even if the place lacked sufficient light. He made sure to leave a mark on the wall. Ethan was sure that he used the metal pipe to etch an x mark on the wall, where there was constant light hitting it. The mark was replaced with a crack, like a sledgehammer hitting it.
"This is where they found the dead guard."
"His body is not where it is supposed to be."
"I made a mistake. They already know I am here ."
"They might already be watching me."
"Goddammit! I forgot to check if there are CCTV cameras in the place."
Suddenly, a loud screeching sound was heard; it was the factory announcement speakers blaring a warning message. The sound echoed through the empty building, sending chills down Ethan's spine.
"Attention to all our special guests and connoisseurs "
"We have a rat running around our nest."
"For those who can kill this rat and safely bring back what it stole , I, Ivan Romanov, will reward you with a hefty sum of new, fresh toys to play with."
Ethan's heart raced as he realized the high stakes of the situation he had stumbled into. He has no choice but to secure Katarine in a safe place, get back on track with his steps, and recall an old, worn out industrial washing machine. The huge tampered glass door was big enough for fifty kilos of cloth to fit inside, making it the perfect hiding spot for Katarine.
With a tired, trembling body he stood up and ran back toward the broken washing machine. There was no point in hiding within the shadows. As he got near the machine, he opened the tampered glass door, Katarine in the side feet first, closed the lid, and grabbed a table and pushed it in front of the door to further conceal her. He knew she would be safe there until he could figure out a plan to escape the danger that was now surrounding him.
As Ethan turned around, he could see many silhouettes coming from all over the place. These were the guests who were high on drugs. Their eyes were wide and unfocused, and their movements were erratic and unpredictable. Ethan knew he had to act fast before they spotted Katarine hiding in the machine. He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and prepared to make the hard decision to fight. He was still unsure to what extent of evil acts these people have committed; they might be vile and murderers, or maybe they were just normal people who got hooked on and addicted to drugs.
Until he saw the guard that he supposedly killed walking toward him, Ethan was happy and relieved that the person he assumed died by his hand was alive. As the guard emerged from the cascading shadows he was different, and this made Ethan realize that he was not even human at all. The guard skin was different; it had scales, and his eyes were emitting a faint reddish reddish. His face was contorted into a menacing grin, revealing sharp teeth that glistened in the dim light. Ethan's relief quickly turned to fear as he realized he was face-to-face with something otherworldly and dangerous. He grabs the gun strap, swings the FN P90 from his back, and quickly grabs it like any soldier would do. The guard let out a low growl, sending shivers down Ethan's spine as he aimed the weapon at him. The creature's sinister grin widened, confirming Ethan's worst fears about the true nature of his adversary.
"It's not human,:
His survival instinct kicked in as he prepared to defend himself against this supernatural threat. With a deep breath, Ethan steadied his aim and braced himself. He squeezed the trigger, and a burst of two shots erupted from the gun, piercing the guard's otherworldly form. The creature let out a deafening screech before disintegrating into dust, leaving Ethan shaken. The drug users who saw this were scared and confused, unsure of what they had just witnessed. Ethan quickly holstered his weapon and made a firm stance, as he could see that among the drug-educed people, two sets of the same reddish eyes were standing within the shadows.
Suddenly, the drug-intoxicated people decided to run, but the two creatures behind them were already aware of their intention and just jumped above their heads and attacked Ethan. Ethan fought off the creatures with his skill, managing to evade fatal attacks , but he was getting severely wounded from the constant attacks. Unlike the first attacker , these two were skilled, but Etan was having difficulty using the gun as the human drug addicts were still running around in a panic, making it difficult for him to aim. Their claws were sharp, their movements were feral, and every time Ethan would shoot, these beings would just grab any nearby object to shield themselves. Even using the intoxicated addicts who were so high, they all thought they were having hallucinations.
While they were being watched by Ivan and his VIP guest, they were even betting on who would survive the chaos unfolding before them. The tension in the room was palpable as the stakes continued to rise with each passing moment. The VIP were more exposed to the trill of death and murder; the drug users were just a source of funds for the organization; the real fun was seeing blood shed, thus creating new entertainment. For them to spectate and enjoy.
Ethan's vision blurred, each cut and laceration another testament to the callous disregard his attackers held for his pain. They danced around him, their movements fluid and practiced, their weapons seemingly extensions of their own bodies. The gun he held felt heavy and useless in his trembling hand; they weren't even trying to disarm him, treating his presence as an amusement rather than a threat. It was as if he were a puppet, and they were the puppeteers, pulling his strings with calculated brutality.
The strikes were deliberate, meant to inflict pain, to leave him a mangled mess, but never to end him. The only thing that kept him alive was their lack of urgency and their playful sadism. He felt a flicker of defiance, a desperate hope that his instincts were right and that this was a game, a cruel test of his ability to predict their movements. He had to anticipate, calculate the probability of their next strike, determine the trajectory of their strikes , and find a way to outsmart them. His survival depended on his ability to stay one step ahead, to use his intelligence and cunning to turn the tables , and to watch every possible movement for any clue that could give him an advantage. the twitch of their muscles the way they move their shoulders, even the way their eyes move.
