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Condemned To Death
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“Welcome to Siren’s Garden,” Theo introduced with pride in his voice, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
Seren blinked, momentarily disoriented as he stepped away from the wide street. Before him stretched an expansive area, dominated by nine towering structures that pierced the sky like dark sentinels. The towers, made from an obsidian-like material, loomed majestically over the surrounding landscape, their surfaces glistening under the dim light filtering through the foliage of roots overhead. The contrast was striking; while the houses around the towers were quaint and unassuming, the towers exuded an air of mystery and power, making them the undeniable focal point of the garden.
As Seren surveyed his surroundings, he noticed the tall wall of roots encircling the area, creating a natural barrier that felt both protective and isolating. It was as if they were encased within a living dome, a sanctuary from the outside world.
Yet, despite the breathtaking scenery, a shadow loomed over Seren’s heart. He replayed the earlier encounter in the empty house, the unsettling feeling still gnawing at him. Was it merely an unfortunate accident, or was something more sinister at play?
‘...I don’t have enough information,’ Seren thought, his mind racing as he scanned the bustling streets. The area was alive with activity. Most people walking wore dark, hooded cloaks, their gloved hands tucked securely within the folds, lending them an air of mystery. Others wore fitted vests, adorned with an array of small tools that hung from their waists.
"How do you like it? Surprised?" Theo asked.
Seren didn’t say anything as he took a moment to sort through his swirling thoughts. ‘I will deal with this later when I have time,’ he resolved, pushing his concerns aside for the moment.
“Hmmmmm, not sure,” He replied.
“What type of answer is that?” Theo commented, confusion etched across his features.
Turning to him, Seren asked curiously, “Who are all these people?”
Theo followed Seren’s gaze, observing the dozens of figures bustling through the streets, some disappearing into the homes while others made their way toward the imposing towers. “The hooded ones are from the medical department, and the ones with the weird tools hanging from their vests are from logistics. Right now, they’re going to their department headquarters inside those towers for work,” he explained, his tone shifting to one of resignation as he pointed toward the towering structures.
Seren sensed a hint of envy in Theo’s voice when he mentioned the medical and logistics department.
“We will talk on the way; let’s go,” Theo said, redirecting the conversation.
…
“Matilda, did you check with the security department whether the members of the Black Hand we recently caught have been transported to the punishers?” Oliver asked as his eyes scanned the documents spread across his desk in the small, dimly lit empty room with no one else.
*Clutch
The door to the room opened with a soft click as Matilda entered. She wore a tailored blazer with a fitted waistcoat underneath, paired with slim trousers that tapered at the ankle. Her long chestnut hair framed her face, and her glasses caught the dim light, highlighting a gleam of intelligence in her eyes.
“Yes, they were handed over to the punishers three days ago,” Matilda replied, her voice tinged with nervousness.
Oliver paused, noticing the slight tremor in her voice. “Did the punishers get anything out of them?” he probed.
Matilda hesitated, the silence stretching between them before she finally answered in a low, nervous voice, “...They didn’t tell me.”
"Matilda! I told you, you need to be more assertive with those scum-of-the-earth punishers! They're hard enough to deal with as it is, and with your timid personality, you won't get anything out of them like this" Oliver admonished in a strict voice.
Matilda stood quietly, enduring the lecture that then followed for ten long minutes. Oliver's words were harsh, and she felt their sting, but she remained silent, her eyes fixed on the floor.
After Oliver finished, he sighed, a note of helplessness in his voice. “Next time, make sure you assert yourself in front of them.”
Matilda nodded and quietly left the room, closing the door gently behind her. Once in the hallway, she let out a deep, depressing breath, trying to shake off the weight of the lecture.
“Hey Matilda, what’s with that face?” a familiar voice called out.
Matilda looked up to see Theo approaching, a light smile on his face. She returned the smile, though it was tinged with awkwardness and lacked enthusiasm. Her gaze then shifted to the unfamiliar figure walking beside Theo, a man dressed entirely in white, with a mask that covered his face, giving him an ethereal, ghost-like appearance.
“What’s up? Did you get chewed out by Oliver again?” Theo asked playfully, trying to lift Matilda’s spirits.
Matilda nodded, her expression softening slightly at Theo’s lightheartedness. “Yeah, same old story,” she replied, her voice carrying a hint of resignation.
Theo chuckled, shaking his head. “He just cares about you. You’re doing great, Matilda.”
She appreciated Theo’s support, her smile growing a bit more genuine. Her eyes flicked back to the masked figure standing beside him, curiosity piqued. “And who’s this?”
