"Wake up!" A distorted voice echoed in Ampelius's ears, followed by a sharp slap across his face. He groaned, his eyes fluttering open to the blurred figure of a man standing over him. As he tried to slip back into unconsciousness, the man snapped his fingers close to Ampelius’s face and struck him once more, jolting him back to reality. His hands were tightly bound to a metal pipe behind him, rendering him helpless.

  Blinking through the haze, Ampelius focused on the man looming above him. Tattered blue jeans, a black leather jacket, and a gold chain gave the man a rough appearance, but it was his scarred face and weathered features that made him look truly dangerous. A dark blue beanie clung to his head, likely hiding more disfigurements. The stench of sweat and filth invaded Ampelius's nostrils, heightening his nausea and disorientation.

  “That’s right, wake up,” the man growled, his voice gravelly and devoid of warmth. “I need you alert. Do you know where you are?”

  Ampelius squinted, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The room gradually came into focus—a library, with row upon row of books surrounding him. Above, a colorful skylight cast strange, shifting shadows across the space.

  “Well, I seem to be in a building. A pretty one, with lots of books,” Ampelius said, sarcasm thick in his voice. “Do you like books? I can recommend a series called—”

  A fist slammed into his face, cutting him off mid-sentence. Pain exploded across his cheek, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

  “How about you shut your mouth unless you want to end up like your buddy over there,” the man snarled, pointing to the corner of the room.

  Ampelius turned his head, his gaze landing on Nova. Barely recognizable, Nova was slumped against the wall, his face swollen and bloodied. He’d been stripped to his underwear, his light blonde hair crudely shaved as if they had planned to scalp him. Ampelius’s gut twisted with unease as he studied Nova’s battered figure. Could this be the man who once walked freely among the Vandals, who knew their secrets? Ampelius didn’t know what to believe anymore. Yet, here they both were—bound together by circumstance and the dangerous whims of their captors.

  “Who says he’s my buddy? I don’t know him,” Ampelius lied, hoping to deflect attention.

  The man’s fist smashed into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Gasping for air, Ampelius let out a weak laugh just as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the library.

  “Are you laughing at me?” the man sneered.

  “What are you doing? Why haven’t you killed that traitor yet? And what about this one? Feed him to the dogs,” another voice, sharp and impatient, cut through the tension.

  Ampelius strained to see the newcomer, but a bookshelf partially blocked his view. He caught a glimpse of black clothing and the metallic glint of a rifle.

  “The traitor will die soon enough,” the man growled dismissively. “This one just woke up. The drugs are still wearing off. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll get the necessary information. Then you can tell the boss they’re both dead.”

  Confusion surged through Ampelius. What drugs? Why did they think he had derailed the train? And Nova—what role had he played in all of this? Despite the growing distrust in his heart, Ampelius couldn’t ignore the fact that, for better or worse, their fates were now linked.

  “I don’t know anything,” Ampelius croaked, his voice hoarse.

  “Oh, really? You don’t know anything?” the man said, voice thick with skepticism. “Then explain why you derailed a train at full speed into our defenses. Were you not expecting to survive?”

  “We were running from a beast in the tunnels! We had nothing to do with any attack!” Ampelius protested.

  “A beast, you say? Is that why Roman soldiers were dismantling barbed wire and trip mines? Just to get away from a beast?”

  “I don’t know anything about those soldiers or what they were doing. I—”

  “Shut up!” the man snapped, his voice rising with anger. “If you weren’t involved, why does the train bear the Roman Empire’s eagle insignia? You had better start talking before I decide to feed you the dogs. They’re starving.”

  “You want me to talk?” Ampelius replied, his voice filled with mocking defiance. “You better offer me something better than being torn apart by dogs. That’s not my preferred way to go.”

  The man chuckled a dark sound that sent a shiver down Ampelius’s spine. “How about this? I’ll put a shiny bullet in your brain, then let the dogs devour what’s left.”

