The room was filled with intense heat as Zara stood, her eyes ablaze with rage. The man's screams echoed, mingling with the scent of burning flesh. Zara released her grip, throwing the man back onto the floor. She stepped away, her flames receding as she inspected the man’s tattoos. On his neck, she noticed a serpentine tattoo, its twisting form slithering down around his neck to his chest.
“Oh, fuck, he’s part of the Qi Family.” Zara chuckled to herself, the sound barely audible, a dark amusement dancing in her eyes. She turned to me, acknowledging my puzzled expression with a sidelong glance. “Them Qi’s are like one of the most dangerous families around here. No one would even dare mess with a Qi.” She said with a twisted smile.
I glanced at the man’s charred face. “Uhm…How dangerous are they?”
“Oh, you know, they got abductions, drug trafficking, human trafficking, assassinations, uh…Oh! And horrid and brutal acts of torture.”
My face froze with her sentence. “So…this man…is a Qi?...”
“Yup”
“We’re not safe, aren’t we?”
“Nope, definitely not”
With a loud crash, a patrol of MedTechs barged into the room. Their hurried steps and serious demeanor conveyed a sense of urgency as they tackled the aftermath of Zara's fight. Brisk and efficient, they swept through the space, swiftly collecting the man's belongings and piling them up without sentiment. Among the items retrieved were a compact pistol, a mysterious bracelet, a wallet, and a distinctive serpentine insignia.
“Ms. Zara, as a contracto-” One of the MedTechs began
“HEY! Let's…uhm go talk over there. Shall we?” Zara interrupted him with a menacing grin, gesturing towards a more discreet corner of the room.
Zara led the MedTech to a secluded corner, away from prying eyes and eavesdropping ears. The air was thick with tension as they engaged in a hushed conversation, the MedTech occasionally glancing back at the rest of the team still at work. Zara grabs him by his shirt, her grip firm and threatening. The MedTech met her intense gaze. He nodded, ending their conversation. Zara released her grip, the tension in the air lingering for a moment before dissipating. The man’s belongings caught my eye. I stealthily approached the pile. I pocketed the compact pistol and the bracelet.
“Alright, kid! Let’s go! There’s a luxury bath tub with my name on it! HAHAHA”
I nodded, following her to the front desk. The receptionist was visibly afraid.
“Hey man, we got a room here. How ‘bout finding that for us, will ya?” Zara demanded from the receptionist
“Y-Yes, Ma’am. Do you have a keycard that was given to you? If not, you can always boo-”
“OH YEAH! Desire-boy, show this nice lady the keycard we got.” Zara interrupted.
The receptionist's hands trembled as they fumbled with the check-in process. Zara, with her menacing grin still intact, leaned casually on the front desk, her eyes never leaving the receptionist. Desire materialized the keycard with a flourish. “Here you go! The very key that will open our way to luxury comfort!” he declared, his tone dripping with theatrical flair. Zara chuckled, clearly amused by his antics.
The receptionist, visibly relieved to have the interaction take a more lighthearted turn, scanned the keycard and handed it back with a shaky smile. "S-Suite 237, right this way. Enjoy your stay," she stammered, gesturing nervously towards the corridor.
Suite 237 welcomed us with a soft glow emanating from the elegant crystal chandelier. The air carried the subtle scent of lavender, and the room exuded a luxuriousness that sharply contrasted the Pyramid’s living quarters. Zara barges in the room like she owned it. Desire and I entered cautiously, the heaviness of recent events lingering in the air. The room, adorned with plush furnishings and tasteful art, offered a momentary sanctuary from the dangers that lurked outside its walls.
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Zara jumped into the king-sized bed, claiming it as her throne.
The atmosphere in Suite 237 shifted as Zara took her place on the opulent bed, an air of authority surrounding her. Zara's laughter echoed in the room, a mix of relief and defiance. “Ah, this is the life! Luxury fits me well, huh?” Zara remarked, her eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and exhaustion. Desire joined in with a theatrical bow. “Indeed! A well-deserved respite from the chaos of the outside world.”
I couldn't help but chuckle nervously, the weight of the recent encounter with the Qi Family goon still fresh in my mind. The room offered a temporary escape, but the reality of our precarious situation lingered.
“So, what’s going to happen next?” I asked, glancing between Zara and Desire.
