Chapter 48: Puppet (2)
As the special-purpose vehicle exited the sandstorm-ridden ruins of the Burning Duct, Blake let out a quiet sigh of relief.
A sat in the passenger seat, staring blankly out the window at the silhouette of the wasteland fading into the distance.
Her white hair, flowing softly over her shoulders, caught the faint neon light outside and shimmered gently.
“Kyuhing-hing.”
The black plush doll in her lap let out a strange little noise as it shifted slightly.
A absentmindedly fidgeted with the doll, clearly trying to stave off boredom.
Blake couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
Why had she brought that doll? And why was she tormenting it?
Once they fully escaped the storm zone, the familiar scenery of the outer edges of the Burning Duct came into view.
Steam and light billowing from the far-off ducts.
Dozens of mercs outfitted with combat implants, moving through shadowed alleyways.
It was the kind of landscape that defined the Burning Duct—mercenary territory through and through.