  Ampelius smirked despite the fear gnawing at him. “Can I think about that proposal?”

  “You have until I kill your friend,” the man said coldly, pulling a dagger from within his jacket and advancing toward Nova.

  Ampelius’s mind raced. Could he trust Nova to hold his ground, even after all this? Did it matter? Whatever doubts he had about Nova’s loyalty, they didn’t change the fact that survival meant working together, for now.

  Horror gripped Ampelius as he watched the man approach. But just as the dagger was about to plunge into Nova’s chest, Nova’s hand shot up, a sharp object in his grip, and he thrust it into the man’s throat. Blood sprayed from the wound as the man choked, his eyes wide with shock. Nova stabbed him several more times before the man collapsed, lifeless.

  Nova quickly grabbed the man’s dagger and rushed over to Ampelius, cutting him free. “We need to move quickly; they’re struggling to fight off the legion. If they call a retreat, this place will be swarming with hostiles who will kill us on sight.”

  “Why are they calling you a traitor?” Ampelius asked, massaging his wrists where the ropes had cut into his skin.

  “I used to be in their organization. I’ll explain everything later, once we’re out of here alive,” Nova replied curtly. He put a finger to his lips and pointed toward a nearby shelf. A guard wandered nearby, oblivious to their escape.

  “Where exactly are we going? I need to get back to the station to find Bella!” Ampelius whispered urgently, his voice strained with desperation.

  “It’s too dangerous to enter the tunnels right now. Both the legion and the Vandals are hunting us. First, we need to get out of this building.”

  “But why would the legion hunt us? We’re their volunteers!”

  Nova shot him a look of disbelief. “Are you serious? Hijacking their train when we were supposed to protect it wouldn’t anger them? We got a bunch of them killed trying to cross that minefield. If I were the commander, I wouldn’t welcome us back. They’ll arrest us, or worse, kill us on sight. If you want to see Bella again, we need to get out of here alive.”

  As the guard moved away, the pair carefully navigated through the library, avoiding patrols. When they reached the other side of the room, Nova noticed the patrols increasing in frequency. Ampelius’s anxiety grew with each passing moment, his throat tightening as if an unseen hand were squeezing it. He struggled to keep his breathing quiet, the fear of being caught consuming every thought.

  At a doorway, a lone figure stood with his back to them, wearing sweatpants and a dark hoodie. Nova held up a hand, signaling for Ampelius to stay put, then crept forward like a predator stalking its prey. With swift precision, he snapped the guard’s neck, the body falling limp into his arms. He quickly dragged the corpse behind the bookshelves to hide it.

  Suddenly, a loud voice rang out, startling Ampelius like a gunshot. “The prisoners have escaped! They killed Gerhard!” Fast-moving footsteps echoed through the doorway as several armed individuals rushed into the room.

  “Find them and kill them!” another voice barked.

  Nova pulled Ampelius behind a bookshelf, holding his breath as the Vandals spread out to search for them. Ampelius’s chest tightened as he fought to suppress a cough. He could hear the heavy boots of the Vandals hitting the floor, their gruff whispers slicing through the silence. His ears strained to pick up every sound—the faint shuffle of a boot, the clinking of a rifle—each noise pushing him closer to panic. He readied the dagger, but before he could act, the deafening blare of an alarm went off.

  “Oh shit. I didn’t realize they still had power here,” Nova muttered, his eyes darting to the glass roof above them. Ampelius’s breath caught as a shadow passed overhead. His stomach sank as, with a sudden crash, the glass shattered, raining shards onto the floor. A massive turtle shell-like machine began descending into the library.

  Gunfire erupted, and Vandals’ bodies were reduced to blue goo as the shell continued its descent. The acrid scent of burnt flesh and chemicals filled Ampelius’s nostrils, making him gag. Nova and Ampelius ducked behind a desk as chaos erupted around them.

  “What are we waiting for?” Ampelius whispered frantically.

