The walk back to HQ was a blur of limps, torn clothes and silence. Kyle's scythe dragged along the cracked road, leaving faint grooves in the concrete. Cassie's arm was wrapped tight against her ribs, the fabric of her jacket soaked dark. Liam's every step was a lurch, his shirt plastered to him with blood that had long dried but kept seeping in new patches.
None of them spoke, not until HQ's looming walls rose ahead, the lights glowing faint and warm.
Inside, squads moved through the halls, murmuring and staring. Everyone noticed the state of the Clyck Squad but no one said a word.
When the office doors opened, Captain Dylan was standing behind his desk. His coat hung heavy on his shoulders. He waited until the door clicked shut behind them.
"Please, sit down." Dylan's voice was low.
The squad eased into the chairs, though none of them looked comfortable. Kyle tried not to notice how stiff his scythe strap felt on his bandaged shoulder.
Dylan leaned forward, folding his hands. "What happened out there?"
Cassie leaned forward, her hands clasped so tight the knuckles blanched. "We were able to get intel from the mayor about the victims... we lost eight lives to that hospital."
Kyle shifted in his seat but didn't argue.
Liam swallowed."We spread after entering the hospital and I encountered a demon that looked like a girl. It comprehended human."
"But that's not all, sir... the demon knew Kyle. And wanted to kill him." Cassie said.
"Oh, yeah." Liam added."It called him the boy with the scythe… and said he hurt Draemir."
The room seemed to shrink. Dylan's pen stilled, the tapping stopped. His eyes locked onto Kyle.
"I see..." Dylan said."...but this was Kyle's second, which means Draemir must be that demon you and Voklov Squad encountered... this demons are linked somehow."
Kyle blinked. "Whoa?"
"That has to be it..." Dylan's fingers drummed once against the desk, then stilled again. "And this makes the situation alot bigger than it was, cause we may be dealing with a whole pack of those kinds."
Kyle's throat dried. His grip on the armrest tightened.
Cassie leaned forward, cutting in. "And we also noticed its behavior. It was selective, it swallowed only the locals and avoided direct confrontation with authority.."
Dylan's jaw clenched. "I knew we were dealing with intelligent beings the moment I heard they comprehended human speech." He muttered under his breath. "I need to inform Central HQ, before this matter gets worse."
Liam spoke up again. "Uh… speaking of worse things… someone destroyed half of the hospital and almost the town as well."
"Yeah... what's that guy's deal? And that sword..." Kyle's voice picked up, awe slipping into it.
Dylan didn't flinch. "They sent Rashad didn't they? Ughhh... Wind Breaker is a demon. One of the rarest kinds, we've only ever seen one of its kind. It doesn't look demonic but it is alive."
Kyle's eyes widened. "That's… insane. A demon that looks like just a sword? Whoa… cool."
Cassie shot him a sharp look. "Cool? That 'cool' nearly leveled Renstown, Kyle. Did you already forget being thrown like a ragdoll across the rubble?"
Kyle raised his hands. "I mean... yeah, that part sucked. But you saw it too... it cut through those threads like nothing."
Cassie leaned forward, crossing her arms. "And he said he was the North Division's Vice-Captain. Since when did divisions have those?"
Dylan sighed, rubbing his temple. "They don't but North Division is… an exception."
"What's so special about it?" Liam asked.
Dylan's tone was level. "Rashad was the real Captain but when his apprentice surpassed him... he stepped down. The higher-ups made an exception for him."
Liam shook his head slowly. "So he's not just some backup, he's a demoted Captain?"
"It's not a demotion if you chose to step down yourself." Dylan gave a humorless chuckle. "And I don't even have to check the reports. If Rashad swung Wind Breaker, then I know half the district is in bad shape and the mayor is probably screaming about property damage."
Dylan stood, pushing the chair back. His coat shifted as he moved, authority weighing on every motion. "I'm leaving for Central, you three are grounded until further notice. Rest, heal and stay sharp. "
The squad sat in silence. Cassie's eyes flicked toward Kyle, her expression unreadable. Liam flexed his bandaged arm, scowling but saying nothing.
Kyle stared down at his scythe's strap, his mind buzzing.