“This is Seren,” Theo introduced, glancing at Seren. “He wants to join us, and I’m taking him to see the captain.”
Seren nodded silently in a gesture of greeting, his demeanor calm but reserved. Matilda returned the nod, observing him carefully. “Nice to meet you. Good luck on your test; the captain can be a little tense at times.”
“Thanks,” Seren replied simply.
“Alright, gotta go,” Theo said, waving goodbye to Matilda as he walked past her, with Seren following closely behind.
However, as they moved just a few steps and approached Oliver’s office, they heard his sharp voice call out from the other side of the door, jolting Theo to the core.
“Theo! Did you complete the report I told you about last week?”
Theo's steps faltered at the sudden command coming from Oliver’s room, his confidence wavering. “Uh, well, you see…” he stammered, glancing nervously at the closed office door. He hadn’t completed the report, and he could feel the weight of Oliver’s expectations pressing down on him.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“I, um… I had a lot on my plate! I’ll get to you soon, I promise!” Theo managed to say, forcing a casual tone that didn’t quite mask his anxiety.
Oliver’s voice grew stern. “You know how important that report is. You can’t keep putting it off. We need to stay on top of things around here!”
Matilda, who was still nearby, could see the tension building in Theo’s posture, and she felt a pang of sympathy for him. Before Oliver could launch into another lecture, Theo leaned toward Seren and whispered urgently, “Let’s get out of here before he starts lecturing me.”
Seren nodded silently, understanding the urgency. With that, they quickly slipped past Oliver’s office, trying to move as quietly as possible.
Once they were safely out of earshot, Theo let out a small laugh, shaking his head. “I swear, that man has a sixth sense for when I’m slacking off.”
Seren didn’t reply as he continued walking quietly. He had been unusually reserved ever since the ominous event back at the house. Theo also didn’t try to start a conversation with him either as he could vaguely tell Seren was keeping to himself, possibly nervous about meeting the Captain, who knows?
After a moment, Theo decided to break the silence. “You know, Matilda is one of the nicer and more normal ones in the Odd Squad,” he said, trying to lighten the mood. “I hope you don’t give her trouble, she’s helped me a lot in the past”
Seren nodded as they then walked in silence.
…
Theo and Seren walked into a dimly lit theatre room, the heavy velvet curtains framing the stage like a portal to another world. Hundreds of empty seats loomed in the shadows, their worn upholstery indicating their old age, while a single red-carpeted stairway led down to the vast empty stage, where the faint glow of lights illuminated a single long and imposing desk.
At the desk, a bald man, thick with muscle and draped in a long overcoat, scribbled fervently on a piece of paper. The sound of his writing was the only disturbance in the otherwise oppressive silence.
Beside him stood an old man with grey hair, his posture rigid and commanding with hands clasped behind his back as he surveyed the scene with a hawkish gaze.
Seren observed both individuals with keen interest, guessing the bald man to be the captain, while the old man seemed to be someone of importance, possibly his right-hand man.
Seren glanced at Theo, who stood beside him. He noticed that his body was unusually tense and his eyes were nervously darting to a corner of the theater. The dim lights cast an eerie glow on his face, revealing a hint of anxiety.
Following Theo's gaze, Seren noticed another figure slumped in one of the distant theatre seats. A young man lounged carelessly, legs draped over the seat in front of him, an open book resting on his face looking as if he were sleeping. The sight was oddly comical.
The only sound that could be heard in the quiet theatre was the persistent scratching of the captain's pen. Then suddenly, the scratching abruptly stopped, plunging the room into an unsettling silence.
The captain lifted his gaze from the page, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Seren and Theo, who stood frozen on the red carpet stairs.
But then instantly, a wave of pressure enveloped them accompanied by a heavy and suffocating feeling. Seren felt the captain's gaze like a physical force as if it was scanning him with a predatory intensity. It was a stark contrast to the previous interactions he had experienced during the rite with Elara and the other rank 3 elders.
The tense moment stretched on as Seren felt more and more threatened by the second with the captain’s calm gaze boring into him.
After what felt like an eternity, the captain returned his attention to the paper, the sound of his pen scratching against it resuming.
*Sigh
Theo let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, the pressure lifting from his shoulders as relief washed over him.
Seren leaned in closer, whispering urgently, “Why are you not saying anything?”
Theo met his gaze with a helpless look as he then whispered back, “He wouldn’t respond even if I did. That's just how his personality is.”
Seren raised an eyebrow but ultimately decided against pressing further.
“OH! If it isn’t my Theo!”
