LightReader

Chapter 10 - Chapter 10, Corrupted Whispers, A Stone Heart..!

Every step Sinn took echoed ominously through the dimly lit corridor, each footfall a haunting reminder of the perilous path he had chosen. 

The shadows seemed to stretch and twist around him, whispering secrets of the unknown dangers that lay ahead. 

As he reached the heavy metallic door, it groaned in protest as he opened it, the sound reverberating like a mournful wail. Once inside, the door creaked shut behind him with an air of finality, sealing him in with whatever fate awaited.

The room was sparsely furnished, its only adornment two couches where Jenny sat waiting for him at one.

Her presence was both a dangerous and a challenge, her eyes fixed on him with an intensity that could pierce through any facade.

Sinn's expression remained inscrutable, his face a mask of solemn determination as he approached her.

The silence between them was thick and oppressive, stretching out like a taut wire ready to snap.

Sinn lowered himself onto the opposite couch soon facing her, his gaze never wavering from hers, even as the tension in the room grew palpable.

It was Jenny who finally shattered the silence, her voice sweet yet laced with an undeniable authority. 

"What are you?" she asked, her words hanging in the air like a question that demanded an answer.

Sinn felt a jolt of surprise ripple through him, but he maintained his calm exterior. With a steady confidence, he replied, "Just another one of those pure bloods being experimented on. What else would I be?"

Jenny's expression softened slightly, her skepticism giving way to contemplation. She sighed, a small, buzzing giggle escaping her lips as she turned her head to meet his gaze directly.

"Fine, keep it a secret. Who cares, right? Anyway, what do you think you're gonna do after leaving here? Are you going to get revenge?"

Sinn's response was measured, his voice carrying the weight of his resolve. "No, I'm not interested in petty revenge. I'm more interested in seeing this world and what it has to offer."

Jenny's face lit up with a mixture of relief and admiration. She understood the complexity of his choice, torn between the desire for justice and the harsh realities of the world they lived in. 

Her heart ached at the thought of the cruelty that had brought them to this moment, yet she couldn't help but respect Sinn's decision to rise above it.

The room seemed to pulse with an electric tension, the air thick with unspoken threats and the acrid scent of smoke. Sinn's presence was a dark cloud looming over Jenny, his intentions as inscrutable as the shadows that clung to the corners of the room. His eyes, momentarily flashing red like blood, held a promise of danger that even Jenny's formidable strength Couldn't detect.

Sinn's expression remained calm, almost serene, as he spoke, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "So is this what you wanted to talk about? I thought you wanted to make a deal."

Jenny's composure faltered for a moment, her surprise evident in the flicker of her eyes.

She laughed softly, a sound that seemed to echo off the walls, amplifying the tension between them.

"Join my team," she proposed, her voice carrying a mix of persuasion and urgency. "You may be strong, but the government won't leave you alone, even if you don't want to fight them. Join me."

As she reached into her pocket for another cigarette, Sinn interrupted her with a chilling response. "Why should I? I am far stronger than you think. Even if I can't beat them fairly, I could always beat them another way."

Jenny's expression hardened, her curiosity piqued by his cryptic words. "Oh, what other way?" she challenged, her tone edged with defiance.

"Don't push your luck, Jenny," Sinn warned, his voice low and dangerous. "Even though you may be strong…"

Sinn pause before finishing sentence

"but, even you can cry."

Jenny's face twitched with irritation, her patience wearing thin. But before she could demand further explanation, Sinn broke the silence again, his request more a command than a plea. "Let me get a cigarette."

Despite her annoyance, Jenny handed him a cigarette, watching intently as he lit it with her lighter. The ember glowed brightly, casting fleeting shadows across his face as he took a few deliberate puffs.

Leaning back on the couch, Sinn fixed his gaze on Jenny, his eyes boring into hers with a terrifying intensity. "That woman outside—she has antlers just like you. Is that your daughter?"

Jenny's initial reaction was a twitch, followed by a guarded expression. "And?" she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.

Sinn continued, his voice resonating with a chilling certainty. "You may be strong, but I think she can't stop me. I could do a lot more things than you could imagine."

Before Sinn could finish, Jenny lunged forward, her long-neck sword drawn with lethal precision. Her essence enveloped the blade, shimmering with power as she aimed to sever Sinn's neck.

But Sinn was ready. As Jenny's sword neared his throat, a white mist enveloped his body, transforming him with unsettling speed. His form shifted, taking on a feminine appearance that mirrored Jenny's daughter with uncanny accuracy.

Jenny's sword halted mere inches from his neck, her expression twisting with shock and fury. "You bastard," she spat, her voice trembling with rage. "So this is what you Meant."

Sinn's face, now a perfect replica of her daughter's, smiled with an exaggerated sweetness that was both terrifying and mocking. He extended a hand, pulling her blade closer to his neck, allowing fresh blood to seep out—a calculated act of defiance.

Jenny's face contorted with disgust, her resolve shaken by his audacity. With a sigh, she sheathed her sword, recognizing the futility of her actions against his unpredictable abilities.

Before she could command him to stop, Sinn spoke again, his voice dripping with menace. "Why do I have a feeling that if I were ever to take this form, you would never attack me?"

His words hung in the air, a taunt wrapped in mystery, challenging Jenny's perceptions and testing her limits.

Sinn's body dissolved into white smoke, reappearing behind her with disconcerting ease. He placed his hands gently on hers, preventing her from drawing her sword.

