The warehouse echoed with the sound of silenced shots.
Emma ducked behind a steel pillar as another bullet hit the wall above her head.
"YOUR BROTHER?!" she yelled.
Darrick crouched beside her, jaw tight, eyes sharp with a mix of anger and regret.
"Yes," he said. "Dimitri Hellsing."
Another bullet zipped past.
Emma glared. "So your own family is trying to kill you?!"
"It's… complicated."
"No, Darrick—that's not complicated. That's toxic!"
Darrick peeked out from behind the pillar, firing a shot toward the upper windows.
A shadow moved, quick and confident—his brother was skilled.
"Stay down," he warned her.
Emma rolled her eyes. "Stop telling me what to do."
She grabbed a loose metal panel from the floor and used it like a shield as she sprinted to a stack of crates for better cover.
Darrick cursed under his breath and followed.
"Emma—"
She cut him off. "Explain. Now."
Another bullet embedded itself in the crate next to her ear.
"Okay maybe not NOW," she corrected, crouching lower.
---
💀 The Fallen Hellsing
Darrick reloaded quickly.
"My family runs Hellsing Corporation," he said between breaths. "A global tech empire. When I began investigating corruption tied to the 600 million contract, I discovered my father—and Dimitri—were involved."
Emma's eyes widened.
"So your brother wants you dead so you don't expose your own family?"
"Yes."
Emma whistled. "Damn. And I thought my life was messy."
Darrick's expression darkened. "Dimitri believes loyalty matters more than justice."
"And you chose justice," Emma said quietly.
He met her eyes.
"Yes."
Another bullet whizzed by.
Emma leaned closer. "Then we end this. Together."
Darrick swallowed—her bravery still surprised him.
"We have to reach the power box," he said. "Cut the lights. Dimitri uses thermal lenses; without them we stand a chance."
Emma cracked her knuckles.
"Lead the way, boss."
---
🔥 The Dark Maneuver
They moved through the shadows as Dimitri's shots followed them like hunger.
The warehouse groaned with every impact.
Emma found the breaker panel near the far wall.
"Cover me!"
Darrick fired upward, forcing Dimitri to take cover.
Emma pulled a wrench from the toolbox and slammed it into the main switch.
BZZZT—
The entire warehouse went black.
Silence.
Heavy.
Breathless.
Emma couldn't see anything—not even her own hands.
"Darrick?" she whispered.
"I'm here," he murmured, close behind her.
Their breaths mingled in the dark.
"Listen," he said. "Dimitri won't stop. He thinks I betrayed the family—"
"You did," a cold voice echoed from the shadows.
Emma froze.
A deeper voice, accented lightly.
Smooth, deadly.
Dimitri.
"Exposing our father's work?" Dimitri said. "Foolish little brother."
Emma clenched her fists.
"Come out and fight!" she shouted.
Footsteps approached slowly.
"Ah," Dimitri said with amusement. "Emma. The street rat turned bodyguard."
Emma stiffened.
"I know all about you," Dimitri continued.
"James. Sam. Your parents. Your criminal record. You think Darrick hired you for your strength?"
Emma's chest tightened.
Darrick's voice snapped. "Dimitri, stop—"
"He hired you because you were desperate. Easy to control."
Emma's breath caught like someone had punched the air out of her.
"Don't listen to him," Darrick said firmly.
Dimitri stepped closer.
Emma could feel his presence—dangerous, confident.
"Tell her the truth," Dimitri hissed.
"Tell her you planned to drop her once the contract was signed."
Emma's heart slammed.
She turned toward Darrick, though she couldn't see him.
"…is that true?" she whispered.
Silence.
A painful silence.
Darrick finally spoke—voice rough.
"Yes… at first."
Emma felt the betrayal slice through her like a blade.
"But not anymore," he added quickly. "Emma, things changed—you changed things. I need you. I trust you. I—"
A gun clicked.
"Enough," Dimitri growled.
Emma's instincts screamed.
She lunged toward the sound—
slammed into someone—
and the warehouse erupted into chaos.
A struggle.
Hands grabbing.
Guns falling.
Bodies colliding in the dark.
"EMMA!" Darrick shouted.
She couldn't tell who she was fighting—
Darrick?
Dimitri?
Suddenly—
A gunshot exploded in the darkness.
Emma froze.
Someone gasped.
Someone fell.
Then silence.
Dead silence.
"Who… who was hit?" Emma whispered.
But no one answered.