CHAPTER 44
In Front of the Cloak Bar
The dim streetlights flickered as the rain fell in thin silver lines, shimmering on the wet asphalt. A sharp wind howled through the alley, slicing through the night.
Malcolm stood before the Cloak Bar, hands tucked into his pockets, a faint grin on his face as he looked at the burly bouncer guarding the door.
"Hey, you," the guard said in a harsh voice. "Didn't I tell you to leave?"
Malcolm tilted his head, smirking.
"Actually, I was just about to say the same thing to you. I think you should leave."
The guard took an angry step forward. The moment he lifted his fist, Malcolm moved like lightning grabbing the man's wrist midair.
"Tıtıtıtı… not that easy," he muttered coldly.
A crack echoed through the street. The guard's scream followed "Aaaaahhh!" and then silence.
Malcolm seized the man's neck and twisted. The snap of bones filled the air.
"Yes…" Malcolm exhaled deeply. "Power… I've missed you."
The bar door swung open suddenly. Two more men rushed out.
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing!?" they shouted.
Malcolm turned his head slightly, a dark grin spreading across his face.
"I'd love to explain why I'm here… but I doubt you'd understand. Still… I'll be needing your souls."
In an instant, his body dissolved into black mist a shadowy form sweeping forward.
As the shadow passed through them, there was a faint click.
All three bodies collapsed simultaneously their necks snapped.
Malcolm reformed, taking a slow breath.
"Hah… I really did miss this feeling," he murmured with a wicked smile.
He extended his hand the bar door creaked open by itself.
A voice came from inside.
"Hey… hello, Sven. Did you miss me?"
Sven's pupils dilated, his voice trembling.
"Look… whatever you want, just take it, okay? It's all yours. Just stay calm."
Malcolm walked toward him slowly, speaking in a low, mocking tone.
"Oh, Sven… I was going to do that anyway."
Sven pulled out a gun and fired.
The bullets tore into Malcolm's chest but he only bowed his head slightly, as if bitten by a mosquito.
"Ha… Sven," Malcolm chuckled. "What's wrong? Lost your powers too? You attack me with toys now? How pathetic…"
In a flash, he moved.
His hand closed around Sven's throat a twist and silence followed as bones cracked.
"I thought I'd find more here," Malcolm said, stepping over the corpse.
"But what can you do… we make do with what we have."
A crooked grin spread across his face. In his eyes flickered the faint gleam of dark satisfaction.
Mike's House
A heavy silence hung in the air.
All eyes were fixed on the mask lying at the center of the table.
Mike drew in a shaky breath.
"Alright… listen, no matter what happens… if you see even the slightest change in me when I put this mask on run. Because… I don't know how to stop it. But… I believe I can control it."
Emily stepped closer and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"No, that's not going to happen. Just… breathe."
Mike nodded. He picked up the mask.
The moment its cold surface touched his skin, a chill ran through him.
He held his breath and put it on.
One second of silence.
Then… a scream.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaahhh!"
Mike's eyes widened, veins bulging, as the carvings on the mask began to glow with a crimson light.
Mike's Vision
Darkness then a dim, red-tinted room appeared around him.
Malcolm was sitting across from him.
"Hey, Mike," he said with a grin. "Welcome. You actually dared to put on the mask, huh? Impressive."
Mike looked around, bewildered.
"What… what is this place?"
Malcolm leaned back in his chair.
"Relax. Sit down. We're just talking. I've got an offer for you. See, I'm still keeping my word. You keep your body but stop chasing me. We both go our separate ways."
"Are you insane!?" Mike shouted.
Malcolm ignored him.
"Think about it, Mike. Stop coming after me. Otherwise… you'll lose the people you care about. It's not worth it. But hey your choice."
Suddenly, the room shattered apart.
The mask fell to the floor crack! splitting clean in two.
"No! No, wait! I'm not done talking!" Mike shouted.
Everything went dark.
"Mike! Mike, are you okay?" Emily's voice came from somewhere distant.
Mike opened his eyes, drenched in sweat.
"Yeah… yeah, I'm fine. I just… I need to put the mask back on!"
"Mike, the mask broke! It's in two pieces!"
"No… no, no, no! Please… come on… work, damn it! WORK! Damn it!"
Emily knelt beside him, her voice trembling.
"Okay, Mike, breathe. We'll fix this. Just… tell us what happened."
Mike lifted his head, eyes staring into nothing.
"I saw him," he whispered. "Malcolm. He offered me a deal… but I said no. We can't stop now. We can't ever stop."
The silence that filled the room felt like the calm before a storm the kind that promised nothing but chaos to come.