Divine & Wicked: The Strayed Memories (Book2)

《 Chapter XXIV: "You Promised Me" (Part2) 》

"Good evening, Ms. Claireth. Ah, at last. It's truly an honor to finally meet you," the man greeted with reverence.

Clair immediately recognized his voice. He was indeed the man who had called her from Zach's phone. "Where is he?" she demanded.

"You'll see him soon enough. But before that, why don't we have a little chat while we walk to where we've taken him? I'm a big fan of yours," he said politely, though there was an irritating edge to his tone.

Clair confirmed that he spoke with a Russian accent. "I'm serious about my words. If you've harmed him, I will eliminate every one of you. I'll make it slow and painful as I watch you scream... I hope you understand exactly who you're dealing with," she warned, her rage hidden beneath a calm demeanor.

The man could see in her eyes that she meant every word. He smirked knowingly. "He's fine. I assure you of that. He can be a bit stubborn at times, so we occasionally have to sedate him," the man assured.

She bristled with anger, feeling uneasy at the implication that they were doing something against his will.

"Oh, forgive me for being rude. I almost forgot to introduce myself. Please, call me Yustin," he said with a friendly smile.

She recalled the name. It matched what Delgor mentioned he overheard on the phone, and what Zach heard at Saint Pier Church. There was no doubt now. They were the ones responsible for the disappearance of the four Fallens.

"I've been following you for over three years now, though luck hasn't always been on my side," Yustin confessed.

She was alarmed but kept her composure. They had been under surveillance for so long without their awareness. It made her wonder if they knew more about her than she had realized. "Let's not drag out this introduction... Yustin," she replied, emphasizing his name.

"Of course. Please, follow me," he said, gesturing behind him.

He led the way towards the tower. Upon reaching the base, they stood before a massive square of concrete with a thick steel door. He gestured towards the surveillance camera to his right, then, after a few seconds, the steel door split open in the middle.

Clair watched as a stairway emerged slowly behind the door, revealing what seemed to be an underground facility.

"This way," Yustin said, motioning towards the stairs. "No need to conceal your wings. This path is wide enough for you," he assured.

She followed him down the steps. As she entered, the door slowly began to close behind them. She knew that once it shut, there would be no turning back. But her determination to find Zach alive left no room for hesitation.

They proceeded down a spacious white-painted corridor, lit by rows of bright yellow fluorescents overhead, with no doors along its walls.

"You seem relaxed," Yustin observed in a friendly tone. "I supposed that boy means a lot to you, coming here alone and unarmed, just like I told you. Now that's true love, isn't it?" he added, exaggerating his romantic tone.

He scoffed when Clair didn't respond. "Not much of a talker, huh?" he remarked. "You know, when I told the boy we'd use him to capture you, he got really angry... I have to admit, I was impressed. I didn't expect him to be so brave and strong. He managed to free his hand and land a hit on me... So forgive me if I had to use my fist against him at that point," he said casually, as if it were inconsequential.

After his last word, Clair swiftly seized his neck tightly and slammed him against the wall with force. He gagged, panic flashing in his eyes as he glimpsed the fury on her face; she was ready to kill. He struggled to break free, her grip was ironclad. In a desperate move, he lifted his hand and pointed at something. His gesture led Clair's eyes toward a surveillance camera. The warning was clear, and she reluctantly released him. He doubled over, clutching his neck, coughing and gasping for air. Then, surprisingly, he chuckled and applauded sarcastically.