Sinbound

Chapter Seventeen

Shielded by the umbrella, Chloe and Alastor strolled gracefully through the gentle rain, enveloped in a serene and comforting silence.

The fleeting comfort was abruptly shattered when a nearby sinner hurled a bottle of searing acid toward them. However, their respite was short-lived, for they narrowly evaded disaster, a testament to Alastor's lightning-quick reflexes.

"Hey, you!" The sinner's lips curled into a taunting smirk, the tone in their voice carrying a hint of mischief and mockery.

Alastor's initial reaction was a subdued groan, his intent to respond cut short by the sinner's unanticipated interjection. His attempt to formulate a comeback was effectively quelled by the sinner's assertive interruption, leaving his words unsaid and hanging in the air.

"Not you, you shitbag. I'm talking to the Music Demon!" The sinner's focus was clearly directed at Chloe, with a dismissive wave aimed at the rest.

Chloe's ears, previously tuned to the unfolding exchange, perked up like a cat catching an interesting sound. Her eyes widened in a blend of shock and intrigue as the sinner's words took an unexpected turn. The casual ambiance that had surrounded them now crackled with an undercurrent of tension, and Chloe found herself in the center of the drama.

"What? You lose enough power to have to rely on the radio nerd?" The sinner's words cut through the air, laced with both derision and curiosity, as if prodding at a perceived vulnerability. The unexpected revelation and its pointed delivery had cast a new light on Chloe's standing, stirring emotions that swirled within her.

Her gaze shifted downward, settling on the cold expanse of cement beneath her feet, while her once-alert ears drooped as if in response to an invisible weight. The emotions that had surged within her began to manifest on her features, the initial calm expression slowly morphing into a simmering mask of anger.

"Listen, pipsqueak," Chloe's voice dripped with condescension, a mix of annoyance and exasperation lacing her words, "I just had the worst lunch date of my life. I am very hungry and angry right now." The exhalation of these words carried the weight of frustration as her day had already been a series of unfortunate events. The sinner's choice to confront her, despite their own vexation, added an intriguing layer of defiance to the situation. "Are you sure you want to mess with me?" she questioned, a challenge underlying her tone.

The sinner's reaction wasn't one of surrender, however. Instead, they emitted a short, derisive snicker, followed by a mocking laugh. "Oh, I am ever so afraid of the bitch who went into hiding for decades!" Their words were coated with sarcasm, a deliberate dig aimed to provoke a reaction. At that moment, the tension between them crackled, the sinner's taunts contrasting with Chloe's suppressed anger, creating a dynamic exchange that hung heavy in the air.

With a calculated crack of her neck, accompanied by the sharp snap of her fingers, Chloe effortlessly hijacked the towering radio transmitters. A surge of power flowed through her, a fusion of exhilaration and control intertwined within her veins. The signal she commandeered rippled through the unseen frequencies, resonating with a newfound purpose.

The repercussions of her actions reverberated beyond the isolated scene. The radio waves she had commandeered surged outward, alerting the 666 News Station stationed not too far away, like an eerie ripple across the fabric of the city's airwaves.

In a quaint shop that exhibited an array of Vox brand televisions. Alastor stood among them. His crimson eyes fixated on the screens as they blinked to life, projecting the dynamic personas of renowned news reporters, Katie Killjoy and Tom Trench.

A voice that oozed authority and a hint of amusement filled the airwaves. "Good afternoon, I'm Katie Killjoy!" The vibrancy in her tone contrasted with the darker undertones of the news she was about to deliver.