Chapter 2:
Room 26
Gray Line: Sin Full
Theodore was lying on the school rooftop, the cold wind moving the edges of his shirt, and bandages covering his chest and arms like white maps on a body exhausted by wounds.
His eyes were half closed, silently gazing at the gray sky.
Light footsteps cut through the silence, before Fiora — the student council president — appeared, carrying a first aid kit in her hands. She looked at him for a moment, as if reading his silence, then approached quietly.
But Theodore slowly stood up, turned his back to her, and began to walk away with steady steps, not giving her a chance to come closer.
Fiora (whispering, her voice chasing him): … Theodore. Gina-sensei… is sick.
He stopped for a second, without turning, then continued on his way.
In the council room, Fiora sat in front of him, wrapping bandages around his wounded arm. Her eyes were hesitant, carrying a trace of nostalgia.
Fiora (with a sad smile): Do you remember? You always got into trouble… and I was the one treating you.
Theodore suddenly raised his hand, stopping her coldly. Theodore (in a low voice): Tell me about Gina's teacher She fell silent for a moment, looking at him with cold eyes, then placed the bandage aside. Fiora: She… has cancer. The doctors said her time is limited. She refused any funding from the council… for the club. That’s why she asked for it to be dissolved.Theodore’s fist trembled, his voice rising gradually, carrying suppressed anger: Theodore: You… Sensei… why didn’t you tell me about this?!Fiora refused to answer.
Theodore stood violently, the chair crashing against the floor, then he left the room with sharp steps, the door slamming shut behind him.
Fiora remained in her place, looking at the bandage in her hand.
But she was not alone.In a dark corner of the room, a shadow appeared, silently watching — Alex. A faint, mysterious smile drew itself on his face as he listened to every word.Rin raised an eyebrow with interest.
Rin:“That’s a nice quote… where’d you hear it? A novel?”Alex (calmly sipping his ramen):“The Storm Phantom” by Miyamura Kato. I started reading it recently.They exchanged a brief glance before Rin exhaled in resignation.
Rin:“Three nights in a row eating ramen just to watch this bastard… He flirts with the owner’s daughter every night, and nothing happens. I think the intel we got was wrong.”Alex (adjusting his posture, voice more serious):“Maybe… or maybe tonight’s different.”Suddenly, shouting erupted at the entrance. The shop owner angrily threw the pervert out.
Alex (standing quickly):“3… 2… 1… perfect. He’s out. Let’s tail him.”They exchanged a sharp glance, tossed money on the table, and slipped into the city night.
[Scene: An old hotel in the city center]
Alex stopped at the entrance, staring at the dimly lit sign.
Alex (whispering with sarcasm):“A hotel? That’s new… I didn’t expect our target to be a ‘premium guest’ type.”Rin smiled, hands in his pockets.
Rin:“After all, it seems this bastard is more involved than we thought.”Alex frowned slightly, eyes scanning the crowded entrance.
Alex:“We lost him… No choice but to search the place. But carefully… We can’t afford attention. Don’t forget, we’re minors.”Rin chuckled lightly as he walked toward the front door.
Rin (confident):“Speak for yourself… I turned eighteen yesterday.”He entered the hotel with ease, just like any casual guest.
Alex (gritting his teeth, muttering):“Arrogant bastard…”Suddenly, a commotion erupted by the door: shouting, a man crashing into a luggage cart, bags spilling everywhere. Alex seized the moment, slipping inside unnoticed.
[Scene: Hotel’s first floor – Indoor garden]
Alex surveyed the area with sharp eyes.
Alex (muttering):“He didn’t come through here… Where did he go?”His steps froze when he spotted a small garden beyond the corridor.
Alex (astonished):“A garden? … Such beautiful flowers.”An elderly man, strolling calmly, approached with a gentle smile.
Old Man:“Aren’t they? The hotel takes pride in this garden… especially those violet flowers.(eyeing Alex suspiciously) … But tell me, what’s a boy like you doing in a place like this?”Before he could finish, a violet flower shot through his throat like a dagger!
In an instant, his blood vessels burst, crimson spraying everywhere, splattering Alex’s face and clothes.
Alex (frozen, horrified):“W… what?! The man… his body… I can’t… move…”Behind him, a feminine shadow emerged. Her voice was soft, yet deadly.
Mysterious Woman:“You’re brave… leaving me waiting all this time. Hurry, give me the information now.”Alex (stammering):“W-what information?”Woman (coldly):“Don’t play games with me. I can blow your neck apart just like I did with that man.”Alex (forcing composure):“Do you even… know who you’re messing with?”Woman (mocking laugh):“Oh, boy… Do you want to know how it feels when your neck explodes? Maybe… I’ll let you try.”Alex (quick-witted):“Wait! What if I gave you something better… Information about someone you might find interesting?”The woman paused briefly, then stepped closer.
