Zack's knuckles were white on the steering wheel as the exit gate loomed ahead, its steel frame cutting through the smoke and floodlights like a promise of freedom. The truck roared beneath him, engine screaming in protest as he pushed it past what it was ever meant to handle. The drone—the reason for all of this—sat secured behind him, quiet now, almost innocent.
Nigel's face flashed through his mind.
I should turn back.
The thought dug into him like a blade. Nigel had stayed behind so Zack could get out clean. That wasn't the plan. It was never supposed to be the plan.
"Damn it…" Zack muttered, glancing at the rearview mirror.
That's when the world exploded.
A violent BOOM slammed into the back of the truck, snapping Zack forward as metal screamed and tires shrieked across the pavement. His chest slammed against the seatbelt as the steering wheel jerked hard to the left.
"Shit—!"
Headlights filled the mirror. A matte-black Silencer transport truck rode his bumper, reinforced grille pressed against his tail like a predator's jaws.
Instinct took over.
Zack released one hand from the wheel and grabbed the pistol resting beside him, rolling down the window as the truck fishtailed. He leaned out just enough to aim and fired.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Bullets sparked against armor plating. The Silencer driver swerved violently to avoid the shots—too violently.
The transport clipped another truck racing up from the side. The impact was catastrophic. Steel folded. Tires lifted. Both trucks spun out of control and slammed into the depot wall in a storm of fire and debris.
Zack barely had time to breathe.
Three more trucks surged forward, engines howling.
"They really don't wanna let this thing go," Zack growled.
One truck rammed his side, forcing him toward the gate barrier. Zack fought the wheel, muscles burning as the truck threatened to roll. Before he could correct, a second transport slammed into the opposite side, pinning him like a vise.
Gunfire erupted.
Windows shattered as bullets tore through the cab. Zack ducked low, glass slicing across his cheek as the truck skidded forward—blind, out of control.
Then—
CRASH.
The gate wall exploded inward as all three vehicles slammed into it. Zack's head snapped forward, smashing into the steering wheel. The world went white.
Pain dragged him back.
Zack groaned, blood dripping from his forehead as smoke filled the cab. His ears rang, vision swimming as he forced himself upright.
"Damn… that hurt," he muttered, wiping blood from his eyes. "I gotta figure out how I'm getting this drone outta here… and go back for Nigel."
Then it hit him.
An idea so reckless it made him grin.
Zack stumbled into the back of the truck, throwing open the cargo door just as boots hit pavement outside.
Ten Silencers surrounded the vehicle, rifles raised, moving with practiced precision.
"Target is inside," one soldier barked. "Retrieve the drone. Kill the asset."
A soldier stepped forward, gripping the handle of the back door.
The moment it opened—
A flurry of gunfire erupted from inside the truck.
Not from Zack.
From the drone.
Automated turrets unfolded in a blur of steel and red optics. Precision fire rained down, bullets cutting through armor like paper. In seconds, bodies dropped where they stood, weapons clattering uselessly against concrete.
Silence followed.
Zack stared in disbelief as the drone retracted its weapons and hovered calmly in place.
"…Yo," he breathed. "That was insane."
A laugh escaped him, half shock, half triumph.
"H—hell yeah. That was awesome." He shook his head, adrenaline flooding his veins. "I'm callin' you Delta."
The drone emitted a soft mechanical chirp, almost like approval.
Across the depot, Nigel landed hard against the concrete as twenty Silencers closed in.
"Of course," he muttered, frustration burning in his chest. "They just keep coming."
He exhaled sharply—and jumped.
Nigel launched himself into the air, his demonic arm snapping outward and wrapping around a soldier mid-motion. With a violent twist, he hurled the man into two others, their bodies crashing together in a heap.
The arm shifted—reshaping—metallic flesh forming into a curved blade.
Nigel didn't hesitate.
