UNMASKED

CHAPTER 9

THIRD PERSON’S POV

*SWISH*

Five copies of Demon lunged at her in perfect synchrony, too quickly for her to react. Wounds she had sustained earlier pulsed with pain, and she could barely move.

“Bow your head!” The voice was commanding, and in that moment, Demon dropped to the ground instinctively.

*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Each of Demon's copies fell, bullets piercing their heads with precision.

“You okay?” Clyde called out, running toward Demon with his gun still raised, eyes scanning for any remaining threats. He was panting heavily, adrenaline coursing through him. “Good thing I made it in time.”

“No, I’m exhausted.” Demon’s voice was weak as she leaned into Clyde's support, letting him bear her weight. “Those copycats… they’re strong. They don’t just mimic; they think ahead, like someone’s controlling them.”

Without another word, Clyde lifted her carefully, his arms firm yet gentle, steadying her as her strength waned.

“I wish Conan was here,” she whispered, barely audible.

Clyde looked at her, his expression softening. “Jarvis is with the enemy right now, you know. What if he turns? He could reveal everything to them.”

Demon closed her eyes for a moment, giving a tired but defiant smile. “Nah, that idiot's loyal. He’d die before he betrays me.”

Clyde raised an eyebrow. “You trust him a lot.”

“He’s earned it,” she replied. “I shaped them. I know where their loyalty lies.”

---

In a dimly lit room, the atmosphere was tense. Jarvis sat with his hands bound, his gaze defiant as he looked at the Elders surrounding him.

“Speak up!” The first Elder’s voice was filled with anger as he glared down at Jarvis. “What is Demon planning?”

Jarvis leaned back, feigning nonchalance. “I don’t know either,” he replied with a smirk, sarcasm dripping from his tone.

The Elder’s hand curled into a fist, ready to strike, but Ice stepped forward, holding up a hand. “Let me talk to him.”

The Elder looked at him, hesitant. “He was your friend, but he’s a traitor now. Other Masks died because of Demon, and here he is, helping her!”

“I know what I’m doing,” Ice said, his voice calm but firm. He motioned for the others to leave, locking the door behind them until only he and Jarvis remained.

As soon as they were alone, Ice turned to him, his eyes intense. “Speak up.”

Jarvis scoffed. “You think I’m gonna talk because you asked nicely? Hate to break it to you, but I’m not in love with you.”

“Don’t test me, Jarvis,” Ice’s voice was sharp, biting through the tension. “Are the others still alive?”

Jarvis’s expression shifted to one of mock confusion. “Who’s ‘others’? Didn’t you watch how Demon took them down?”

Ice's fists clenched. “Why did you side with them?”

Jarvis shrugged casually. “Their arm tattoo looked cool. Figured it’d suit me.”

“Why did you dye your hair?” Ice’s tone was cutting, searching Jarvis for any hint of truth.

Jarvis’s smirk faltered, if only for a second. “Takashi has black hair,” he muttered. “Demon… she loves it, so I dyed mine blonde. Can’t have her falling in love with me now, can I?”