Chapter 43 : Monster Mash
The basement plunged into darkness as the power was cut. The henchmen's frantic shouts echoed through the corridors. Malcolm, in his room, was startled and quickly pulled a gun from his drawer.
Meanwhile, Stefan and Lily, seated together on the couch and looking out at the rain, exchanged small grins, seeming eerily unfazed, as if they had anticipated this chaos.
In the basement, bullets rained down on Beetle and Hedgehog. Both agents took cover behind concrete pillars, their faces etched with worry for their fellow agents. "Hedgehog, we've got to get them out of here!" Beetle shouted over the gunfire.
"Cover me!" Hedgehog responded, eyes steely with determination.
Beetle unleashed a barrage of bullets, forcing the henchmen to take cover. Hedgehog dashed towards the chained agents, snapping their bonds with quick, precise movements. As he worked, the henchmen redirected their fire towards him. Bullets seemed to phase through his body, leaving him unscathed. "Merde!" Hedgehog cursed, his frustration palpable.
Beetle shouted urgently, "Hedgehog, we've got no time! Take them down now!"
Hedgehog stood, his form shifting. His arms elongated, transforming into deadly straw-like tendrils. The henchmen watched in horror as the straw lashed out, cutting through them with brutal efficiency. Blood splattered across the walls as Hedgehog's power tore through flesh and bone.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
More henchmen stormed into the basement, their guns blazing. Beetle returned fire, his bullets finding their marks with deadly accuracy. "Retreat through the cage!" Beetle ordered, guiding the freed agents towards the only apparent exit.
As they neared the cage, Beetle's eyes widened in shock at the sight within. Before he could process what he was seeing, a new threat emerged. A henchman wearing a red mask entered the fray, his presence immediately sending chills down Hedgehog’s spine.
"This one's different," Hedgehog muttered, feeling an ominous aura.
The red-masked henchman, Machielo Moreau, moved with lethal precision, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. Hedgehog reacted quickly, blocking Machielo's punch with an arm-turned-straw shield fused with Orve. The impact reverberated through his body, and Hedgehog felt the raw power of Orve behind the strike.
"Who the hell are you?" Hedgehog demanded, his voice a mix of curiosity and fear.
Machielo's voice was cold and measured. "I am Machielo Moreau."
Hedgehog’s eyes widened in recognition and dread. "MM the Killer..."
The fight intensified. Hedgehog's straw arms flailed and whipped, but Machielo evaded and countered with terrifying speed and strength. Each blow Machielo landed sent shockwaves through Hedgehog’s straw form, testing the limits of his ability.
Beetle continued to fire at the henchmen, covering the retreat of the other agents. He glanced back, seeing Hedgehog engaged in a deadly dance with Machielo. "Hedgehog, hold on!" he shouted, firing at another approaching henchman.
Machielo's red eyes glowed with malice as he relentlessly pursued Hedgehog. "You won't leave here alive," he hissed, his fists a blur of motion.
Hedgehog gritted his teeth, focusing on defense. He knew he couldn't keep up with Machielo’s raw power and speed for long. "Beetle, get them out of here!" he called out, determined to buy as much time as possible.
Beetle nodded, rallying the freed agents. "Move, now!" he commanded, leading them through the basement's labyrinthine passages.
As Hedgehog blocked another devastating punch, he realized that this battle was unlike any he had faced before. Machielo was a force of nature, a killer who thrived on chaos and bloodshed. But Hedgehog was no ordinary agent. He was determined to hold the line, no matter the cost.
Machielo grinned wickedly under his mask, sensing Hedgehog's resolve. "You're brave, I'll give you that. But bravery won't save you."
Hedgehog's eyes burned with defiance. "We'll see about that."
To be continued...