I did not know how I ended up here. I was standing in front of the abandoned warehouse, my hands in my pockets, my shoulders relaxed as if nothing mattered. My eyes were fixed on the massive metal door. I had no motive. No plan. In truth, I was not even supposed to be here at all.
I turned, ready to leave, but then I heard a voice behind me.
"Will that shipment be sent out today?"
Another voice followed, calm and flat.
"No, they will be shipped tomorrow."
Then came a third voice.
"I heard the boss got a huge sum."
The first laughed and said:
"That means we are getting a big commission this time."
A faint prickling ran through my fingertips. Even so, I kept my hands in my pockets. I swallowed hard, my eyes locked on the three guards. Their faces were half-hidden under the shadow of the single lamp hanging from the wall.
The first leaned against the wall, idly flipping a small knife between his fingers. The second crouched down, picking pebbles from the ground and tossing them toward a broken bottle. The third could not stop talking.
I moved forward. No one noticed me. Perhaps they thought I was just a passerby, or another drunken vagrant. I stepped into the circle of light. The first lifted his head and looked at me with lazy disinterest.
"Lost your way? This place is not open to the public."
I gave no reply. I kept walking until the second rose slowly, brushing dirt from his hands and wiping them on his shirt. The third spoke.
"Are you deaf? We said this place is not for you."
The first raised his knife, but he was too slow. My own blade was already in my hand and buried in his wrist. His cry was muffled, and the knife dropped instantly.
The second charged at me like a bull, but I sidestepped and shoved him from behind. He fell face-first into the dirt. He turned toward me, trying to rise, but I was faster. I stabbed him in the back, and this time he stayed down.
The third drew a short sword from his belt. He hesitated for half a second, but that was more than enough. I lunged. He raised his blade in defense, but I seized his wrist and struck him with my free hand. His weapon fell. As soon as it did, I shoved him against the wall. His back hit the concrete with a heavy thud. I grabbed his collar, brought my face close to his startled one, and whispered in his ear.
"You are lucky. Today only, I will not kill you."
I let him drop to the ground, clutching his neck and gasping for breath. His eyes followed me, pleading silently. I turned toward the metal door. No one stood before it now.
I walked to it slowly. The moment I stepped inside, a familiar voice came from a dark corner.
"I did not expect you to come here."
I turned to see a man standing there, his features hidden in shadow. He stepped closer.
"Do you realize the consequences of what you have done?"
I answered without emotion.
"Yes."
I knew tonight's actions could make me a target for every gang in the Lower District.
His eyes widened slightly, but he regained composure quickly.
"Then you understand this could ignite an open war between the Custodians and the Bloody Fang."
My gaze met his.
"I will bear full responsibility alone. What happened here has nothing to do with the Bloody Fang. It is my decision."
He raised his right eyebrow, silent for a moment.
"Is that why you left the guards alive?"
"How do you know that? Were you watching me?"
"Yes, from the moment you stood before the door."
"What are you doing here? Did you not say your men would collect the shipment tomorrow?"
"That was true, in a way. But I came early in case your friend showed up. I did not expect it to be you."
"You knew we were watching you, you and that merchant?"
"It would be strange not to notice."
He brushed dust from his shoulder, his tone growing serious.
"Our conversation is over."
He slowly raised his hand and snapped his fingers. From the shadows behind him, the merchant emerged. But he was not quite himself anymore. His body had swelled grotesquely, muscles tearing at his clothes, his skin a deep crimson.
"Allow me to present my latest creation."
From his coat pocket, he drew a small metallic sphere, polished and etched with fine circles and interlocking locks. His fingers moved across it lightly.
"And not just that..."
From deeper inside the warehouse, cages began to shake. The children who had been silent a moment ago started convulsing, their bodies twisting unnaturally. Without warning, their limbs elongated, their faces losing all trace of innocence. What emerged from those cages were no longer children, but warped creatures.
"You want to get rid of me that badly?"
He laughed.
"Get rid of you? No, no, I do not want you to die that easily."
Slowly, he raised his hand to his face and stepped forward into the light. I froze. Half his face was ruined, a scar running from brow to jaw. His left eye was blind and lifeless, the other completely black, like a pit without bottom. His hair was wild and white, his skin pale as death.
"I just wanted to see you fight to the death."
"...You."
"Yes, me. My runaway test subject."
Everything inside me surged back at once, to all those nights, all those screams. Rage boiled up from the depths, molten and uncontainable. I charged at him, intent on tearing him apart. The transformed merchant leapt in front of me, blocking my path.
I exhaled sharply, pulling the Wave Blade from my pocket. The moment I did, the water-forged blade flowed forth, sharper than any sword on earth.
I swung it, sending violent waves crashing into the transformed merchant, knocking him back along with the surrounding monsters.
My voice came low, soaked with hatred.
"This place will be your grave."
He did not flinch. Instead, his eyes gleamed strangely.
"Ooooh... the Wave Blade. Magnificent. I had hoped to see it up close. Did you know? Once upon a time, I wanted to replicate it, but I could never hold a vessel for Water Authority. A shame, is it not?"
He turned slightly, spreading his arms wide. Then he pointed toward a dark corner.
"Look... look there... my surprise."
I followed his gesture and saw three rusted cages, barely visible except for faint movement inside. Three children were within. They had not transformed. Their faces were pale, eyes drowning in fear. His voice came again, almost bursting with excitement.
"Aren't they beautiful? Three pure ones. Exceptions. I have been waiting for the perfect moment to test... ha ha ha... the true fusion of childhood and mutation."
In the next instant, the transformed beast roared and charged toward the cages. The bars rattled under its weight as terrified screams rose from inside.
The madman turned calmly toward the exit. At the doorway, he looked back at me.
"Come now, avenger..." His voice was hollow.
Then he made an exaggerated gesture toward the exit, then toward the cages.
"The game is simple. The door is there, and the children are there. No one will blame you for your choice. But I will write it in my ledger."
He gave a short, broken laugh.
"Will you chase me... or save them?"