"Since I was a child, my parents were loving and taught me that all life had value. No matter how cold the world treats you, never let your heart falter..."
***
Back at the Squad Bastards base, Leon sits naked on the shower floor, water pouring over his trembling body. The room is pitch black, the darkness pressing in from all sides. Blood swirls down the drain, but it feels like none of it is really leaving him.
Never let your heart falter, huh? Can I even go back home to such good people anymore?
As his mind spirals, the woman's voice from the day before echoes through his head.
Hellllppp meeee... it huuurttts...
Leon winces.
"Hurk!" he chokes, vomiting into the drain.
The memory burns in his skull—the way her face twisted in pain before death took her. And then, as if to punish him further, her face morphs into his mother's. Then his father's. Then his sister's. One by one, he imagines them all exploding like the chapel crowd.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
Leon clutches his head, breathing heavily.
*Please stop..."
***
Meanwhile, in the base's living room, Axel lounges shirtless on the couch, headphones on, munching a chicken sandwich. His abs glisten from the sweat still left over from the chaos earlier.
"Another mission completed with a big boom to wrap it up! We even found a car to steal, so no blood-covered train rides this time. Nom!" he grins mid-bite.
"I'm glad the mission succeeded, but do you always need to end with collateral?" Raven mutters as she types furiously at the coffee table nearby. "This is why I didn't want to send you. Roxie would've been a much better fit."
Axel takes off his headphones and leans forward, eyes narrowing.
"Roxie can be the better option. But if she's not available, she's just dead weight. She's on a mission. I did what I had to do. You remember the third F, right?"
"Yes, 'Finish the mission no matter what.' But come on, Axel—was it necessary to go that far? You weren't supposed to scar the kid, just bruise him a little."
Axel shrugs. "If what I did was enough to leave him scared, he won't survive here anyway. Let him cry. He'll grow some balls soon. Just watch."
Raven's fingers pause on the keys. Her tone turns icy.
"Say what you want, but I'm assigning Leon to the next mission. If he backs out because of your mess, you can explain it to Magnus."
Axel gulps. "Ergh..."
"I see you finally grasp the gravity of the situation. Good. Hop to it," Raven orders flatly.
"Ugh... fine, I'll go talk to the kid. Fuckin' bullshit…"
***
A tiny, scratchy voice suddenly cuts through the room.
"So… we got a new member?"
Both Raven and Axel turn to the front of the base. Standing in the entrance is a monstrous man—bald, pale-skinned, and towering at eight-foot-five. His purple pants stretch over bulging legs, his stained lab coat flaps loosely, and black stitches zig-zag across his bloated body. He carries the stench of death like a second skin.
Axel nearly chokes. "Oh shiiit! Big boy Victor in the flesh! Ain't seen you in two months. You finally join the league yet?"
Victor's deep voice rumbles. "No. My last mission took longer than expected. But like the three Fs command... I finished it with efficiency."
"Welcome back, Victor," Raven says. "I'm sure your mission was right up your alley."
Victor grins and raises his arms.
"I even grabbed these on the way here."
In each hand, he clutches a severed human head, their lifeless eyes staring out in different directions.
"These two wandered too close to the base. I took the liberty of sticking them. The poison took their brains before they could scream," he states blankly.
"And you brought that shit in here?!" Axel snaps. "You already smell like decaying shit twenty-four-seven!"
"My apologies. I was being inconsiderate," Victor says calmly, slinging both bodies over his shoulder. "I'll take them to my lab for dissection."
As he lumbers toward the stairwell, Raven's voice stops him.
"Sorry to bother you so soon, but I've got another mission lined up—for you and the newbie."
Victor nods. "Doesn't matter. I have to take a dump anyway."
As he disappears down the stairs, Raven pinches the bridge of her nose.
I just remembered Axel broke the door to the base again. We should probably fix that...
Axel stares after Victor, shaking his head.
"If the kid was freaked out by me, there's no way he survives a mission with that freak. Victor's a damn monster."