♣︎ Silent Shreds ♣︎
That Same Night...
Inside a narrow metal cell, reeking of iron and rust, the air was heavy—so heavy it seemed intent on freezing itself into the bones of whoever was trapped inside. Dampness had seeped into the walls, and sound had frozen between the corners.
I hugged my knees tightly to my chest and trembled. My face was buried between my arms, my damp hair clinging to my cheek, and the tears still rolled down silently—too weary to even fall quickly.
Everything inside me was aching.
I whispered to myself in a trembling voice, barely audible:
"What he said... it can't be true... He's just trying to mess with my head... He wants me to break, to doubt... to completely fall apart..."
But my voice didn't convince me.
I went quiet for a moment. Nothing could be heard except my ragged breathing. Then suddenly—
A crashing sound split through the wall of fear inside me. I jolted as if someone had slapped me. A scream... then laughter... running... another scream... and something shattering.
Everything erupted at once.
I gasped instinctively, stood cautiously, and crept toward the door. My palm pressed against the cold metal, and I placed my ear to it. The noise outside was jumbled... unclear... but alive. Terrifyingly alive.
I whispered, my heart pounding unbearably fast:
"What now?! What's happening?!"
I felt like the walls were whispering to me... like the wind was mocking my fear... and I no longer knew if what I was hearing was real... or if I was starting to lose my mind.
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Somewhere nearby, inside the mafia's main headquarters...
Six minutes earlier.
The heavy metal door swung open suddenly, its screech echoing through the hallway as if the building itself groaned from within. Thin smoke drifted in from behind, and two slow-moving shadows emerged—nothing like the other intruders.
Aren walked first, with steady footsteps that echoed coldly against the metallic floor. His shoulders were tense, his arms hung loosely by his sides in a disturbingly calm manner, and his face was frozen like a marble slab carved with frost. His blue eyes didn't scan—they pierced straight through the corridor as if he already knew what secrets the walls were hiding.
Right behind him was Raine. His body swayed slightly with each step, as if walking were a personal pleasure. His smile was tilted, and his eyes roamed the space with amused, mocking curiosity.
The floor beneath them shivered slightly, as if the building itself recognized something was in its halls that should never have been.
At the end of the corridor, two mafia guards appeared. They held old, battered rifles. Their faces were masked with tattoos that looked like warpaint, and their leather jackets glistened with sweat and cigarette smoke.
One of them raised a hand and shouted:
— "Stop! No one enters! Who are you?!"
Raine yawned, as if waking from a heavy dream, and replied lazily:
— "How rude... Even visits are banned now?"
But the response didn't come in words.
In less than a second, without Aren lifting a hand or showing any intent, an invisible wave sliced through the air. Time stopped—just for a heartbeat.
Then the guards' bodies split cleanly in two.
Smooth, like a knife through soft butter. Blood burst forth, splattering the walls and spilling into the cracks of the floor, as small bone fragments rolled like buttons torn from a tight shirt.
Raine's smile widened—but he didn't laugh. He raised an eyebrow, as if mildly scolding:
— "Still impatient as always... aren't you?"
Aren didn't answer. He didn't even pause. He simply said in a low voice:
— "I don't have time for this nonsense."
And kept walking.
In the main control room of the headquarters
The screens glowed red, displaying: "Intruders detected."
Five top members of the gang stood watching—each looking like a dormant monster.
Viper, the green-haired man with a snake's smile, said sarcastically:
— "They're in... quite simply."
Venom, chewing gum nonchalantly in her barely-there outfit, replied:
— "Facing them head-on? Suicide. We'll ambush them... better odds that way."
She pointed to Shade, the embodiment of a shadow, and Dollface, the girl with the murderous smile:
— "You two handle Raine. He won't sense you, Shade. And you, Dollface... do the unexpected."
Then she looked at Beast and Viper and said:
— "As for us... we have the one with cold eyes."
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Side corridor, mafia headquarters – same night
The hallway was long, lit by flickering lights that struggled for breath. The metallic walls reflected a dull, grim glow, and the drip of water overhead filled the silence like a tense heartbeat.
Aren's footsteps were slow... steady... coldly echoing on the iron floor—like heralding the approach of death. His face was expressionless, yet his deep blue eyes contained smoldering fire... waiting to ignite.
On his left, a sudden scream rang out, followed by a deep roar.
Beast burst forth like a raging wall of flesh, each step shaking the ground; sparks flew as his giant axe dragged against the metal floor. He charged at Aren, muscles bulging like a beast in human skin.
Aren remained still.
Until the final moment...
Whistle.
He vanished.
One second, and he reappeared behind Beast with lethal precision.
