- This day… really does nothing but keep getting better.
Nihil muttered from his hiding spot behind the dumpster.
But it seemed the magma man had heard him—or at least that was the impression when the flaming figure turned its head and cast a quick glance in his direction.
- Shit.
BANG.
Another shot rang out, slamming the magma man flat onto his back.
"I've seriously fucked this up now."
That was the only thought he managed before feeling strong hands grab his hood and drag him deeper into the dead-end alley.
- The hell—?!
He tried to shout, but whoever it was yanked his jaw off with a sharp pull and immobilized him with a series of movements far too fast for his shock-addled mind to process.
- Please, I'm asking you to stay quiet for a moment… we wouldn't want to bring unwanted company to our direction, right?
The voice was calm—almost surreal given the situation.
When Nihil looked at his captor, he didn't find a face, but a gas mask with enormous eye lenses.Where the mouth should have been, a hose snaked down and connected to the backpack strapped to their back.
He simply nodded, the only response possible in his condition.
- Heh. I like that you catch on fast.
The masked figure spoke with complete ease. Nihil could almost feel the smile hidden behind the filter.
'We'll see… it's not like you're giving me any option other than obeying,' he thought, as his body remained completely immobile, at the stranger's mercy.
Outside the alley, the spectacle continued.
Flames rose in every direction, gunshots cracked like sinister fireworks, and a deep rumbling shook the nearby buildings—as if something, or someone, massive was slamming into them.
It was terrifying.
And for a brief moment, Nihil felt like he was back in his hometown…That was what scared him the most.
His train of thought was cut off by a broken voice crackling through the radio clipped to the subject's belt.
- Static… It's on the way… Static… Signal confirmed.
- Looks like the party's about to start.
The masked one commented, a hint of professional excitement in their tone.
POOOM.
A heavy, brutal impact made the ground tremble beneath their feet.
Immediately after, the hands restraining him released their grip.
- Sorry about the rough handling, buddy. But I did it for your own good.
The voice said it casually, and Nihil swore he could feel the sarcastic grin hiding behind the mask.
- Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do.
And with that, the masked figure sprinted out of the alley, leaving him alone.
Anyone watching would think the guy was running straight toward suicide—but Nihil wasn't sure he was going to die… or at least, that's what he wanted to believe.
As Nihil tried to process the tidal wave of absurdity, he could see flames shooting several meters into the air from the alley's mouth, and hear the thunder of gunfire.
But more than anything else, what stood out was a wet, heavy sound.
Impacts.
As if someone were slamming something extremely heavy against the ground over and over again.
- ...….
"Huh?"
No words came out.
"Shit."
That bastard took my jaw.
- ...….
"Why do I always end up getting involved with every lunatic on the street?" he wondered, exhausted.
I must be the most miserable person within miles.
He didn't want to go after him. The guy had run straight toward the epicenter of the fight.
But… he had his jaw.
He even considered that losing his jaw might not be so bad.
*Pros: A perfect excuse not to answer anyone.
*Cons: Not being able to speak or communicate in any way that didn't involve pathetic gestures…
So Nihil came to the conclusion that he'd have to go get it back.
But first, he'd let them finish killing each other.
…
…
Not even two minutes passed after that thought when silence suddenly fell.
The gunfire stopped. The impacts ceased. Only the distant crackle of fire remained.
So he decided to take a look.
He just hoped that bastard was still alive… or at least that he hadn't lost his jaw along the way.
Had I known this would happen, I would've stayed in my room and kept getting eaten by Morwen, he reflected to himself.
'Let's get this over with' he muttered internally as, with a sigh that escaped his exposed throat like a ghostly whistle, he began walking toward the mouth of the alley.