Hina adjusted her shirt and stretched her arms, rolling her shoulders as a slow smirk curled onto her lips. Her eyes glowed eerily in the dimly lit room, the unnatural light casting twisted shadows along the walls. She wiped the sweat from her brow, the air feeling significantly hotter than when she had first entered. Catching her breath, she chuckled lightly.
"Well... you certainly have something inside you," she murmured, letting the words linger.
Something dark. Something powerful.
Her boots clicked softly as she stepped toward him again, stopping just close enough to let the tension settle between them.
"You're holding onto something incredible," she mused, her voice practically dripping with intrigue.
Argos barely managed to lift his head, his body too drained to resist. Yet, even as exhaustion weighed on him, a cold shudder ran through his spine when she placed a hand on his cheek. Her fingers were gentle—too gentle. A predator's touch before the kill.
To him, it was like watching a siren reveal its true form, the illusion of beauty giving way to something monstrous beneath. But to her... she saw something different. Something deep within his soul.
And she liked it.
A soft, breathy chuckle escaped her lips—unbidden, as if the discovery had flustered her.
"You know... I want to see if I can bring that part of you out."
Before he could react, her grip tightened, fingers tangling into his hair. She yanked his head back, eyes alight with something between fascination and hunger.
A surge of defiance lit up within Argos, and he fought back, pushing against her with all the strength he had left. It wasn't much.
She was taking from him again.
A violent pulse of energy rippled through his body. His vision blurred, his limbs went numb—and then, his pupils turned white once more, his irises swallowed by endless black.
Something inside him snapped.
His hands—now covered in pitch-black corruption—shot forward and gripped her by the waist, pulling her closer with an unnatural force.
Hina inhaled sharply at the sudden shift. But she didn't pull away.
She smiled.
—
Tori exhaled sharply, her head resting against the cold wall. Her legs were pulled up, arms loosely wrapped around them. The empty food ration packs sat discarded at her side.
Another night. Another prison.
The only sound that accompanied her was the distant howl of the wind, rattling against the building's frame. But then—
A noise.
She tensed immediately, her senses sharpening. A dull thud from the next room over.
"...Come on, Argos," she muttered under her breath, narrowing her eyes at the wall. "You have to be thinking of something..."
Minutes passed in silence. She hadn't realized she was drifting until she caught her own head nodding forward. Tori cursed under her breath and shook herself awake—just in time for the sharp click of her cell door unlocking.
Her body snapped to attention.
The door swung open, and Hina stood in the frame. But Tori wasn't focused on her.
Her gaze fell to the motionless body shoved inside.
Argos.
He collapsed onto the floor beside her, completely drained, body barely responsive.
Tori moved instantly, catching him before he could hit the ground too hard. She checked his pulse, exhaling in quiet relief when she found one. But her relief was short-lived.
Because standing just behind Hina was it.
The figure. The thing that had haunted her once before.
It loomed in the doorway like a shadow brought to life, featureless yet unmistakably there.
Tori swallowed the rising bile in her throat and turned her attention back to Argos. He was breathing—slowly, shallowly—but it was enough. She rested a hand on his forehead, her voice quiet.
"You're okay..."
"Make sure he stays that way," Hina remarked, her tone light, yet laced with something venomous. "I'll be needing more from him soon."
The door shut with a clang, locking them in once more.
Tori barely registered it. She was too focused on the way Argos' breathing hitched, his body shifting slightly. His head leaned against her, resting against her stomach.
His voice was barely a whisper.
"You're safe..."
Tori felt something twist inside her chest.
"You're not," she muttered, brows furrowing. "What the hell happened?"
Argos didn't answer right away. His lips parted as if to speak, but instead, he let out a soft breath—one that almost sounded like a laugh.
"...Doesn't matter," he murmured. "You're okay. That's what's important."
Tori clenched her jaw.
"Cut the self-sacrificing act, dumbass. That doesn't work on me. What happened?"
No answer.
She noticed it then—the change. His lack of aura. The usual flicker of energy that surrounded him was... gone.
