Chapter 54: Effigies of Power
Crack... crack...
The ground beneath the tip of the closed umbrella split until the earth gave way with a brittle snap. Yet, the umbrella remained intact, and the two figures remained unfazed.
"Oh?" the blindfolded woman mused, tilting her head as the back of her hand rose to her lips. "I didn’t think the Janitor would make an appearance tonight. Zone Zero actually sent their mutt out? Thought they buried you after the incident in the Noxhelm Quarantine."
The Janitor—also known as the Dog of Zone Zero—Stefan, barely glanced at the woman who was keeping his umbrella still. His gaze cut past them, sharp and unbothered, as if the Type Xs weren’t even worth acknowledging.
He turned his head to the side, setting his focus on the true threat in this place.
That kid.
Mikel Graves.
Stefan blinked slowly, his gaze falling on the boy’s arms—coated in black, smoking liquid. The scent of burnt flesh tainted the air. Scriptures had seared themselves into his face and limbs, blood soaking his ripped clothes as proof that he was bleeding both inside and out.
Each time Mikel panted, a fog escaped his mouth—not because it was cold, but because he was burning from within.
This kid is going to die.
No—he should’ve already been dead in that wretched state. Yet there he was, standing. Eyes glowing, locked on them as if Stefan was just another thing to burn.