Zara lounged back on the bed, propping herself up on her elbows. “Oh relax, kid. We've earned this rest. But you right, we can't stay here forever. The Qi family definitely won’t take my little attack lightly.” Little attack? She incinerated the man’s face.
I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. “What about the guy you just... dealt with? Won’t the Qi Family come looking for him?”
“Oh, totally! Those motherfuckers put trackers on all their goons. They could be on their way here right now. You never know.”
Her words incited anxiety and dread in me. Will there be another fight? Is it going to be like Marcus Farhide? “It’s okay, Mari! I can always help you during your fights! Like how I helped you with Farhide.” Desire's reassurance brought a flicker of comfort, but the missing memories of the intense struggle with Marcus Farhide still haunted me. The same question ever since the death of Marcus Farhide haunted me. How did I hunt Marcus Farhide?
I still have no clue how Desire helped me. “Thanks, Desire. I…uhm appreciate it.” I replied, my voice carrying a hint of gratitude. But he’s my friend. I can still trust him.
“Okay! No more of that worry talk. Bathtub awaits!” Zara jumped up and grabbed my arm. “C’mon Mari, our throne is waiting for asses!”
With Zara's infectious energy leading the way, she dragged me to the luxurious bathroom. The opulence of the suite continued into the bathing area, with a massive tub surrounded by candles and adorned with rose petals. As we prepared to indulge in the comfort and warmth of the bath, I couldn't help but feel a momentary reprieve from the looming dangers outside. The flickering candlelight cast a soothing glow, and the scent of lavender filled the air, momentarily pushing away the anxieties that clung to me.
Zara, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, declared, “Ahhhh, finally. I’ve always wanted to try this. My body is fucking melting.” She gracefully descended into the water, letting out a contented sigh. “C’mon, kiddo. What you doing standing there for? You ain’t my servant. Get in here! Water’s hella nice.”
As I sank into the warm water, the tension that had gripped me began to dissolve. My anxiety melted away, replaced by a soothing surge of relaxation and comfort that washed over my body, casting aside all my worries. The scent of lavender and the soft glow of candlelight created a soothing ambiance. The water enveloped me in a cocoon of warmth, and I got into the luxurious bathtub beside Zara. The flickering candlelight played on the water's surface. Despite the opulence surrounding us, the reality of the danger we faced still lingered like a shadow.
Zara leaned back, a satisfied smile on her face, her eyes half-closed as she basked in the tranquility of the moment. “You see, Mari? This is what life should be. We gotta be indulging in finer things more. Treat ourselves like we’re royalty, you know what I mean?”
“Mhm! I’m so tired of having to worry about things so much. Hehe. This reminds me of that time when mommy gave me a bath back at home. Home… I want…I want to go back home…”
The reminder of home and the realization that maybe I don’t have a way back home hits me like a truck. Tears start forming in my eyes. I miss my mom. I miss my dad. I want to go back home. I don’t want to do this anymore.
Zara's eyes softened as she looked at me, her tough exterior momentarily giving way to a glimpse of empathy. “Hey, hey, hey now, stop the waterworks, Mari. I get it. We all yearn for a place that feels safe. You know, a home where we can let our guard down. But like sometimes, life takes us on unexpected journeys, and we find ourselves in places we never imagined. Plus, you get to experience luxurious and fancy shit like this, man. Let’s just chill. Let’s not let the water get warm on us now.”
She flashed a mischievous grin, attempting to lighten the mood. “And bro seriously! Look at this place! Legit has a bathtub fit for a king or, you know, a badass bitch like me. We can't be getting all sentimental and drowning in emotions, not when there's so much more exciting shit waiting for us out there.”
Desire, with his calm demeanor, joined in, “Zara’s right, Mari! The world outside might be a mess, but we've got each other. Let's face whatever comes our way with our heads held high. We're a team, a family. And families, well, they find their way, no matter how rough the road is.”
With their encouraging words, I managed a small smile, realizing that even amidst the chaos, there was a sense of camaraderie that bound us together. Zara playfully splashed water again, breaking the lingering somberness. Deep inside, I felt as if I'd found a family in this dark and twisted world. But my bracelet flickered to life.
NEW JOB ASSIGNMENT
HUNT QI ANRAN
DURATION:15 DAYS
REWARD: BIONIC EYE
NECA NE NECERIS