Her eyes darted across his disheveled appearance. His shirt and jacket had been pulled and wrinkled. His hair was a mess. He felt too warm. And the worst part?
He reeked of Hina's presence.
Like she had marked him.
"...Hey," Argos mumbled after a pause, a strange little smile tugging at his lips. "Is it weird that... I feel safe here?"
Tori stiffened.
"Are you insane?" she shot back, her tone sharp. "We're trapped. And she—she did something to you."
He didn't respond. Just let his eyes slip shut.
Panic flared in her chest.
"Hey. Hey. Don't you dare check out on me." She shook him slightly, trying to keep him awake. "You don't have the right to die yet."
Argos let out a tired chuckle.
"...Just a minute," he murmured. "Let me rest here. Please, Ch—" He caught himself, his voice barely audible. "...Tori."
She froze.
Her heart did something weird, and she hated it.
"...Were you about to call me—" she started.
But he was already asleep.
Tori let out a long sigh, leaning her head back against the wall. She wanted to be annoyed. She should have been furious.
Instead, she exhaled.
The world had gone quiet. The winds outside had finally stilled. And for a moment—just a moment—she allowed herself to rest too.
—
Elsewhere in the facility, Hina lounged at the head of a long table, legs crossed, fingers lazily drumming against the wood. Beside her stood the bushy-haired man, his arms crossed.
The sound of the door opening drew her attention.
"Guess who I found outside?"
MacArthur stepped into the room, his signature smug grin plastered on his face. Behind him trailed another man—fluffy hair, a goatee, eyes laced with exhaustion.
Hina's smirk widened.
"Welcome back, Ark," the bushy-haired man greeted, raising a brow. "How was your little trip with Mars?"
Ark rolled his eyes. "You'd think traveling with a god would be interesting. But all he did was take me to that island experiment of his. Project: Ava, I think he called it."
Hina's gaze sharpened slightly.
"And the siblings?" she asked, reclining in her seat. "Any progress?"
Ark scoffed. "Still unstable. Apparently, the only perfect vessel is Ava."
Hina hummed, pleased. "That's fine. I've found something... better."
As she spoke, the lights flickered—then turned a deep crimson.
Everyone left the room at her dismissal, but she remained seated, mulling over the possibilities.
And just outside her vision—hidden in the shadows—something grinned.
—
The ground trembled beneath him. Argos' eyes shot open, his senses instantly on high alert. His body still ached, his strength barely returning, but the warmth beside him reassured him—Tori was still there, still safe.
She was asleep, sitting up against the wall, her hand resting on him even in unconsciousness. He shifted, muscles sore, pushing himself off the cold, hard floor. A dull, gray light filtered in through the barred window, casting long shadows across the room. He glanced up at the sky—thick, rolling clouds barely let anything through.
With a quiet sigh, he moved behind her and carefully lifted her from the floor. Her body was heavier than he expected, but he set her down gently onto the small bed, making sure she was comfortable. She barely stirred, long brown hair falling over her face as she breathed steadily. In that dim light, she looked... peaceful. Vulnerable, even.
Argos froze, staring at her. His chest felt tight. His face burned.
He forced himself to sit beside her, running a hand over his face before placing it gently on her arm—right over her old scar. He let out a breath of relief, grounding himself in the simple fact that, at least physically, they were both okay.
But his mind wouldn't stop racing. He clenched and unclenched his fists, flashes of the past few days flooding his thoughts. A chill ran down his spine. He needed to get them out of here.
He pushed himself up and started pacing, forcing himself to think of a plan. But nothing came. His power—completely drained. He tried to summon something, anything, but not even a flicker responded. Frustration gnawed at him.
Then, his eyes landed on the mirror at the end of the room. His stomach twisted—no shadowy figure watching him this time.
For now.
Another breath. In. Out. He had to wait until Tori was rested. Then they'd figure something out.
But fate had other plans.
The door's lock clicked. The sound sent a jolt of adrenaline through him. Argos turned sharply, stepping in front of Tori without thinking, arms up in a weak but ready stance. She hadn't even stirred.
A familiar voice cut through the dimness.