  Ignoring him, Nova scanned the room. A Vandal attempted to leap over the desk, landing between them, only to be obliterated into a blue splatter by a projectile from the descending shell. Ampelius gasped, and Nova quickly clamped a hand over his mouth to silence him. Ampelius’s skin crawled as he felt the faint vibration of approaching footsteps. He imagined the creatures, something that was hulking, inhuman, their presence radiating malice as they drew closer. Every instinct screamed at him to move, but he remained frozen, paralyzed by the primal fear of being hunted. A massive explosion shook the building, and the floor collapsed, revealing a metro tunnel below.

  “Okay, now’s our chance! Jump down!” Nova yelled.

  They dashed toward the opening and leaped into the tunnel. The rush of air whipped past Ampelius’s face as they fell, debris raining down around them. He hit the ground hard, the impact jolting every bone in his body. Dust and debris engulfed them, forcing them to stumble forward.

  “It looks like the collapse sealed off the tunnel,” Ampelius said, his voice tinged with relief. “Not sure if it took out that turtle shell, though.”

  “I think a neighboring skyscraper might’ve collapsed into the library. It sounded like something outside exploded and crashed into the building,” Nova replied.

  They scanned their surroundings, but the darkness revealed little.

  “Is this the same track we derailed on? I can’t tell; it’s too dark,” Ampelius muttered.

  “If it is, then both ends of this tunnel are probably blocked. We might’ve just sealed our own fate,” Nova said grimly.

  “You’re a very optimistic person,” Ampelius retorted.

  “Optimistic and barely clothed. Don’t worry, I’ve dealt with worse situations,” Nova replied with a smirk.

  “Oh, have you now? Then maybe you’re the last person I should be stuck with.”

  “Hey, remember, everyone else is dead. You should be grateful you’re even alive,” Nova shot back, his tone a mix of sarcasm and seriousness.

  “Yeah, well, being the last one standing can sometimes be a fate worse than death,” Ampelius muttered, bitterness lacing his voice.

  “Wow, calm down. I’m just kidding. A little humor in the face of death never hurt anyone. Now, let’s keep moving. We might be in the clear for now, but we can’t stay here.”

  Their journey continued in silence, the oppressive darkness of the tunnel pressing in on them. The only sound was the soft echo of their footsteps and the occasional drip of water from the cracked ceiling. The sense of impending danger hung heavily over them, making every shadow seem alive. But after what felt like an eternity, they finally reached the derailed train and a partially collapsed section of the tunnel. The sight of the twisted metal and debris brought a grim sense of déjà vu.

  “Yeah, this definitely looks like our derailed train,” Ampelius said, his voice barely a whisper. “What do we do now?”

  Nova put a finger to his lips. “Shut up! I think the Vandals are near the train. You stay down and don’t move; I’ll be right back.”

  Ampelius nodded and crouched low behind a chunk of concrete as Nova crept closer to the wreckage. Nova peered around the edge of the train, scanning for any signs of movement. After a few tense moments, he signaled Ampelius to join him.

  “There are two guards on the other side, facing away from us,” Nova whispered when Ampelius reached him. “We can bypass this small space and overtake them.”

  “Can’t we just avoid them? Isn’t there another way?” Ampelius asked, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice.

  “Do you see that staircase over there? That leads to the surface, and we need to get there. From there, we’ll make our way to the downtown train station. Once there, you’ll be back at base and can see Bella, this is assuming you’re not arrested or shot by the patrols. As for me, after I get you there, I’m going my own way.”

  “The surface? That seems risky, considering what just happened.”

  “It’s your choice,” Nova replied with a shrug. “If you stay here, you’re on your own, and I’ll go. My offer expires in five seconds. What’s it going to be? Die or possibly die?”

  “Fine, I need your help,” Ampelius admitted grudgingly. “Apparently, I need you more than you need me.”

