Japan, April 16, 2047, 2:22 AM
The lights along the empty streets flickered as a military truck made its way through the heart of Tokyo. Inside, ten soldiers sat in tense silence, faces hidden beneath helmets and visors, waiting for the moment to act. The engine purred softly, like a predator lurking, as they drew closer to their destination.
“We’re nearing the target.” – said Tanaka, the team leader, breaking the silence. His voice was low and steady. “So let's go over everything one last time to make sure there are no mistakes.” All eyes turned to the screen inside the truck, where the image of a man appeared. His cold, pale face conveyed the aura of someone dangerous.
“Our target is Yoru Kurenai, also known as Jack, wanted for murder. Normally, the police would handle him, as he’s a minor criminal, but that changed when intelligence confirmed we’re dealing with a C-rank Darwinian with blood manipulation powers. That’s why we have someone from DEAD with us, they know how to handle Darwinians better than anyone.” He gestured toward Hiroshi Nakamura, the DEAD agent assigned to the team.
“Two weeks ago, Jack attacked an orphanage, leaving 13 people dead. Luckily, none of the children were hurt, except for one teenager he kidnapped, Kana. We don’t know what Jack wants with her, but if he’s involved, it can’t be good. Intelligence tracked both by their biological signatures to an abandoned building. Today, we have two objectives: rescue Kana and capture Jack.”
The truck stopped a few blocks from the building. The sound of the back door opening shattered the silence, and the soldiers deployed in formation, their movements synchronized and precise. At the front, Tanaka raised a hand, pointing toward the dark building looming like a shadow on the horizon.
“Communication check. Do you read me?” he murmured through the intercom.
“No movement outside the complex, over”, - responded one of the soldiers from the shadows.
“Perfect. Split into three teams. We’re going in.”
The soldiers moved quickly but silently; their footsteps muffled by the damp asphalt. The early morning air was cold and heavy, and the silence was unsettling. Reaching the building's main entrance, one soldier glanced at Hiroshi, waiting for the signal.
With a simple hand gesture, Hiroshi gave the command. “Now!”
The door burst open with a kick, its creak echoing through the building’s emptiness. The soldiers surged forward, their flashlights slicing through the darkness like blades, sweeping every corner with their weapons ready. The interior was covered in cobwebs and a thick layer of dust, as though untouched for years.
“Clear, over.”, - Hiroshi reported through the intercom.
Unaware of what lay ahead, the soldiers began searching the building one by one, always on high alert for any signs of life. Though silent, the place seemed to hide something in its shadows, someone was listening.
It was Jack, leaning casually against a graffiti-covered wall, his body relaxed but his eyes alert. A smile crept across his face as he heard the soldiers entering the building.
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“It looks like we have company, Kana.”, - he said, glancing at the young girl curled up in a dark corner. Her gaze was empty, arms wrapped around her knees. She didn’t respond.
“I was getting bored out of my mind, but I suppose I can have some fun before they get here.”, - Jack added, his eyes glinting with dangerous excitement. “Stay here, or you’ll regret it.”
Kana didn’t react, but her eyes tracked Jack’s every movement.
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Hiroshi led his team down the dark corridor, signaling the soldiers to split into their respective teams to search the place. Every sound seemed amplified by the tension in the air as they advanced cautiously toward the second floor. Each soldier kept their senses sharp, ready for any threat.
The 1st team entered what appeared to be an old warehouse. Construction equipment and materials indicated that the building was under renovation before being abandoned. Beneath a tarp, they found boxes filled with canned food, some recently opened.
“We found a few open cans of food in one of the storerooms, over.”, - one of the soldiers reported through the intercom.
“Copy that. Stay alert—they’re still in the building, over.” - Hiroshi replied.
The 2nd team, led by Hiroshi, entered what looked like a break room. Suddenly, a sound startled the soldiers, who turned quickly toward the source, weapons raised, it was an old clock bell, striking the hour. Hiroshi and the other soldiers checked their watches; it was exactly 3:00 AM.
The 3rd team was also checking their watches when a rusty, dust-covered door slowly creaked open. They cautiously advanced toward what seemed to be a decrepit office, their flashlights illuminating piles of scattered documents and old desks. A loud noise drew their attention to the back of the office, where they spotted a figure behind one of the desks.
They moved forward carefully, weapons drawn, and what they found left them momentarily stunned. Huddled and barefoot, wearing dirty, worn-out clothes, was Kana.
One of the soldiers lowered his weapon and knelt beside her, trying not to frighten her. “It’s alright, Kana. We’re here to help you.”
The girl raised her gaze, lunging toward the soldier and hugging him as her eyes filled with tears.
Kana lifted her head slowly, her eyes red and brimming with tears. “Don’t… don’t let them take me…” - she whispered, her voice trembling as if she were on the verge of despair.
The soldier moved, hugged her, recalling his own young daughter. “Don’t worry, Kana. You’re safe now. We’ll take you home.”
“Let Nakamura-san know we’ve found kAn…”. Just as he turned to report to the team, the soldier froze, his throat contracting in a spasm. He coughed, feeling a sharp pain in his neck. When he tried to speak, blood spilled from his mouth, choking his words.
“Please… don’t let them take me… brother.” Kana whispered as she withdrew a blood dagger from the soldier’s neck. His blood dripped onto her hand, her eyes darkening into a cold, murderous expression.
“NOW, BROTHER.” Kana shouted violently.
The remaining soldiers reacted immediately, but before they could pull the trigger, Jack appeared out of nowhere, his hand forming a blood spear that pierced through one of the men’s chests, dropping him with a dull thud. Gunshots echoed throughout the building, bouncing off the concrete walls.
“Damn it, LET’S GO!” As they heard the gunfire, they moved quickly. Chaos erupted.
When they arrived, the scene was devastating. The bodies of the third team were sprawled across the floor, covered in blood, their weapons scattered beside them. The air smelled of metal and death.
“Nakamura-san, look at this.” said one of the soldiers, pointing to the floor. A trail of blood led deeper into the building.
Hiroshi frowned. “They’re close.”