The Celestials [Taegyu]

Chapter 04 ; The Midnight Crypt

song ; dice and roll (odetari)

.

Terry woke up suddenly, his ears ringing from a mix of loud, muffled noises and the smell of wet concrete. He was lying on the hard, bumpy ground in a tight, dark corner. Trying to get his bearings, Terry tried to figure out how he got here. The last thing he remembered was a bright flash and feeling like he was floating before everything went black.

As his vision gradually adjusted to the low light streaming through the narrow opening of the alley, Terry spotted another figure beside him. He grimaced as he sensed Viken's head pressing firmly against his shoulder. It was heavy, but he couldn't just let go. He carefully and firmly tried to move his new 'friend' without hurting him more.

He stood up, recalling the events that unfolded just a few hours earlier. He remembered where, when, and how he was caught, and by whom. He also pondered over the reasons behind his capture and subsequent transfer to the Scotland Yard's prison.

Just a few hours prior, he had skillfully made his way into the underground establishment known as The Midnight Crypt. This hidden sanctuary, known only to those who preferred to keep their secrets under wraps, was his chosen destination to collect information on the elusive High Priest. The bar was shrouded in dim lighting, its atmosphere thick with smoke and whispers, making it an ideal environment for someone like Terry, who thrived in the shadows.

Dressed as an ordinary gentleman, Terry felt confident he could pull off his mission. He had a tip on where the High Priest was, and the people at The Midnight Crypt- some of whom were said to be involved with the Priest's shady activities- were his main targets. Terry had managed to fit in, listening in on chats and even getting a few bits of info from the more drunk folks.

The night took a dramatic turn when the heavy metal door of the bar swung open with a thunderous crash. Scotland Yard officers stormed in, their flashlights slicing through the darkness and illuminating the stunned patrons who stood frozen in disbelief. Terry's eyes widened as he sensed the looming danger, his instincts kicking into overdrive. The once-safe haven transformed into a chaotic battleground.

Why now?

In his human disguise, Terry quickly shed any semblance of weakness. His vampire instincts took over, letting him move like no one's business, dodging tables and people who were trying to get out of the way. The cops, all decked out in their usual gear and ready with tasers and handcuffs, quickly figured out they were facing a threat far beyond a mere criminal.

With strong, confident hands, Terry deflected blows and seized any weapon within reach. When a barstool swung toward him, he expertly shattered it against the assailant's torso, sending the officer sprawling.

"My bad! My hands slipped!" Terry grinned, angering the officers to their core.

The patrons' screams and the clamor of overturned furniture created a chaotic symphony, drowning out the officers' shouts for Terry to surrender. One officer aimed a stun gun, unleashing crackling bolts of electricity in Terry's direction.

He deftly twisted aside, feeling the electric shock graze past him, but the momentary distraction was fleeting. Seizing a bottle of premium whiskey from the bar, Terry hurled it with pinpoint accuracy at the officer, who ducked just in time. The bottle shattered against the wall, sending shards flying in all directions.

"Shit, I could've lost my eye." The officer shuddered.

Terry's newfound strength enabled him to hurl a charging officer against the wall with such force that it left a noticeable dent. The officer collapsed to the ground, groaning in agony. Yet, amidst the chaos, Terry couldn't shake off the intensifying pain in his chest. He endured a barrage of blows, not only from the officers but also from the occasional errant punch thrown by a hapless bystander caught in the melee.

In the thick of the fray, Terry spotted the Inspector at the entrance of the bar, barking commands and attempting to restore order. Their eyes met, and a grim smile crept across the Inspector's face, recognizing that Terry was no ordinary criminal.

"Sonny will be delightful hearing about this," he chuckled, licking his lips.

Frantically trying to get away, Terry ran for the door. Just as he was about to get out, a silver bullet- one of the worst weapons against vampires- shot past him. It hit him right in the chest with a loud thunk, sending him into immediate and terrible pain. The bullet felt like fire, breaking through his supernatural armor.

Terry fell over, his vision getting blurry as the intense pain spread through his body. He tried to stand, but the burning pain and the blood coming out of his wound were too much. The pain was unbearable, a clear sign of silver's lethal power over vampires. The bullet was in his chest, and no matter how hard he tried, Terry's strength started to fade. He fell to his knees, then gave up, unable to fight off the sudden feeling of weakness. He collapsed on the floor, unable to get up.

The officers, now fully aware of the true nature of their target, closed in on him. Terry attempted to crawl toward the exit, but his strength was rapidly fading.

The last thing he saw before darkness enveloped him was the grim faces of the officers closing in and the glint of the silver bullet that had brought him down. The Midnight Crypt had become a battlefield, and Terry was now a captive, his quest for the High Priest abruptly halted by the brutal force of the raid.

Hours later, Terry stirred in a dark, damp cell. The cold stone walls surrounded him, and the faint sound of dripping water broke the silence. Pain throbbed in his chest from the silver bullet, and he felt the weight of his injuries, both physical and magical. He was imprisoned, shackled to the wall. This cell was a stark contrast to the bar he had desperately tried to escape; now, his only hope was to find a way out of this confinement, regain his strength, and formulate a plan to continue his pursuit of the High Priest.

The other inmates in the nearby cells, abruptly stirred by the chaos of Terry's arrival, regarded him with a blend of fear and contempt. Their eyes, icy and calculating, revealed their discomfort.. Despite their evident hostility, there was an underlying current of respect and trepidation in their gazes.

Even in his weakened state, Terry remained a powerful entity, and his presence served as a stark reminder of the shifting power dynamics in their bleak surroundings. The prisoners' intense, lethal auras signaled their recognition of Terry's strength and their own desperate need to assert dominance in this dark, confined realm.

"Terry?"

The lad was jolted back to reality. He turned to find Viken gazing at him with a mix of fear and concern. Great. Just what he needed- another troublesome distraction.

.

Terry's disguise