  “Glad you agree,” Nova said with a smirk. He handed Ampelius a glass shard. “Take this; you’ll need it unless you know how to snap a neck. You take the guy on the left, and I’ll take the one on the right. We need to do this simultaneously. Ready?”

  “No. Let’s just get this done,” Ampelius replied, gripping the shard tightly.

  “That’s the spirit.”

  They quietly climbed over the wreckage, positioning themselves behind the unsuspecting guards deep in conversation. Ampelius’s heart pounded as he lined up behind his target. Nova counted down from three with his fingers, and on the silent signal, they both sprang into action.

  Ampelius moved swiftly, slicing the guard’s throat with the shard. The warmth of the man’s blood spurted over his hands as the guard gurgled briefly, eyes wide with shock, before collapsing to the ground. Ampelius gently lowered the body, his hands trembling slightly from the adrenaline. Nova quickly dispatched his target as well. He turned to Ampelius. “Alright, take the weapon and search the body. If you don’t find anything useful, drag the body over here by the train. If you can't handle the weight, I’ll toss it inside to hide it.”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “I think I can handle the weight,” Ampelius said, his voice steadier than he felt.

  “Good job,” Nova said approvingly. “Have you done this before? You’re a natural.”

  “Not with humans,” Ampelius admitted, wiping the shard on the dead man’s clothing before stowing it in his pocket. “My cousin taught me how to hunt, use firearms, and skin animals for meat. I figured the same principle applies to humans.”

  “Well, you definitely have a talent for it,” Nova remarked. “I felt sick after my first kill. Eventually, you become numb to it, to the point where you don’t feel anything.”

  Ampelius frowned. “I wonder how many people you’ve killed, then.”

  Nova didn’t respond, his face unreadable. “Yeah, I don’t feel anything either,” Ampelius continued, more to himself. “I expected to, but I don’t.”

  “Maybe you’re a sociopath,” Nova suggested lightly. “It might serve you well in the world we live in now. But enough of that—let’s move. We need to reach the surface before they realize these guys are missing. I don’t see any radios on them, but you never know.”

  After searching the bodies and finding nothing of value, they double-checked the weapons they had taken and hurried toward the staircase. Nova led the way, weapon at the ready, with Ampelius close behind. As they ascended the steps, the faint sound of distant gunfire echoed from the tunnel, a reminder of the chaos they had narrowly escaped.

  At the top of the stairs, Nova halted and knelt down. “Hold here a minute; I’m going to check the entrance and make sure there’s no ambush waiting for us. Keep your weapon pointed down there—just in case someone appears. If they do, shoot them. Got it?”

  Ampelius nodded, gripping the rifle tightly. He focused on the bottom of the stairs, his muscles coiled with tension. Suddenly, a rush of white, smoky figures surged up the stairs, passing through him like a gust of wind. Startled, he stumbled back, struggling to understand what had just happened. Was it real or just a trick of his mind? Nova reappeared at the top of the stairs, pulling Ampelius from his daze. “Are you okay? Did you see something?”

  “I’m fine,” Ampelius lied, still shaken. “Is the area clear?”

  “Yeah, mostly. But those ‘turtle shells’ are hovering everywhere. We’ll need to move fast and stay low. Oh, and it’s dawn—the sun’s up.”

  As they stepped out onto the surface, the early morning sun cast an eerie glow over the city. Thick smoke rose from burning buildings, filling the air with the stench of charred flesh. The Zavons' destruction was everywhere as debris littered the streets, and turtle shells floated ominously overhead.

  “We shouldn’t be in the street,” Ampelius said tensely.

  “I agree. Let’s move through the buildings for cover. Follow me,” Nova replied, leading them quickly across the street and into a destroyed restaurant. The interior was in chaos, with overturned tables and chairs and shell casings scattered across the floor.

  “Someone made a last stand here,” Nova observed, noticing a small pool of blood leading to the kitchen. “Stay here and stay alert. I’ll check it out.”

  Ampelius nodded, watching as Nova disappeared through the kitchen door. Moments later, Nova came rushing back out, pale and visibly shaken. He turned to the side and vomited on the floor.

