"Who?"
A sharp, electronic hum suddenly blared behind them, sending a shock of fear through Melinda and Coulson. Both of them sprang to their feet in an instant, their semi-squatting positions forgotten as they spun around, guns drawn, aiming at the source of the sound.
It was then they saw it: the small wooden box Coulson had just placed beside the desk had somehow opened on its own, a faint glow flickering from the box's opening.
"Who… who moved my heart?"
The piercing, mechanical voice rang out again, and this time, a silver-white arm slowly extended from the box.
Melinda and Coulson exchanged a quick glance, but there was no time for hesitation. Without a second thought, they both aimed their weapons directly at the opening and fired.
"Bang! Bang!" Gunshots erupted in rapid succession, and bright sparks shot from the barrels of their weapons.
Attacking first was their rule. It was their go-to strategy to neutralize any threat immediately and decisively.
But what happened next made both of them freeze in shock.
The bullets they fired didn't even reach the arm. Instead, they seemed to hit some invisible barrier, the dim light radiating from the box. The projectiles hung in the air for less than a second before they dropped to the ground, harmless.
"Foolish humans, unable to control their impulses... and relying on such primitive, outdated weapons."
The harsh, synthesized voice echoed in their ears once more. Then, what they saw next was something they would never be able to forget.
"Coulson, what the hell is this?!"
Melinda's voice cracked with disbelief as a strange silver-white figure emerged from the glow of the box. The figure's body, made of intricately designed mechanical gears and chains, shimmered with metallic elegance. Its fingers, long and sharp like blades, twitched slightly, as if ready to strike. Atop its head, a floating silver ball hovered, casting an eerie glow—a doll-like form, but undeniably dangerous.
Yes, it looked like a doll. But neither Melinda nor Coulson could afford to underestimate it.
Those sharp, lethal fingers alone were enough to send a chill down their spines. In a crowded place, this doll-like creature would become an unstoppable weapon, a killing machine without remorse.
And those bright blue eyes—unnervingly focused on them—sent a silent threat that was loud and clear.
"Mei, don't waste time asking questions. Get rid of her now!" Coulson shouted, panic creeping into his voice. He quickly swapped out the magazine and fired relentlessly at the figure in front of him.
Melinda didn't need any further urging. She reacted instantly, her focus razor-sharp, the muzzle of her gun tracking the doll's movements as she pulled the trigger over and over again.
But the scene that unfolded was all too familiar. Once again, the bullets they fired never made contact. They grazed the sides of the silver figure before falling uselessly to the floor.
"Mei, our firepower isn't working!" Coulson shouted in frustration after unloading two full magazines. But despite the desperation in his voice, his fingers never stopped pulling the trigger.
"Colson, we can't solve this. We need to retreat, now!" Melinda shouted urgently, sensing that the situation was quickly spiraling out of control.
"Understood," Coulson replied shortly, his voice taut with urgency.
The two agents immediately began to retreat, firing at the approaching threat as they moved toward the door.
"Time is running out... and the puppet's patience is wearing thin."
Just as they were about to take a few more steps, the silver doll swung its arm, and the metal ball atop its head descended with terrifying speed, striking both Coulson and Melinda before they could react.
"Not good," Melinda muttered, her expression shifting to one of alarm.
Before either of them could make a move, an overwhelming force pulled them together, rendering them completely immobile as they were stuck by an unseen power.
Melinda gritted her teeth, feeling as though countless steel cables had ensnared her, restricting any movement.
"Coulson, we're in real trouble," she said, her voice strained, her eyes locking with his. Coulson, equally ensnared and unable to free himself, could only stare back with growing concern.
"How fun... Killing is always a game," came the chilling voice of the silver doll, the words echoing in their minds.
The doll began to slowly advance toward them, its footsteps eerie and deliberate.
"Colson, what do we do?" Melinda asked, sweat beading on her forehead as the silver doll drew closer.
"I... I don't know," Coulson admitted, his usual calm demeanor cracking for the first time, replaced by a raw sense of helplessness.
"Disassemble... and then, rebuild."
The silver doll finally stopped in front of them. Raising its hands, it prepared to strike.
"Ugh—!" Melinda's eyes widened in fear as she realized the doll's hands were like blades. She screamed, her voice full of defiance and terror.
Coulson, on the other hand, closed his eyes, accepting the reality of their grim fate.
---
Meanwhile, just five minutes earlier, in an abandoned factory on the outskirts of New York City, a dozen white-suited men surrounded a figure clad in a strange outfit.
"Hand over what you're holding, and maybe I can promise you a less painful death," the leader of the suited men said coldly, his eyes narrowing as he fixed his gaze on the lone figure.
"Heh, you're really scaring me," Patch replied, feigning fear with a grin as he flicked his black wizard robe.
Yes, you guessed it—Patch. Dressed in what looked like an ordinary wizard robe, it might have seemed strange to these men, but in reality, it was simply his normal attire. However, to the men in black suits, it was an odd sight indeed.
"Boy, don't test my patience," the leader growled, his face tightening in anger.
At that, the men behind him drew their guns, aiming them directly at Patch.
Patch, however, didn't flinch. He merely shrugged, showing no fear or concern.
The leader's temper flared even more, and he snapped, "I don't want that thing stained with blood. If you—"
Before he could finish, Patch cut him off, his calm demeanor unshaken.
"Oops!"
Paqi's brows were suddenly wrinkled, and he stroked his forehead and shouted suddenly.
"What's wrong? Are you going to beg for mercy?" The man in the suit couldn't help jokingly said. He thought Patch was intimidated by their battle.
"I'm too lazy to play with you guys anymore." Turning his head, Patch glanced sharply at the man in the suit, and said coldly: "This matter is over, and you…"
"It's time to die too!"
Just as he was talking, Patch suddenly waved his hand, and countless black flames flew towards the group of men in suits.
"Ah!" All the men in suits were instantly attacked by black flames before they could take precautions, and countless shrill screams followed.
"Like ants…" Glancing at the group of men in suits who were swept by the black flames, Patch turned around and kneaded his eyebrows again, and said to himself in distress: "It's really troublesome!"
"Teleport!"
As soon as the words fell, there was a "bang", a puff of smoke was generated out of thin air, and Patch completely disappeared in place.
Inside the dilapidated factory, only a dozen piles of black ashes remained.
…
Panic? despair?
Melinda and Coulson couldn't tell what it was like.
They could only feel the breath of death slowly approaching them.
Facing the ten sharp blade-like fingers of the silver-white puppet, they had already given up any hope.
But at this moment, a shout suddenly sounded in their ears.
"Orianna, stop!"
The sharp fingers of the silver-white puppet stopped abruptly less than one centimeter from their throats.