A sudden loud voice pulled Seren’s attention to the side, and he saw the man who had been sleeping now wide awake, his expression lit up like a bulb as he looked at Seren and Theo.
Seren glanced back at Theo, who stood frozen, his face pale and grave. The contrast between the man’s exuberance and Theo's anxiety was stark, creating an unsettling dynamic in the air.
Theo shifted uncomfortably, his eyes downcast as if the weight of the man's gaze was too much to bear.
“I’m not here for you, Zane,” he muttered, trying to sound defiant, but the tremor in his voice betrayed him.
Zane then lazily got up from his seat, his movements languid and casual, as he said, “Oh, come on! You know I was just looking out for you earlier. Why did you run off? You know how hard I was looking for you?” His tone was deceptively friendly.
Theo didn’t reply, his gaze fixed on the floor, where the plush red carpet seemed to absorb the tension. There was clear anxiousness and fear etched on his face, the lines of worry deepening with every passing moment.
Seren was a bit confused by the attitude of the man and the way Theo was behaving right now.
Zane briskly walked up the stairs, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, exuding a confidence that felt almost predatory. He closed the distance between himself and Theo, as he put a hand on his shoulder and leaned in with an unsettling familiarity. “Relax, Theo. We’re friends, right? No need to look so nervous around me, you’re gonna scare others into thinking I bully you or something”
Theo didn’t make eye contact or say anything, standing there silently, his body rigid as if he were a statue carved from fear.
Zane observed the frozen Theo with an eerie look in his eyes, waiting for a response.
Then, out of nowhere, Zane grabbed Theo’s face by the cheeks with a single hand, forcing him to look up into his eyes.
“Hey, hey, hey, look at me,” Zane hissed softly, his voice low and conspiratorial, but laced with an unsettling intensity.
Theo looked into his eyes, a flicker of fear crossing his features.
“We’re friends, right?” Zane asked, his smile wide but obviously fake. “Just like old times.”
The words made Theo's skin crawl and he felt weakness in his legs as some traumatic memories resurfaced in his mind, shadows of past encounters flashing before his eyes. He nodded lightly, the movement almost imperceptible.
“Good… just like that. We’re best friends from now on,” Zane said, releasing Theo’s face, who subconsciously took a step back, as if trying to distance himself from the lingering touch.
Zane then turned his attention to Seren, who had been observing the interaction silently behind his mask.
“And who’s this pale ghost? What’s your name, buddy?” Zane said, looking at Seren with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
Seren met Zane's gaze, a cold glint in his eyes as he weighed his response. After a moment, he replied simply, “Seren.”
“Hmmmmm,” Zane mused, a contemplative look crossing his face as he closed his eyes and scratched his chin. The playful expression seemed to mask something darker lurking beneath. He opened his eyes again, a light smile playing on his lips as he then extended his hand toward Seren. “Okay, let’s be friends.”
Theo watched Zane extend his hand, a wave of anxiety creeping into his mind. He tried to find his voice, but the memory of their previous encounter left him paralyzed, with no words able to escape his lips.
Seren regarded Zane’s outstretched hand for a few seconds, contemplating the implications of this gesture. Finally, he reached out and shook hands with Zane. But as their hands clasped, Zane’s smile widened as he then instantly tightened his grip on Seren’s hand.
Seren felt the increasing pain and pressure around his hand as if it might be crushed. But he maintained his composure, before looking up to see Zane still smiling kindly at him.
Zane, unable to read the expression on Seren’s face, tilted his head slightly and asked in a concerned voice, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I was just thinking…” Seren replied calmly, his voice trailing off as he glanced to the side at Theo, who was watching with clear concern etched across his features.
“What were you thinking?” Zane pressed, his tone deceptively casual.
Seren turned his head back toward Zane and said, “Just that... how good of friends we are going to be.”
“Huh?” Zane was taken aback by the response, his smile faltering for a brief moment as he let go of Seren’s hand. He observed Seren with newfound interest for a few tense seconds.
He then burst into a loud laugh. “Hahaha! Yes, we sure as hell will be!”
With a sudden, exuberant motion, Zane threw one arm over Seren’s shoulder and another over Theo’s, pulling them both close. He leaned in conspiratorially and said, “Why don’t we go sit? We can have a nice, long chat while the captain finishes his business.”
With Zane’s arm around him, Theo glanced toward Seren, guilt flashing in his eyes for dragging him into this situation. When Seren looked back at him, he quickly turned his gaze back down, the weight of his apprehension heavy in the air.
Seeing that neither of them was saying anything, Zane clapped his hands together and said, “Let’s all have a great time, shall we?”
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Condemned To Death
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