  “You okay?” Ampelius asked, stepping closer.

  “Back off! I’m fine,” Nova snapped, wiping his mouth. “Whoever did that is seriously twisted. The smell of rotting flesh, piss, and some kind of blue substance... it could be a chemical weapon. I don’t know if they were killed by our own or the Zavons, but if it was our own, they should be shot on sight.”

  “What happened in there?” Ampelius asked, curiosity getting the better of him despite the situation.

  “My guess? The Zavons found them after the fact and started extracting something, but they were interrupted. Maybe it was an ambush, but it doesn’t matter. We need to get out of here. I don’t want to stick around.”

  Nova, still recovering, moved toward a door marked “Employees Only.” With a strong kick, he forced it open, gun ready. The hallway beyond was surprisingly untouched, leading to a manager’s office and a back door. The office itself had been ransacked, papers and a filing cabinet strewn across the floor.

  “Alright, Ampelius, listen up,” Nova said as they approached the back door. “When I open this door, I’ll push left, and you go right. If you see a hostile, start shooting. If it’s clear, say ‘clear.’ If I call out a hostile or start shooting, turn around and fire, unless you’re already engaged. Got it?”

  “Got it,” Ampelius confirmed, steadying his nerves.

  “Good.”

  They stacked up at the door, and at Nova’s count, he flung it open, and they burst through, Ampelius moving to the right as Nova went left. Ampelius scanned the alleyway, his heart pounding. It was eerily quiet, with no threats in sight.

  “Clear,” Ampelius whispered.

  “Clear,” Nova echoed from the other side, and they relaxed slightly, though the distant sounds of gunfire and explosions continued, reminding them of the ongoing battle in the city.

  “If I remember right, that building at the end of the alley is the Tertius Theater,” Nova said, nodding toward a partially collapsed structure. “We should be able to cut through it, cross a two-lane street to a jewelry shop, and from there, another alleyway takes us straight to the station entrance you need.”

  As they moved toward the theater, Ampelius’s mind buzzed with questions. He couldn’t resist probing into Nova’s past.

  “So, you were with the Vandals?” Ampelius asked quietly.

  “Yes and no,” Nova replied without turning his head. “I was a mercenary, or what you could call a diversion agent. When they needed to conduct business, I’d rob a store or plant fake bombs to keep the heat off. I rarely got involved with their insurgency or assassinations.”

  “Well, that answers some questions,” Ampelius murmured, processing the information. He was about to ask more when the building ahead of them exploded, sending debris flying as they dove for cover.

  “I think that was artillery, but I didn’t hear the whistle. I’m not sure,” Nova muttered, concern tightening his voice.

  Before they could react further, a group of Zavons appeared at the end of the alley, marching in a wedge formation. The two men pressed themselves against the wall, holding their breath. The Zavons passed by without noticing them, their heavy footsteps echoing ominously. When the last of the group disappeared around a corner, Nova exhaled slowly, the tension in his body easing.

  “The streets are crawling with them. We need to stay quiet and use buildings for cover,” Nova whispered. “Stealth is our friend. Let’s get into the theater through the back door. Move quickly as I don’t want them doubling back.”

  Nova led the way, checking the back door of the theater. It creaked open, and they slipped inside, locking it behind them. The faint glow of emergency exit lights cast ghostly shadows, dimly lighting the interior.

  “How does this place still have power? I thought electronics on the surface were fried during the attack,” Ampelius whispered uneasily.

  “Maybe a generator,” Nova speculated, though he didn’t sound convinced.

  They found themselves in the main cinema auditorium, where dim lights outlined rows of seats and exit pathways. The eerie silence was broken only by faint creaks and distant, unidentifiable sounds that seemed to shift with every step.

  “I was in my apartment when the attack happened,” Ampelius said quietly. He glanced around the darkened space, the weight of memory settling over him. “There was a bright blue flash, the power cut out, and then I saw a massive ball of light, like a spiderweb which was engulfing the city.”