With his other hand, he grasped her neck from behind, turning her face to meet his gaze. His features, still those of her daughter, were hauntingly beautiful, yet the cigarette dangling from his lips was a stark reminder of his true identity.

Jenny's body froze, caught in the web of his manipulation, their eyes locked in a silent battle of wills.

But soon, Jenny vanished in a blur, her departure marked by a small sonic boom—a testament to her speed and desperation.

Sinn stood still in the aftermath, the room echoing with the remnants of their confrontation.

He remained motionless, aware that this encounter was merely the beginning of a much larger conflict, one that would test the boundaries of power, loyalty, and survival in a world ruled by strength and cunning.

The room was suffocating with tension, a palpable force that seemed to press down on Jenny's shoulders as she stood there, paralyzed by the weight of her own inner turmoil.

She knew Sinn's power, had witnessed it firsthand, yet the full extent of his might remained shrouded in mystery—a dark abyss she dared not explore.

Jenny's gaze flickered between confusion and anger as she addressed Sinn, her voice barely concealing the tremor beneath. "I get it. Go back to your old form."

Sinn's smile was a mere shadow of amusement, a fleeting expression that hinted at the depths of his enigmatic nature. Recognition was what he sought, a rare commodity from someone like her, a Vestige 3.

Without further ado, his body dissolved into smoke, swirling and coalescing into a form that defied comprehension—an unsettling visage that sent chills racing down Jenny's spine.

Her mind was a tumultuous sea of conflict, torn between the original plan to offer protection in exchange for the government's prized three pure bloods and the stark reality of Sinn's overwhelming strength.

His powers were an enigma, a mist that could easily engulf and obliterate the government, leaving them blind and vulnerable, ensnared by their own arrogance and greed.

Before Jenny could unravel the tangled web of possibilities, Sinn's voice cut through the haze. "Does that still stand? Can I still join your group?"

Shock rippled across Jenny's face, but it quickly morphed into a cautious smile. "Of course!"

Yet, her burgeoning happiness was short-lived as Sinn continued, "I'd like to add a couple of conditions before I join your group. Don't worry, it's nothing extravagant. In fact, you'll be quite pleased."

Skepticism etched itself onto Jenny's features, but she nodded, ready to negotiate. The meeting stretched over twenty minutes, a dance of words and intentions as they crafted conditions tailored to their needs.

Jenny's terms allowed her to commission Sinn for information, money, and items of equivalent value.

Sinn's demands were simple yet profound: a safe haven for himself and the other three pure bloods, along with other agreements that required careful consideration.

Jenny couldn't acquiesce to everything, especially the clause involving the pure bloods, which necessitated the presence of a government official.

Despite the government's waning influence, Jenny preferred Sinn to unsettle them, forcing them to abandon their pursuits.

It would mask her intentions, making it seem as though she wasn't hoarding the pure bloods out of greed. In truth, Sinn played the role of guardian, an older brother shielding his kin.

Jenny's confusion deepened upon discovering Sinn's protective instincts towards others.

Over the course of their conversation, she realized his disinterest in human affairs, yet his commitment to safeguarding the pure bloods under his name brought a flicker of warmth to her heart.

In the dim light of the room, shadows danced ominously, whispering secrets that only Sinn could decipher. Jenny understood now—he was far more than a mere ally; he was a force of nature, unpredictable and formidable, a guardian cloaked in smoke and mystery.

The room slowly turned dimly lit, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch and twist with a life of their own. 

The air was thick with tension as Jenny sat across from Sinn, her eyes darting nervously around the room. She could feel the weight of his gaze, like a predator sizing up its prey.

Even though she was a woman with a decade of combat, and the fact that she was a vestige 3. She felt as if everything was insignificant in his eyes, almost as if she was a child. 

This greatly made her question if she was signing an agreement of allies 

and not a slave contract.

As the meeting adjourned, Sinn's smile widened, a chilling grin that sent shivers down Jenny's spine because of his disturbing appearance. 

Her confusion deepened, and she couldn't help but ask, "Why are you smiling?"

Sinn's eyes locked onto hers, cold and unyielding. "Do you remember what I said? There are more ways to deal with people."

His eyes flickered with an unsettling light, and Jenny nodded, feeling a knot tighten in her stomach. With a casual snap of his fingers, the world around her began to unravel.

Jenny watched in horror as her body dissolved into wisps of white smoke, her mind scrambling for answers.

The room followed suit—the table, chairs, couches, floors, ceilings, and even the light fixtures disintegrated into ethereal tendrils of smoke.

Sinn stood amidst the chaos, his smile never faltering, as if he were orchestrating a symphony of destruction.

In an instant, everything snapped back into place. Jenny found herself in her original seat, the cigarette still smoldering between her fingers, untouched by the passage of time. Her heart pounded in her chest as she tried to comprehend the surreal experience.

Before she could voice her bewilderment, Sinn rose from his chair and sauntered towards the door. He paused, glancing back at her with a knowing look.

 "I told you," he said, his voice dripping with menace.

Realization crashed over Jenny like a tidal wave—everything had been an illusion, a masterful manipulation of reality itself. Their conversation, their conflict, their agreements—all mere figments under Sinn's control.

Cold sweat trickled down her face as she released the cigarette, which fell to the floor with a soft thud.

A nervous chuckle escaped her lips, and she vowed silently never to cross paths with Sinn again.

He was far too dangerous, a puppet master with strings woven from shadows and smoke.

More Chapters