beloved of grace

Chapter 20 - Embrace of Withered Blossoms

The rattling door tugged at your attention as you withdrew from yet another from the Bicheon Gang who attempted to burn you alive. From the doors you locked, you could hear an executive's voice speak through the low thuds of your motions, "What's going on in there? Why can't I open this door?"

"Well, no matter." The rattling stopped and the sound of fading footsteps followed, "If there's a problem, they can deal with it. The priority is to move the Vivi cookies into storage."

Another thump, and another— you jumped away, leaping off one of them and kicking the one you landed on. Really, you could only hope that they wouldn't manage to catch you. With an internal sigh, you pressed on, there was only about half of them left after all.

Like so, you elbowed the temple of the last one and sighed in relief— constantly staying aerial wasn't easy after all. You supposed that you were lucky only you had to fight them.

In a single motion, you pocketed your gun, having wasted a few expensive rubber-covered bullets already. You hoped Jay, who gifted you your ammunition and firearms would understand, even if he always did understand. Gaze sweeping around, you rushed to take anything that the Bicheon Gang could use as a weapon.

Somehow, something in the back of your mind told you to transfer it to the underground fighting ring— and so you did. Now, you had to steal a gold badge and get to the penthouse. With that in mind, you hurried through the glimmering lights.

When you arrived at the elevator, Johan and Eli were glaring at each other, the former demanding for the gold badge in Eli's hands, "Do this, do that. Ordering me around like that. You think I'm just some pushover? What if I don't give it to you?"

"Then I'll kill you and take it—"

"You can use the same badge." You interrupted, placing Vasco and Zack down onto the floor, having found the two unconscious. Taking out a gold badge you had taken from the executive near Vasco, you flicked it to Johan who caught it easily, "If you really don't want share, take this one."

"[Name]? What happened? Are you alright?" Eli gushed out, hurrying over to you and holding your shoulders. Though you hadn't seen yourself, you probably looked like a mess, and reeked of gasoline given your earlier dispute. Tenderly, you took his hands off of you and met his eyes, managing a tender smile, "Yes, but I need to hurry to the penthouse. Eli, sorry but since you know them—"

". . . Since you're safe." And Eli stood by Zack and Vasco, smiling as gracefully as hydrangeas in golden dew.

". . . Come on." Johan mumbled, just loud enough for the two of you to hear as he flicked the badge back to you. And so, you got into the elevator with him, going to the top floor at once. Yet, when the elevator doors creaked open, a sense of danger had suddenly engulfed you all.

First, you spotted Daniel in his original body, running towards you with Vivi on his back. Johan whacked Daniel and took Vivi at once, holding her up by her hair, his glare hostile. Then you saw Daniel's second body, his sclera pitch black and iris and pupils, white, much like Gun's own eyes. At once, you knew what was going on, even as Johan and Daniel chucked Vivi and Samuel respectively into the ground face-first, Ultra instinct.

Before his own mind could realize, Johan was lunging at Daniel. You glanced at the trembling influencers and approached them, placing the gold badge you had into one of their hands, "Here, you all should leave now."

In the background, you could hear Samuel and Jake's conversation. Samuel brought a cigarette up to his lips, eyes transfixed on the duel in front of him, "You awake? Jake."

"Samuel? Huh? What happened?"

"Jake, go get us some popcorn."

The influencers scrambled away with timid nods and you went to Daniel's first body and laid him out on the floor, doing the same to Lineman and Jerry.