  “They probably wanted to cripple our communications before the invasion,” Nova replied grimly. “Whatever device they used was designed to fry electronics. I wonder if someone managed to repair things here. Let’s stay cautious; there could still be people around.”

  They navigated through the auditorium, finding an exit leading to a hallway. Strange, unsettling noises began to echo faintly around them—heavy breathing, sharp squeals, and distant, overlapping whispers.

  “Tell me you hear that,” Ampelius whispered, his voice tight, barely above a breath..

  “Hear what?” Nova asked, his calm demeanor unchanged.

  “You don’t hear it? It’s like... voices... coming from the walls.” His eyes darted to the shadowy corners of the hallway. His breathing quickened, his mind racing. Were the walls alive? Or was his exhaustion finally getting to him?

  Nova shook his head. “Nope. Just keep your eyes up.”

  Ampelius blinked, trying to steady himself. The voices grew louder in his ears, overlapping murmurs that seemed to coil around his thoughts. A wave of doubt crept in, the persistent whispers threatening to erode the line between reality and hallucination. Am I losing it? He shook his head sharply, wanting himself to focus on Nova’s steady presence.

  They continued through the hallway, the strange sounds growing louder to Ampelius, though Nova appeared unaffected. Every creak of the floor, every shifting shadow in his peripheral vision, felt like an imminent threat. His grip tightened on his rifle. The weight of the weapon was both comforting and suffocating. The air seemed heavier here. The noises he heard almost drowned out the pounding of his heart. Ampelius’s nerves were on edge, his breaths shallow, his senses straining for any hint of danger. Eventually, they reached a T-intersection. Ampelius spotted a paper sign on the wall and moved quickly to read it.

  “If we go right, we’ll find more auditoriums and a maintenance room at the end. Left takes us to the main lobby and the front entrance. We need to go left.”

  Nova nodded, but before they could proceed, the sudden sound of fast-approaching footsteps shattered the fragile calm. Ampelius spun around, his pulse spiking as the noise cut through his spiraling thoughts. In an instant, Nova was grappling with a masked figure dressed in white, the sharp clang of metal striking metal echoing through the hallway. Ampelius instinctively raised his rifle, his mind snapping into focus. Aim. Steady. Protect.

  But before he could pull the trigger, movement in his periphery drew his attention. Another figure emerged, and the sight of the baseball bat swinging toward him froze for a split second. His last coherent thought was a surge of helpless fury: I should’ve seen this coming. The impact exploded with a sickening thud. Pain seared through his skull, bright and all-consuming, before the world dissolved into darkness.

  When Ampelius regained consciousness, pain seared through his skull, a dull throb pulsing in time with his heartbeat. He tried to move, but his hands and feet were tightly bound. The rush of blood to his head made his vision swim, a nauseating pressure building behind his eyes. As his vision cleared, a wave of horror hit him as he was hanging upside down, suspended from the ceiling of the auditorium.Panic surged through him, but he forced himself to breathe deeply. His wrists ached from the strain of the bindings digging into his skin. Stay calm, he thought. You’ll survive this if you stay calm. Twisting his head, he scanned his surroundings. Nearby, Nova was also hanging upside down, limp and unresponsive. Ampelius’s stomach dropped, was Nova dead?

  “Nova! Hey! Are you still with me? Say something!” Ampelius called out, trying to keep his voice low.

  Nova didn’t respond. Ampelius watched him closely, noticing the faint rise and fall of his chest. Relief flooded him as Nova was still alive. He just needed to wake him up.

  Suddenly, Nova began to stir, struggling against his restraints, unaware of the situation. “Nova! Over here! It’s Ampelius. We’re both tied upside down,” he whispered urgently.

  Nova stilled, peering in Ampelius’s direction. “Ampelius? By the gods, we need to stop ending up like this! I can only cheat death so many times before it catches up with me!”