He tore through the first wave, slashing, spinning, moving like a living weapon. Blood sprayed across the concrete as Silencers fell one after another.
Another squad rushed in.
Nigel shook his head, breathing hard.
"When will this end?" he muttered. "I'm starting to get tired."
Then he vanished.
To the soldiers, he became nothing but streaks of motion—too fast to follow, too brutal to stop. One by one, they dropped, bodies hitting the ground before their minds could catch up.
Soon, only one Silencer remained.
The soldier froze, staring at Nigel like he was staring at the devil himself.
Nigel stepped forward, blade raised—
The soldier ripped off his helmet and fell to his knees.
"Please!" he sobbed. "Don't kill me! I just got here today—I'm too young to die!"
Nigel froze.
The blade trembled.
"…Damn," he muttered.
He lowered his arm slowly.
"I hope I don't regret this," Nigel said quietly. "I won't kill you… even though your people had no problem trying to kill me."
"Th—thank you," the soldier cried. "I'm just a rookie. I graduated two months ago."
"Man, stop crying," Nigel sighed. "You makin' this ten times worse."
"I—I'm sorry. I just never thought I'd look death in the face like that."
Footsteps approached.
Zack ran up, eyes wide. "Nigel—yo! You good?! What happened to you?!"
Nigel flexed his arm uneasily. "To be honest… I don't know. I think I was tapping into Kuran's power."
Zack stared. "That transformation was insane. You gotta use that more often."
"No," Nigel snapped. "It's already bad enough I have to use it. That's what he wants—for me to give in."
Zack raised his hands. "Alright, alright. My bad. You're right."
He glanced down at the sobbing soldier. "Uh… who's the Silencer on the floor cryin'?"
Nigel blinked. "Umm… ayo, what's your name?"
"P-Private Joshua Lake…"
"Cool," Zack said. "Now let's get outta here before more show up."
Nigel smirked weakly. "Yeah… but you gonna explain the damn drone next to you?"
"Oh—right!" Zack laughed. "This is the drone we came for. Top-tier autonomous security system. I call it Delta."
Nigel opened his mouth to respond—
Then he coughed.
Blood spilled from his lips as he clutched his chest, collapsing to one knee.
"Nigel!" Zack rushed to him. "You okay?!"
"Do I look fine to you?" Nigel hissed, pain wracking his body.
Zack clenched his teeth. "Kuran's Curse… every time you transform, it eats at your soul."
Nigel couldn't move.
Zack turned sharply to the soldier. "Alright—Jody!"
"My name is Joshua!"
"Whatever. Help me get him into one of the trucks."
"Why should I help you?!"
Zack leaned in, eyes cold. "If you wanted us dead, you would've done it already. And you definitely didn't call backup."
Joshua hesitated.
"Plus," Zack continued, "you won't be able to explain how we escaped with your top-secret drone. They'll skin you alive."
"…They will?"
"Oh yeah," Zack said. "Now help me."
"…Okay. I'll get a truck."
Minutes later, Joshua drove them out of the depot. Nigel lay unconscious in the back as Zack packed Delta into a reinforced backpack.
As the city faded behind them, Joshua spoke quietly.
"Where are we going?"
"Abandoned amusement park," Zack said.
"…Who are you guys?"
"The name's Zack. The one sleepin' back there with the freaky demonic arm is Nigel."
"And what do you want?"
"To save the world before it ends."
"…From what?"
Zack glanced back at Nigel. "You should be askin' from who."
Joshua swallowed. "That's crazy. Why help him?"
"We didn't ask for this. He's cursed by a demon. We got ninety days to stop it."
"…Wow." Joshua paused. "So—were you serious about them killing me back there?"
Zack laughed. "Nah. I was bluffing."
Joshua stared at the road. "…Then what now?"
"Well," Zack said with a grin, "you abandoned your unit."
Joshua sighed. "What did I get myself into…?"
Zack smirked. "Welcome to the circus."