Chapter 4
Renjiro's Point of View
Alfred hesitated.
His hands trembled slightly as he stared at the security screen, watching guards move through the facility below. Every instinct in his body screamed that this was madness. This place was not something two scientists could outplay.
"This is crazy," Alfred muttered. "Renjiro, I do not want to risk this. We are talking about an evil organization that we even worked on. There is no coming back if we do this."
Renjiro did not answer immediately.
He stood with his back to Alfred, staring at the wall as if he were looking through it. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, almost too calm.
"I saw something when I touched the Void."
Alfred stiffened. He turned fully toward Renjiro. "What did you see?"
Renjiro closed his eyes for a brief moment. Whatever he had seen stayed behind them. "I cannot explain it yet," he said. "Not now. But if Victor keeps the orb, everything breaks. Not just this place. Not just us."
Something in his tone changed Alfred.
It was not fear. It was certain.
Renjiro turned to him. "People will suffer. Children already are. And worse things are coming."
Alfred swallowed.
The doubt that had been gripping him loosened. He did not know why, but the moment Renjiro spoke, something clicked. It felt like the truth pressing down on him, heavy and unavoidable.
"What did you find in the orb?" Alfred asked quietly.
Renjiro shook his head. "Enough to know we cannot let him have it."
Silence stretched between them.
Finally, Alfred exhaled sharply. "Alright," he said. "No turning back."
Renjiro nodded. "Good."
Alfred straightened. "Then what is the plan?"
Renjiro did not hesitate. "We take the orb. Now. While Victor thinks he still controls everything."
Alfred frowned. "And then what? Even if one of us gets it outside, hiding it will not be enough."
Renjiro paused.
"Who consumes it?" Alfred pressed.
Renjiro looked away. "First, we get it out. We place it somewhere safe. Both of us. Then we decide."
Alfred did not like the answer, but there was no time to argue.
Elsewhere in the facility, Doctor Cane moved quickly through the corridor, flanked by armed guards.
"Find Renjiro," he ordered. "Victor wants him. Now."
They turned a corner and nearly collided with Alfred.
"There you are," Doctor Cane snapped. "Where the hell is Renjiro?"
Alfred forced a casual expression. "Why? I think he went for a smoke."
Doctor Cane's eyes narrowed. "Bullshit. You two are glued together. Where is he?"
Before Alfred could answer, an alarm blared.
Red lights flashed across the facility. Emergency warnings echoed through every corridor.
In another hallway, Renjiro was already running.
A guard spotted him and reached for his radio. "I found Renjiro. Doctor Cane, he is in the east hallway."
Renjiro heard the shout and pushed himself harder. Footsteps thundered behind him as the alarm grew louder.
Doors. Hallways. Turns. He ran until his lungs burned.
Then he saw it.
The secured chamber.
Renjiro slammed the master key into the lock. The door slid open, revealing the black Void once more. The orb floated quietly at its center, glowing faintly red.
He did not hesitate.
Pulling on a mechanical glove, he grabbed the orb and shoved it into a reinforced container. The moment it sealed, the pressure in the room vanished.
He ran.
"HE HAS THE BLACK VOID!" a guard shouted.
Soldiers flooded the hallways. Gunfire echoed. Boots slammed against metal floors.
"Kill him!" Victor's voice roared over the system. "Shoot him!"
Renjiro sprinted past chambers filled with water tanks.
Children.
Suspended. Unmoving.
He stopped.
Without thinking, he jammed the master key into the control panel. The locks disengaged.
Water drained.
The children collapsed to the floor, coughing, gasping.
Renjiro turned to run.
As he reached the exit, two soldiers blocked his path, rifles raised.
"Hands in the air," one ordered. "Drop the box."
Renjiro raised his hands.
Then the air twisted.
One of the children came and lifted his hand.
The soldiers were thrown aside by an invisible force, crashing into the walls.
Renjiro stared, stunned.
"Go," the child said weakly.
More soldiers poured in.
The child was dragged away as Renjiro ran.
He reached the parking area and threw himself into his car. Bullets shattered the windows. Metal screamed as shots tore through the doors.
He was shot in his left foot. Pain exploded.
He screamed but kept driving.
Another shot hit his side. Blood soaked his clothes. Renjiro's tears drop from pain.
Victor stepped into view and fired.
Renjiro barely stayed conscious.
He slammed the accelerator and burst through the outer gate. With shaking hands, he used the master key one last time, sealing the facility behind him.
Inside, Victor roared.
He grabbed Doctor Cane and slammed him into the wall. "You are useless! Find him! Kill him, or I will kill you in his place! Bring me back my orb!"
The sirens continued to scream.
Above ground, the world remained unaware.
For now.
Renjiro finally stopped the car at a safe distance, hidden among the trees. His chest heaved, blood soaking through his shirt from the wounds in his left stomach and left foot. He pressed a bandage against the injuries, but it was barely enough to slow the bleeding. Every movement sent sharp pain shooting through him, but he ignored it. The orb remained secure in his hands.
Looking at the car, an idea struck him. He poured gasoline over it, doused the vehicle until it glistened with fuel. With a flick of a lighter, flames roared to life, consuming the car. He stood there, watching the fire rage, the heat flickering across his battered face, the box containing the orb held tightly against his chest.
Pain gnawed at him, but there was no time to waste. He limped into the forest, branches scraping against his arms, twigs snapping under his feet. An hour later, he arrived home, bruised, bleeding, and exhausted.
He slammed the door open.
Miyu's eyes widened, a scream escaping her lips. "Ahhh! What happened to you?!"
Blood covered his clothes, staining his hands. "You were shot!" she cried, rushing toward him.
Souta and Masaki came rushing down the stairs, panic written across their faces. "Mom! Why are you shouting? What's happening?!"
But their words caught in their throats.
Before them, their father lay slumped, clothes soaked in blood. His body trembled with pain, and the sight made their hearts freeze. Time seemed to stop for a moment as shock and fear washed over them.
Masaki's voice broke the silence. "Ahhhh! Dad! Why? What happened?!" His knees buckled as he stumbled forward, tears streaming down his face.
Souta's chest tightened, and he could barely breathe. He reached out, voice trembling. "Dad…" Tears blurred his vision as shock and helplessness gripped him.
Both brothers stood frozen for a heartbeat, unable to process the scene, their minds screaming in disbelief.
Renjiro struggled to stay upright, his breathing shallow. He lifted the box slightly and whispered to Souta, "Hide this… keep it safe."
Masaki grabbed his phone, dialing emergency services frantically. Tears filled their eyes as they shouted, their voices echoing in the house. "You're going to be fine! The ambulance is coming!"
Souta's hands shook, his chest tight with fear. "Dad!" he cried, rushing forward.
Miyu sobbed uncontrollably, clinging to him. Masaki's strong frame trembled as he tried to stay composed, but tears streamed down his face.
Renjiro closed his eyes for a brief moment, the pain and blood overwhelming him, yet determination burned in his gaze. The orb was safe. That was all that mattered.
To be continued...