Woman:“Fine… make it quick.”Alex:“Have you heard of someone called Shiu Wu?”A cold smile spread across her lips.
Woman:“Shiu Wu… Leader of the Southern gangs, member of the ‘Twenty-Four Dragons’ alliance. Recently assigned to this district.”At the mention of the name, her expression shifted instantly.
Woman (voice genuinely intrigued for the first time):“…Interesting.Rin’s footsteps echoed in the dim hallway, his eyes locked on the student ahead of him.
Rin (whispering):“Got you… Just step into one of these rooms, and you’re finished.”The student entered room 139 and shut the door behind him. Rin raised his camera, ready to take the shot.
Suddenly, a chill crept down his spine. Something… behind him.
Before he could turn, his body slammed violently into the wall, a strong hand pinning him down.
He lifted his head—face to face with—
Rin (shocked):“J… Jashin?! Impossible… What are you doing here?”Jashin said nothing. His cold eyes scanned him slowly, stopping at the camera hanging from Rin’s chest.
Jashin (low, rough voice):“You… with that straight-laced boy.”Rin:“What boy? Alex?”Jashin (pressing him harder against the wall):“Every time he shows up… strange things happen. What are you planning?”Rin (struggling to break free):“We… we were just following someone. He went into that room… room 139.”For a moment, Jashin’s expression changed. Real shock crossed his face for the first time.
Jashin (through clenched teeth):“…139?!!!”He suddenly released Rin and rushed for the door. The moment he opened it—
A massive explosion rocked the hallway, flames and fire devouring room 139.
[Cut – inside a strange clock]Its hands spun counter to time itself.When they reached 12, blood seeped from its gears, dripping onto the numbers, staining them crimson.[Inside room 139 – fire everywhere]
Flames danced on the walls, smoke filling the air. In the middle of this hell… four people stood in a deadly circle.
Jashin: gun aimed at the giant man. The giant man: gun aimed at the student. The student: sweating, trembling, weapon shaking as it pointed at Rin. Rin: breath ragged, gun pointed straight at Jashin.…One bullet each.
The burning room – smoke choking the air
Giant man (panicked):“How… how did I get here?”Student (trembling):“W-what’s happening? I… I exploded moments ago!”Rin (looking at his hands):“Why… why can’t I move?! And why am I holding this gun?!”Jashin clenched his teeth, eyes blazing.
Jashin (shouting):“Damn it… Rita!! How… how did you end up here?!!”Rin (screaming):“Who the hell is Rita?! Talk, damn you!”Jashin (grabbing his head in fury):“You… you bastard! Who told you to come here?!”Student (sobbing):“No… no… impossible! I exploded… I exploded moments ago!!”Suddenly, triggers clicked. Their fingers moved on their own, against their will.
Giant man:“Ah… why is my hand pulling the trigger against me?!”Rin (panicked scream):“Stop!! STOP!! This is impossible!!”A sudden silence.
From the smoke… a woman appeared, seated on the burning bed.Half her face and body charred, her eyes staring silently at them.Rin (staggering back):“My God…”Jashin (voice breaking):“Rita… Rita!! It’s me… Ritaaa!!”Student (collapsing, screaming madly):“No… no way! This can’t be happening! I’m losing my mind!!!”Rita (strange, deep voice):“Dirty hands… must be cleansed before carrying the legacy.”She paused, then added:
Rita:“Sacrifice… or the victim?”Suddenly… her body burst into flames, her scream echoing in the room.
Jashin (screaming):“RITAAAAA!!!”The destruction consumed the room. Jashin howled in madness, unleashing his aura with full force.
Jashin (howling):“AAAAAAARGHHH!!!”The air trembled, walls cracked, the ceiling ready to collapse.
Rin (terrified):“Damn it… the room’s coming down!!”Jashin (frantic rage):“Speak!! Before it’s too late!!!”The triggers kept pulling, again and again—each empty click drawing them closer to the real shot.
Student (crying out):“It was… it was the Vice Principal!! He… he sent me!! Please… please, I don’t want to die!!”Rin (shocked):“The Vice Principal?!!”Before he could finish—
BANG!!!
The giant man fired straight into the student’s head. His body collapsed lifeless to the floor.
Rin (screaming):“Noooo!!!”The room shook violently, fire consuming everything, smoke swallowing the scene.