Ethan was now watching his two prey. The pattern was there; he just needed to time it right. He just needs something to break that small gap in their attack. Everybody who was watching the fight, was betting on the two attackers ,while with a surprising turn of events, Jafeerah Sayed placed a bet on the woman boy friend.
"This is very entertaining; I never expected the boyfriend would come here; the chance of him finding us is very slim."
"and you are betting on that fool , Jafeerah"
"i am allowed to pick the one i am betting on right Ivan,"
" yes of course my friend,"
" the hero vs. my talented guards."
"Let's see if he can really take them down."
Everyone who was watching was now intrigued by the unexpected twist in the fight. Ivan chuckled, confident in his guards' abilities to handle the situation.
Ethan took aim and steadied his aim. The two attackers stood a few meters from him in different positions. As the enemy moved, Ethan didn't change his aim; the attack's movement was beyond human; it was fast. In a few seconds, those who were already beside him, their sharp claws like nails, were ready to slash Ethan Abdomen at his right side while the other attacker was targeting his left leg, when the table blocking the huge washing machine was forced open.
At that moment, the one who was about to slash Ethan right side was caught off guard by the sudden movement of the table, giving Ethan a split second to react. With lightning speed, Ethan pivoted to his right, adjusted his aim directly toward its face, and squeezed the trigger , popping its head like a balloon. Katarine was finally awake and saw Ethan shooting a person in the head while getting stabbed in the left leg. Katarine's eyes widened in shock as she witnessed the gruesome scene unfold before her. Adrenaline pumping, she quickly assessed the situation and sprang into action to help Ethan. Katarine crawled out of the broken industrial washing machine. And just grab anything that is not bolted to the ground. Ethan was still a few feet from where she was,
"My god,, what the hell if that ugly thing?"
"Katarine, stay where you are don't come near me."
Ethan's voice trembled as he struggled to stand, blood dripping from his leg. Katarine hesitated for a moment before realizing she needed to do something to defend them both. She ran toward Ethan; this was a bad move; the humanoid looking monster was now targeting her.
Ethan's voice trembled as he struggled to stand, blood dripping from his leg. Katarine hesitated for a moment before realizing she needed to do something to defend them both. She ran toward Ethan; this was a bad move; the humanoid looking monster was now targeting her.
Ethan can shoot because he might hit Katarine, so Ethan removed the gun strap and used that to strangle the remaining attacker. Even with a bleeding leg, he jumped and was able to wrap the gun strap around its neck and force it down. down, smashed toward the ground facing down. Katarine quickly struck the monster on its head, causing it to momentarily lose focus. With the monster distracted, Ethan was able to overpower it and pin it to the ground. Despite his bleeding leg, he managed to keep the creature subdued and choke it to death.
As he stood up to assist and comfort Katarine, Ethan was still able to joke about his injury, lightening the tense atmosphere.
"Well, that was a close call,"
"what the hell is wrong with you,"
"Why do you keep doing this? Why are you so reckless?"
Ethan chuckled, grateful that they had both made it out of the situation alive.
"I guess I just can't resist a good looking woman,"
He replied with a smile and added
"You never called, so I personally came to see you."
"and tell you , that i like you."
He chuckled, trying to keep spirits high despite the bleeding again. Katarine was in panic as Ethan was losing a lot of blood. She frantically searched for something to use as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. As she applied pressure to his wound, she shouted for help, hoping someone would come to their aid soon. When she heard a loud gunshot, it was one of those drug addicts. That came out of nowhere, and I was able to remain hidden as the chaos was happening. The very gun Ethan tossed away was the same gun that one intoxicated person just fired and the bullet hit Ethan's lower back. As the chaos unfolded, she saw Ethan fell , he was coughing blood
"Katarine run!"
The air hung thick with tension as Katarina, her eyes blazing with fury, filled her lungs with a breath that could have extinguished a thousand flames. With every fiber of her being, she unleashed a primal scream that tore through the industrial silence of the abandoned factory. The sound ricocheted off the grimy walls, shattering the fragile solitude like an earthquake. It was a deafening roar that seemed to shake the very foundations of the building, causing every window to tremble violently before succumbing to its immense force.
Glass shards rained down like a thousand tiny daggers, scattering across the dusty floor. The once-pristine panes now lay shattered, their transparent surfaces replaced by a web of jagged fragments. The scream reverberated through the desolate corridors, a harsh reminder of the desperate defiance that resided within the heart of a woman pushed to her breaking point. In that moment, Katarina's scream became a symbol of the indomitable spirit that refused to be silenced, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Katarine's anger had never stemmed from arrogance or pride, but rather from a deep-rooted frustration born of witnessing the constant self-sacrifice of the man who had repeatedly come to her aid. The doubt and reluctance that had once plagued her heart dissipated the moment she gained the courage to confide in him. However, his unwavering determination to protect her, driven by a misguided affection he harbored for her, ignited a fierce rage within her. It was a torrent of emotion that had been pent up for too long, fueled by the realization that his actions were not simply borne out of pity but a genuine desire to see her safe and sound.
Katarine's anger was not a manifestation of pride or arrogance, but rather a desperate cry for him to acknowledge her own strength and resilience. She had grown weary of being perceived as a fragile maiden in need of constant protection, and his insistence on treating her as such ignited a flame of frustration that she could no longer contain.
" I WILL KILL YOU ALL!"