  Ampelius let out a small, mirthless chuckle. The effort sent a jolt of pain through his pounding head. “You sound confident. So, what’s the plan for getting out of this?”

  “You’re not getting out of this,” a voice echoed from the darkness, low and cold, sending a chill through them both.

  A door creaked open, and the lights in the auditorium blazed to life, momentarily blinding them. When their vision adjusted, they saw a man sitting in one of the theater chairs directly below, looking up with a sinister grin. He was dressed in a white tuxedo with black trim and a white top hat, adding an air of twisted elegance. Flanking him were two masked figures, each holding a baseball bat and wearing spiked white masks.

  “What do you want?” Nova demanded, his voice laced with defiance.

  “What do I want? What do I want?” The man in the tuxedo laughed, the sound devoid of warmth. “An excellent question. What I want is simple. One of you will die slowly, and the other... will die painfully. Both for my amusement, of course. And for the amusement of my associates here.”

  “Sorry to disappoint, but the two morons beside you will be the entertainment when we turn the tables,” Nova retorted, anger burning in his eyes. The man in the tuxedo snapped his fingers. One of the masked figures walked over to a lever on the wall. With a swift motion, the lever was pulled down, and the rope holding Nova was released, sending him crashing to the floor with a sickening thud.

  The two masked men wasted no time, savagely beating Nova with their bats. Ampelius watched in helpless horror, his heart racing as he heard Nova’s pained grunts. Each sickening crack of the bats against flesh sent waves of fury and guilt through him. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as if the pain could anchor him, stop him from breaking. He wanted to scream, to fight, but he was frozen and powerless, straining against the ropes that bound him.

  “Alright, that’s enough,” the man in the tuxedo said, waving his hand. “He got the message. Hang him back up.”

  The lever was pulled again, and the rope slowly dragged Nova’s battered body back to its original position. He hung limply, unresponsive to Ampelius’s frantic calls.

  “Nova, stay with me. Don’t you dare give up,” Ampelius whispered, his voice cracking. The sight of Nova’s bloodied face made his stomach churn. Fury coursed through him, boiling over into helpless rage. He felt like he was suffocating under the weight of his inaction. He took a few deep breaths, trying to keep his emotions in check before speaking. “Do me next! I’m getting numb.”

  “Oh, I’ve got other plans for you, my friend,” the man in the tuxedo replied, a wicked smile curling on his lips.

  “Good,” Ampelius muttered under his breath, unsure of what he could do but determined to stall. His voice was steady, but the effort it took to keep it that way was like holding back a dam on the verge of breaking.

  “What’s that? I need you to speak up! I can’t hear you when you mumble!” the man taunted.

  Ampelius lifted his head slightly, locking eyes with the man despite the pounding ache in his skull. Fear clawed at the edges of his mind, threatening to overtake him. He wanted to shout, to demand answers, but he knew the man would revel in his panic. Instead, he forced a smirk, though his lips trembled slightly.

  “You heard me,” he said, his voice sharp and defiant. Each word felt like a gamble, but Ampelius clung to his bravado as a shield against the chaos. Inside, his frustration churned. He hated the feeling of being a pawn, a spectacle for this sadistic showman, and the helplessness burned like acid in his veins. The man in the tuxedo tilted his head, his grin widening as if savoring Ampelius’ defiance.

  “Ah, there it is. That spark of resistance. I find it more satisfying when they think they still have a chance.”

  Before Ampelius could respond, the wall next to the exit exploded, sending smoke and debris everywhere. The masked men spun around, startled, gripping their bats tightly. Seconds passed in tense silence. Then, two projectiles whizzed through the smoke, striking the masked men down quickly. Ampelius’ breath caught in his throat, the sudden turn of events so abrupt it felt unreal, like a cruel trick.