"Astraea, was it? We're moving you elsewhere. Come with me."
The man with the fluffy hair—Ark—stood in the doorway, arms crossed, face unreadable.
Argos' eyes narrowed. "So they sent just one guy to grab us? That seems... stupid." His tone was light, almost taunting.
Ark barely reacted, just rolled his eyes like he couldn't be bothered. "You coming, or do I have to drag you?"
Argos grit his teeth. Powerless. He hated that feeling. "Fine. Let me wake her."
Kneeling beside Tori, he placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a gentle shake. The sudden hallway light hitting her face made her groan, turning away.
"Hey," his voice softened, "we have to go."
She blinked groggily, rubbing her eyes before pushing her hair back. "Where?" Her voice was rough, but she was already adjusting her jacket, making sure it covered her properly.
"Doesn't matter," Ark said flatly, leaning against the doorframe. "Move it."
Argos shot him a glare. The casual, dismissive attitude made his blood boil.
Ark smirked—then his eyes flashed yellow.
A weight slammed onto Argos' shoulder. His body tensed as he turned, finding a translucent yellow arm gripping him from behind.
Before he could react, it yanked him back and threw him to the floor.
Tori was instantly at his side. "What the hell!?"
Ark's nails glowed faintly as he sighed, exasperated. "Learn your place."
Argos closed his eyes for a beat, forcing his anger down. But then—Ark reached out and grabbed Tori by the arm, lifting her up effortlessly with the same golden force.
Argos' restraint snapped. "Hey! Leave her out of this. Your boss' deal is with me."
Ark tilted his head, then—let her go. She staggered slightly but caught herself.
Then, without warning, Ark stepped forward and drove his knee into Argos' ribs.
Pain exploded through his torso. He gasped, stumbling back, one eye squeezed shut as he clutched his side.
Ark just shrugged. "Did you not hear me, or are you just stupid?"
Tori was on him immediately, hands on his arms, concern in her eyes. But her expression hardened as she glared up at Ark. Lightning cracked outside.
Ark scoffed. "Pfft. What, you gonna glare me to death?"
Argos exhaled sharply, forcing a grin through the pain. His voice came low, dripping with venom.
"Oh, I heard you." His pupils turned white, the rest of his eyes swallowing into pure black. "I just don't care."
Tori tensed, gripping him tightly. "Enough, dude."
Ark smirked, unbothered. "Pathetic," he muttered.
Argos ignored him, looking at Tori instead. "What's the worst he can do?" he muttered, voice quiet but steady. "He can't kill me."
Ark clicked his tongue, eyes flashing again. A yellow phantom hand materialized, gripping Argos' neck. He barely had time to react before he was yanked forward.
Tori was grabbed too, her arm twisted in Ark's supernatural grip. The pressure against their throats forced them to comply as he dragged them through the halls.
The further they went, the more elaborate the space became. Argos' hazy gaze caught onto banners lining the walls—deep red, embroidered with an unmistakable symbol. A circle. An arrow emerging from behind. His breath hitched.
His voice came out just above a whisper. "Mars..."
Ark turned slightly, giving him a sidelong glance. "So you're not that dumb after all."
Tori frowned. "Mars... like the god of war? What does he want with us?"
"It's not him," Argos muttered, already piecing it together. "It's someone working for him."
The moment the words left his mouth, Ark smirked.
Tori caught the expression too. Her stomach twisted.
Then—
A deep rumble.
The ground lurched violently beneath them.
A boom rocked the corridor.
Before they could react, the wall beside them exploded.
The force sent them both flying.
Everything blurred—dust, debris, the ringing in his ears drowning out sound. Argos barely registered the way his body crashed onto the cold floor.
Tori wasn't far.
He forced himself up, gasping for air. His ribs screamed in protest, but he ignored it. He turned his head, vision struggling to focus—
Through the dust, a dark silhouette stepped through the shattered remains of the wall.
Argos' breath caught in his throat.
Tori groaned beside him, coughing from the debris. She followed his gaze—
And her blood ran cold.
Whoever had come through that wall wasn't part of the plan.
6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpZnIJW3eM
