Warning: This chapter contains graphic scenes that may be disturbing to some readers.
The Essence Storm rages like a wild beast across the marketplace, whipping debris and dust into the air.
The shattered market stalls tell a story of frantic escape, of lives torn apart in an instant.
Seren and her team push through the storm, their eyes scanning, their steps resolute.
The cries of civilians have faded, replaced by the oppressive roar and hiss of the storm, a constant noise that makes communication nearly impossible.
"Do you think the military can get this under control?" Finn's voice wavers slightly, barely audible over the chaos.
"Of course" Nico replies, puffing out his chest with confidence.
"This is my third Essence Storm, after all. A Category 1 storm like this is are more like training than a real threat."
Finn nods, somewhat reassured. But Seren remains alert, her icy blue eyes scrutinizing their surroundings.
"As long as we stay out of the center and don't do anything reckless, we should be—"
A loud scream interrupts Nico's words, cutting through the storm like a blade.
Seren snaps her head toward the sound.
"That scream... it sounds like a child" Kiaran says, his voice stained with worry.
A second scream follows, weaker and choked with desperation. Kiaran points to a pile of debris, splintered wooden beams, torn fabric, and crushed crates.
"Over there!"
Seren moves before anyone else. Her legs propel her forward instinctively, her resolve clear. She cuts through the storm with precision and focus. Her strides are quick, but she remains vigilant.
Wooden shards fly through the air like projectiles, but Seren moves like a swordswoman, evading every obstacle.
"Do you hear that?" Finn's voice cuts through the howling wind.
"It's getting worse..." Kiaran says.
Seren glances back briefly. "We'll get the child, find his family, and get out."
The others nod, their faces set with determination. A faint whimper emerges from the sounds of chaos. Seren follows that sound.
A young girl crouches beside a shattered crate, her knees drawn up, her face streaked with tears.
Her tangled hair clings to her forehead, and her wide eyes grow even larger as Seren and her team approach.
"What's your name?" Nico asks, his voice unusually gentle.
"M-Mara" the girl stammers, trembling.
"Where's your family, Mara? Where are your parents?" Seren asks.
"Papa isn't home.. and... and my mom is sleeping over there."
A small finger points toward a massive wooden beam buried under the rubble of a large food stall.
Nico's face hardens, but his tone remains soft. "Don't worry, we'll get your mother."
Seren approaches the beam cautiously. Her eyes catch on an arm sticking out from beneath the debris.
The fingers are bloodied, but the skin still feels warm. A flicker of hope ignites in Seren.
"Can you hear me?" she calls, tugging gently on the arm.
But to her horror, the arm gives away without any resistance. With a sickening sound, it tears away from the body.
A fountain of blood sprays across Seren's face and uniform.
She freezes, staring at the severed limb in her hand.
"No... no, this can't be..." she whispers, her voice breaking.
Her knees buckle, and she collapses to the ground, still clutching the arm. Kiaran and Finn rush to her side, their faces a mix of shock and sympathy.
Seren lifts her gaze, unable to accept the scene before her. She grabs the massive wooden beam and lifts it with all the strength her Essence enhanced body can muster.
Beneath the beam lies the mangled corpse of a woman. Her face is obscured by blood and dirt, her spine grotesquely twisted and exposed.
The blood stains on Seren's uniform grow darker as she continues to hold the woman's severed arm in her left hand.
Her eyes are fixed on the woman's hand. A ring shines faintly on her finger, etched with the initials "L.V."
Seren hesitates, then removes the ring. Her trembling fingers close around the piece of jewelry, which feels unbearably heavy.
"Seren... we have to go" Kiaran says quietly, his hand resting on her shoulder.
Seren rises slowly, her movements mechanical.
"I know..." she whispers, her voice hollow. She slips the ring into her pocket, her eyes burning with unspoken grief.
Nico lifts Mara into his arms, cradling her gently.
"Come on, little one. Everything will be okay" he says, though his voice trembles slightly.
Seren casts one last look at the corpse before turning away.
"Let's move" she orders, her voice steady once more.
But inside her, a storm rages fiercer than the Essence Storm surrounding them.
The team moves quickly, their footsteps echoing through the deserted streets. But in the distance, a deafening roar splits the air.
They all feel a sudden, overwhelming surge of Essence flooding the atmosphere.
"It can't be" Finn murmurs anxiously
But they all know it. The Essence storm just got a whole lot worse.