  The man in the tuxedo barely had time to react before a blue-tipped spear embedded itself in his chest. His eyes widened in shock as the spear began to glow, his body disintegrating into a thick, blue paste that splattered onto the floor. Ampelius stared, frozen, his mind grappling with the mix of horror and satisfaction at the grotesque justice unfolding before him. The lifeless body collapsed, leaving the theater eerily silent except for the faint crackling of the destroyed wall.

  From the smoke emerged a rather tall shadowy figure, a Zavon. Its presence sent a chill down Ampelius’s spine, the sight of it jarring against the bizarre relief he felt moments earlier. It approached the spear lodged in the remains of the man in the tuxedo, adjusting it to vacuum up the blue paste. The efficiency of its actions struck Ampelius as unsettlingly clinical, as though the horror that had unfolded moments ago were nothing more than routine.

  It then turned its attention to the two other fallen bodies, swiftly repeating the process before holstering the spear on its back. Ampelius held his breath, his heart pounding against his ribs, half-disbelieving the sight in front of him. The sudden shift from terror to hope left his thoughts tangled and frantic. Was this salvation or something worse? Too soon, the creature’s gaze shifted upward, locking eyes with Ampelius.

  “Well, shit,” Ampelius muttered, the words slipping out instinctively, masking the chill of fear crawling up his spine. He braced for what he assumed would be his end.

  The Zavon calmly retrieved two boomerang-like weapons from its side and, with precise movements, flung them at the ropes, suspending Ampelius and Nova. Both ropes snapped in an instant, sending Ampelius plummeting to the floor. He landed hard on his back, pain exploding through his body, momentarily paralyzing him. A groan escaped his lips, the disorienting mix of relief and dread still clouding his mind. Nova hit the ground with a heavy thud, his body lifeless. Ampelius tried to move, to crawl toward his fallen comrade, but the pain was too intense. The Zavon approached Nova first, kneeling beside him and pulling out a red syringe. With practiced efficiency, it injected the syringe into Nova’s abdomen, then stood and walked toward Ampelius, who watched helplessly.

  “What did you inject him with? What do you want?” Ampelius demanded, his voice trembling.

  The Zavon didn’t answer, kneeling beside him and preparing another syringe. Ampelius struggled, panic clawing at his chest, but his body refused to cooperate. The needle pierced his thigh, and as the strange liquid entered his bloodstream, a wave of euphoria swept over him. The pain vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of relief and renewed energy. Ampelius scrambled to his feet, his eyes darting to Nova, who still hadn’t stirred. Relief warred with fresh panic as he saw Nova’s chest rise and fall, alive, but barely.

  “What did you inject us with?” Ampelius shouted, but the Zavon remained silent, stepping back to observe him.

  Ampelius scanned the room for a weapon, anything to defend himself, but found nothing. The Zavon continued to watch him, its expression unreadable behind the alien mask. Then, without warning, it began backing away, heading toward the hole in the wall it had entered through. “Where are you going? Come back here, coward!” Ampelius yelled, frustration rising.

  Before the Zavon could leave, two more Zavons entered through the hole, weapons drawn. They spotted Ampelius and Nova, their body language becoming aggressive. Ampelius braced himself, but to his astonishment, the Zavon that had injected him suddenly turned on its own. In a swift motion, it stabbed one of the newcomers in the neck with a boomerang, then kicked the other back through the hole. The two Zavons engaged in a brutal struggle, shadowy forms clashing in the smoke. After a tense moment, one Zavon lifted the other into the air and tore it in half before tossing the remains aside.

  The victorious Zavon, now covered in blue blood, stared briefly at Ampelius and Nova before turning and walking off into the smoke, disappearing from sight. Ampelius’s focus snapped back to Nova as he heard a faint grunt. “Nova? You okay? Can you hear me?” he called, limping over to his fallen friend. Nova groaned as he stirred, his eyes slowly opening. “Yeah, I think so. What happened? I remember getting beaten, but now I feel... really good.” Ampelius knelt beside him, checking him over. “It’s a long story,” he replied, helping Nova sit up.