Aren smirked—a wide grin splitting his face like a vicious scar.
BOOM!
He planted his palm into Beast's back, sending a tremor through the giant's body. It wasn't a strike—it was internal destruction. Beast roared in agony; he wasn't done yet.
From above, Venom dove in, her gleaming daggers striking like cobra fangs. But Aren turned with unnatural speed, raising his left arm.
TICK!
He caught her wrist mid-air, slamming her into the wall like a rag doll.
Screams... cracking bones... then silence.
Viper stepped forward, a mocking smile playing across his tattooed face as he licked his lips:
— "I'll turn your blood into poison my body craves, beauty."
He lunged in a whirlwind, twisting like a serpent. But Aren...
...laughed.
A loud, hysterical laugh, as if reveling in the carnage. His face showed not life, but deadly ecstasy.
With a swift motion, he cut through the air, sending a sharp blast of energy that split Viper's body from shoulder to hip. Viper froze, staring at his torn flesh—then exploded into gore.
Venom screamed, tried to rise, but Aren was on her instantly. He kicked her face into the wall, shattering it, and her body collapsed like a soulless doll.
Beast, still breathing, tried to stand—his eyes filled with hatred—but Aren, his face streaked with blood, just smiled.
— "It's time."
Then he tore him apart.
Literally.
His hands were no longer human—they were killing machines. He shredded the body as if it were paper; organs, bones, the sound of tearing mixed with Aren's hysterical laughter.
He was like a child playing... with human remains.
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Elsewhere – in a parallel location
Raine was facing Shade and Dollface.
Shade struck first—silent, unseen—a cold breath on the back of his neck.
But Raine laughed:
— "Don't you know I can hear women's hearts? How could I not hear your hiss, shadow?"
He twisted back, kicking through the air—hitting Shade's body briefly before it vanished again. Dollface struck from above with her massive doll, but Raine slipped away gracefully, circling—joking, taunting, mocking.
But eventually, the game ended.
He drew his dagger and stabbed Dollface in the heart. Her eyes widened as the doll fell—lifeless.
Then, slowly, he advanced on Shade, who tried to retreat.
Raine said:
— "Late..."
and opened his palm. A shard of black light swept over Shade...
And it vanished—forever.
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Raine walked slowly down the corridor toward the grand hall, confronting a scene too horrific for words: scattered bones, blood, eyes, entrails... and in the center...
Aren, standing in the blood pool.
His smile remained, etched permanently on his face.
Raine quipped ironically:
— "You should've left at least a few features—the boss deserves to say goodbye."
Aren slowly turned his face; his smile faded as if pulled away.
He said coldly:
— "Boring."
Raine sighed:
— "Let's grab the girl and leave."
They walked together toward the steel cell door.
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Inside the metal cell, in utter darkness...
I sat on the floor, my chest heaving as if the air itself refused to enter me. My eyes were still wet, lost in the void, and my body... trembled uncontrollably.
I heard the door open slowly, the metal scraping the floor like an ancient moan. I lifted my gaze...
Two men entered, drenched in blood, enveloped in deadly silence. I saw no life in them—just something colder than death.
I tried to rise, but the restraints weighed down my hands and ankles. I didn't move; I just stared at them in shock.
One of them spoke, calmly—cold enough to cut the air:
— "No need to panic, we're here to take you."
My back trembled; I slid against the wall unconsciously. I gasped, my voice hoarse:
— "Wh... what are you doing here?! And why are you... covered in blood?! Who are you?! What's going on?!"
Raine smiled, a tight, mocking grin, as if nothing surprised him. Then said in a tone that mock-reassured:
— "Oh, no need to scream... we're not here to harm you."
I looked at him again, anxiety seeping into my bones. Then I hesitated, whispering a fearful question:
— "Are... are you the reason? Are you responsible for this?"
No answer came from his lips.
Rather, from the air.
Suddenly, I felt my body ripped from the ground... I gasped, my limbs fluttered, and as I looked down, I saw the truth.
One hand... lifting me as if I weighed nothing.
It was him... Aren.
He tossed me over his shoulder like an old coat. His face was expressionless—just those cold blue eyes, like moving ice.
In a voice soaked in chill, he said:
— "Enough talk, enough chatter..."
And he didn't give me another moment.
He vanished into the darkness, the sound of his footsteps the only trace he left behind.
Raine stood still, blinking slowly, as if what he saw neither surprised him nor pleased him—only disturbed him. He sighed, muttering to himself.
He shrugged once, then vanished into the darkness as well—leaving behind a nightmare no one could deny.
To be continued...
✨ End of Chapter Six ✨
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#NothingIsWhatItSeems.