Chapter 22: Risky Emergency
Yuka lay sprawled on the tiny bed, her surroundings a cacophony of neighbors cursing over card games and moans that were definitely not kid-friendly.
Rolling her eyes, she glanced at the orb butler on the nightstand.
"Master, this was the only hotel... no, more like a shabby inn left," the butler shrank back a little in embarrassment.
The hotels around the square were all booked solid. Rumor had it that the big shots from the military were having a meeting in Capital Octoxis, and as a result, the surrounding buildings were on lockdown. People like Yuka, labeled as "non-essentials," couldn’t even dream of getting in. The inn she was staying at didn’t even require an ID card for check-in; just cash, which pretty much said it all about the quality of the place.
Yuka turned over, staring blankly at the ceiling with blank eyes. It was already 1 AM, but the noise next door showed no signs of letting up.
The butler fluttered down from the nightstand, perching on Yuka’s shoulder, whispering, "How about I sing you a lullaby?"
Just as Yuka was about to respond, a sharp scream echoed through the hallway. It was abrupt, somber, and quickly replaced by muffled sobs, then silence.
Yuka’s eyes flickered; she swiftly got up from the bed and moved silently to the door like a cat. She crouched down, peering through the slim gap under the door.
The dim light in the hallway revealed three pairs of feet. One wore slippers, while the other two were clad in identical pointed leather shoes. The man in slippers twitched his feet once, then went still.
Yuka detected a faint smell of blood and heard a low voice from outside, "Done, let’s move."
"Hold on," another male voice chimed in, "Check this side to make sure no one’s noticed. Can’t afford any slip-ups tonight."