Lilith moved cautiously, keeping to the shadows as she slipped to the side of a parked vehicle. Her eyes scanned the bustling street, noting the curious stares thrown her way. Her suspicious behavior wasn't subtle, but she didn't care. She crouched low, listening intently to the muffled voices coming from the other side of the vehicle.
Three guards stood there, their casual posture and lax demeanor betraying a sense of misplaced confidence.
"Hey, you sure we should be lounging around like this? The boss is gonna lose it if he finds out," grumbled one of them, his voice tinged with nervousness.
"Relax, rookie," another guard replied, sounding amused. "The boss isn't even here. No need to stress yourself out."
"We might get away with it, but you don't want her catching you slacking," the third guard said sharply, his tone laced with warning. "You know how Toxic gets."
"Toxic's not even here," the second guard shot back. "Boss took her with him to Nexus. The one we really don't want to run into is that little runt the boss is always fussing over. You know how much of a lunatic he is."
Lilith smirked to herself as she caught the last part. So, El isn't here. This just got easier, she thought, straightening from her crouch. Her fingers lightly grazed the edge of the vehicle as she stepped into full view, leaning casually against its side.
"Hey, boys," she called out, her voice tinged with urgency but edged with confidence. "I need your help—someone's fainted nearby."
The guards turned to face her. One of them sneered beneath his helmet, his voice dripping with disdain. "Do we look like medics to you, lady?"
"Hey, shut it," the second guard cut in, stepping forward. His gaze swept over Lilith, his grin unnervingly lecherous. "Let's hear her out. After all, a beautiful woman like her could always use some help, right?"
Lilith resisted the urge to roll her eyes, instead offering the guard a saccharine smile that masked her true intentions. Her posture shifted to appear vulnerable, though her mind raced. Perfect. The bait's been taken.
"My friends... they've fainted! I don't know what to do!" Lilith exclaimed, her voice trembling just enough to sound convincing.
The second guard tilted his head, his eyes narrowing behind his visor. "I can call a paramedic," he offered, already reaching for his comm device.
Lilith's heart skipped a beat. Damn it. If he calls for help, this plan's over before it begins. Thinking quickly, she reached up and tugged her cloak down just enough to reveal the curve of her collarbone, a tantalizing hint of skin. Her tone softened, dripping with false sweetness.
"No, I need you—strong men like you—to help me," she purred, biting her lower lip and leaning in slightly. Her fingers toyed with the edge of her cloak as her gaze flickered between the guards. "Please?"
The second guard froze, his hand hovering mid-air as a crooked smile spread across his face. "Well, when you put it that way…" He turned to the others. "Let's go help our lady friend here."
The rookie hesitated, glancing between Lilith and his superiors. "Shouldn't we still bring paramedics? What if it's something serious?"
The second guard snapped his head around, his smile vanishing as he barked, "Shut the hell up, rookie, and follow orders!"
The third guard chuckled, adjusting his blasters. "Come on, newbie. Let's not keep the lady waiting."
Lilith led the trio of guards deeper into the alley, her steps steady, her faint smile concealing her true intent. The air grew heavier with each step, the dim light casting jagged shadows that danced along the walls. The guards followed her closely, their boots clicking on the uneven pavement, oblivious to the deadly game unfolding.
"It's just up ahead," Lilith said, feigning urgency as she stopped abruptly and gestured deeper into the shadows. She stepped aside, letting the guards move forward, her hand lingering near her belt.
"Where are they?" one of the guards demanded, his voice tinged with suspicion as he scanned the darkness.
Lilith's tone turned sharp and mocking. "You should've listened to the rookie."
Before they could react, she spun around and grabbed the rookie by the neck, forcing the Dream Walker into his mouth. His body stiffened, his pupils dilating as the parasite took hold of his mind.
"You lying bitch!" one of the remaining guards shouted, spinning around and aiming his blaster at Lilith.
But before he could fire, a shadow moved behind him. Crimson emerged like a specter, his movements swift and brutal. With a single, precise strike to the back of the guard's head, Crimson knocked him out cold. The guard crumpled to the ground, his blaster clattering on the pavement.
The last guard turned sharply, panic in his eyes as he raised his blaster and reached for his comm device. His fingers barely brushed the button when Nox burst from the shadows. Her movements were a blur as she leapt onto his shoulders, her legs locking around his neck in a deadly grip.
The guard staggered, dropping his blaster as he clawed desperately at Nox's legs. His gasps grew weaker, his struggles frantic but futile.
"Nox, wait!" Crimson called out, stepping forward.
But she didn't stop. With a sharp twist of her legs, a sickening snap echoed through the alley. The guard's body went limp and crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Nox exhaled, her face expressionless as she stood over the body.
"You didn't have to kill him," Crimson said, his voice heavy with disapproval.
She glared at him, her glowing pink eyes shimmering with unspoken emotion. "Don't preach to me, Crimson. If you wanted to stop me, you should've stepped in." Her voice cracked slightly, but she quickly masked it. "Besides, it's not like you didn't enjoy taking out your guy."
Crimson hesitated, his fists clenching.
Nox's voice dropped, her tone laced with grief. "If any of us had stepped in before, maybe Sebastian wouldn't be dead." A single tear slipped down her cheek, but she wiped it away quickly. Her composure returned as she turned her attention to the rookie, now fully under her control.
The Dream Walker had taken full effect. The rookie stood rigid, his eyes wide and unfocused, his body awaiting her command. Nox stepped closer, her voice cold and commanding. "He's mine now. Let's get what we came for."
Lilith smirked, stepping over the unconscious guard as she stripped off his armor. "Let's get this over with," she muttered, slipping into the ill-fitting uniform.
Crimson followed suit, fastening the chest plate and adjusting the helmet with a grimace. "This thing reeks," he grumbled. "So, what's your plan while we head in?"
Nox leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. "Oh, I'll just stay here, pondering whether I should forgive you or not," she said with a roll of her eyes.
Crimson froze mid-adjustment. "Wait… seriously?"
"Hell no," Nox shot back, her lips curling into a sly smile. "I'll stay in control of our little puppet here," she said, gesturing toward the rookie standing eerily still under her influence. "You two should be safe enough, but if things go south, I'll be there to clean up your mess. Unlike you, Crimson, I don't leave loose ends."
"Funny," Crimson said dryly, narrowing his eyes at her.
Lilith let out a huff as she tugged the oversized gloves into place. "This totally doesn't fit my style," she muttered under her breath, adjusting the armor. With a final tug, she slid the helmet on and gave Crimson a sharp nod. "Alright, let's move. Time's wasting."
"Yeah, okay," Crimson replied, pulling his helmet into place.
Nox gave them a dismissive wave, her pink eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. "Try not to die, alright? Makes my job easier."
Without another word, Lilith and Crimson stepped out of the alley, their footsteps steady as they followed the rookie's stiff, mechanical movements. The shadows swallowed Nox as she stayed behind, her focus locked on maintaining control over the guard.
The group moved swiftly, their mission now riding on deception, timing, and the silent threat of Nox waiting in the wings to intervene. The echoes of their violent confrontation faded into the distance as they advanced toward the next stage of their plan.