[Dark room in the hotel – Alex tied to a chair]
Alex (annoyed):“Was this really necessary?”Woman (cold):“And who do you think you are?… Tell me everything you know about the one called Jashin.”Alex (with a faint smile):“How about we start with a little introduction?… Your name, first.”For the first time, the woman smiled.
Woman:“Found him… at last.”She quickly untied him.
Alex (rubbing his wrists):“Finally…”Before he could finish, a loud gunshot echoed through the hotel.
Alex (alarmed):“Damn it… Rin!!!”He bolted upright, the woman following swiftly. Together, they rushed toward the sound… room 139.
[Hotel hallway – fire devouring the walls]
Jashin’s aura merged with the flames, turning into a towering black shadow that writhed like a living being.
Woman (voice trembling, half fear, half ecstasy):“It’s him… Him! What awe… That same feeling… Death crawling right beside you!”Alex (terrified, stumbling back):“Damn it… what’s happening?! My body… I can’t move closer!”[Inside room – the gunshot]
The giant fired at the student. Blood splattered, everyone screamed.
Giant man (twisted grin):“I… did it! Now… I’m free!”But Jashin didn’t hesitate. He aimed at the giant and fired.
The room shook violently, fire engulfing the walls, small explosions blasting. Everyone rushed out—except Jashin.
Alex (yelling):“Rin!! What’s happening?! Where’s Jashin?!”Rin (panting, staggering):“That bastard… he’s still inside!”Alex (furious):“What do we do?!”Woman (calm, staring):“Wait… Watch closely… You’ll see fire itself obey.”Suddenly, through the final explosion, Jashin emerged… walking slowly from the flames.A dense black aura wrapped around him, pushing the fire away like a hellish shield.Alex (whispering):“This… can’t be real…”Woman (dark smile):“Yes… that aura… cold as blades on your neck… This is Null Requiem.”But suddenly, the aura vanished! Jashin stumbled, body scorched, smoke rising from him.He barely held himself up, struggling.[Hallway – hotel collapsing, fire everywhere]
The giant lunged at Jashin, slamming him into the wall, pounding him mercilessly.Jashin fought back, but the giant didn’t budge.Then Jashin tore at his clothes—revealing a body of metal.
Jashin (in pain):“Damn it… your body… it’s steel?!”Giant man (cold grin):“You could say that.”Woman (sharp):“It’s nanotech… His body’s filled with microscopic machines!”Giant man (glancing at her):“Oh… another spectator.”He grabbed Jashin’s head, smashing it against the wall repeatedly until he fell unconscious. Slinging him over his shoulder—
Giant man (breathing heavily):“Sorry, kid… but I can’t return to my master empty-handed.”The woman blocked his path, eyes blazing. She pulled small knives from her coat, striking swiftly.Her movements were sharp, cutting through his clothes, revealing half his body metallic.Woman (with disdain):“How foolish… to sell your body, to become a machine.”Giant man (cold):“You talk too much.”Suddenly, Rin hurled a bottle of liquor at him, splashing over both the giant and unconscious Jashin.
Rin (shouting):“Alex!! Now!!”Alex tossed something toward Jashin.
Alex:“Catch!!”For a moment, Jashin regained consciousness, caught it—A lighter.Giant man (mocking):“What now? Another round of pain?”Jashin (deadly calm, igniting it):“Game’s over… scrap metal.”The flames erupted over them, feeding on the liquor. The giant screamed as fire consumed him—yet in the last instant, he lunged, dragging Jashin with him—leaping through the window!!
Woman (screaming):“Nooo!!”Rin (panicked):“Hurry!!”Alex (shocked):“Jashin!!!”[Outside – hotel pool]
Water splashed violently. The giant sank motionless, but Jashin… vanished.
Rin (heavy voice):“Looks like we’ve got a lot to talk about…”Alex (stunned):“Yeah… a lot.”The woman walked past them, smiling faintly, blowing Alex a kiss… then disappeared into the chaos.
[Police and fire sirens blared in the distance]
[Cut – dark road]
Jashin staggered down the street, body broken, clothes torn and burned.He slipped off his jacket, revealing the truth—He was Theodore.
Theodore (with a pained smile):“And now… I think I’ve drawn unwanted attention. What a pain… Rita… I’ll never understand what you wanted from me.”He paused, then laughed, half-mad, half in agony:
Theodore:“Hahaha… Damn you all… Damn you ALL!!!”He stumbled forward into the dark road.From afar… a shadow trailed silently behind him.[To be continued ]
Message to readers :
Thank you for reading my story. As you can see, I will continue to publish, so I look forward to your comments about the story, even the bad ones, because I want to know what people like or dislike about my story. Thank you.
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