⁕ Blood Stained Innocence

Inside the house, Karson finally began to shed tears upon learning the truth about his mother. With the truth revealed, Karson finally was exposed to the ugly reality that passed under his eyes his whole life. 

[Nancy] - "I'm a priority target of the A25 gang now that I have killed their second leader Adam's brother in a street gunfight. It's only a matter of time before they find and kill me. Like the coward he was, your father revealed my location to the A25 gang but I believe justice was served to him today. "

[Karson] - "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for the way I acted toward you. "

Said Karson while holding back tears. 

Upon hearing Karson's apologies, Nancy's eyes showed an air of empathy as she tapped her palm against Karson's shoulder. 

[Nancy] - "I just wish you would climb to the top and get away from this slump of a place. Use this money wisely, Karson, don't end up like me or your father. Just look forward and don't look back. It's the only path you can walk. "

Said Nancy before she finished her cigarette. 

As the last of the ashes fell onto the table, a loud bang shot through the room. Acting quickly, Nancy dragged Karson out of his chair and pushed him into another room.

[Nancy] - "Hide! "

As soon as Nancy turned around, a line of gang members began to shower her with bullets. Even as Nancy collapsed to the ground, the goons approached to continue to carnage. With wide eyes, Karson watched as the bullets mutilated his mother's body beyond recognition until a red mist was all that was left on the ground. 

Karson stood like a frozen film as the gang members began to scout the house for other occupants. Suddenly, George charged into Karson and slammed him into an empty closet. 

[George] - "Don't make a damn sound! "

Said George before closing the closet doors.

[Elise] - "Did you find Karson? "

Said Elise as she walked into the room. 

[George] - "Nope, just checked the closet, he ain't there. "

[Elise] - "Damn it, we gotta go! It's approaching 3 minutes at this point. "

As the gang retreated out of the house, several civilians came out on their front porch to see what was causing all the commotion while others watched from the safety of their windows. 

[Elise] - "Fuck! These bloody wanker! Teach them how curiosity kills the cat. "

Without mercy, the gang spread around and loaded a different type of ammunition inside their guns. As soon as they fired, the man-seeking bullets would fly into the homes of suspected witnesses and target the nearest live human. At the same time, others were gunned down where they stood. Not far away, Mike and Kadyn were about to enter the restaurant when they were alerted by the sound of gunfire from Karson's neighbourhood. 

[Elise] - "Fire the incendiary rounds once you are done and let's get out of here. "

Each gang member fired a charge of incendiary mixture into the surrounding houses before retreating into their van. After the last one of them got inside the van, Elise pressed a button which changed the van's colour and license plate before driving off. 

During this time, as everyone fled into the bistro for safety, Mike looked at Kadyn before giving her a quick kiss. Then, without losing a second, Mike rushed to a secluded spot and flew into the sky toward the origin of the disturbance. After landing amidst the chaos, the only thing he saw was a hellscape full of burning houses. 

[Mike] - "Guilt Extension: Sanctary's blessing! "

As soon as Mike reached forward with his hand, every house was dismantled into individual pieces before floating into the air. By separating everything, he prevented the fire from spreading while keeping the people out of the flame's reach. The crystals on his forearms glowed brightly as he flew between each of the houses while looking for survivors. Luckily for Karson, Mike was able to locate his unconscious body inside a broken closet. However, Mike's hopes were crushed after finding every single civilian either burnt to a crisp or shot dead with a bullet.

With a heavy heart, Mike placed the bodies in a line on the streets and reconstructed the houses before flying off with Karson's body in his arms. After bursting through the emergency department's doors, Mike rushed to the counter and was met by a receptionist who appeared apathetic to Karson's situation. 

[Mike] - "This man needs emergency care! "

[Receptionist] - "Mhm. Does he have insurance? "

Said the receptionist in a relaxed tone. 

[Mike] - "What the fuck is wrong with you, you bloody prick! Treat him, then we'll talk about insurance! "

[Receptionist] - "Watch the attitude, mister, I can easily decline to serve you. "

Said the receptionist while crossing her arms. 

The situation was unbelievable to Mike who quickly lost his cool. A gentle glow emanated from his crystals before the protective glass at the reception morphed into a row of sharp spikes all pointed at the receptionist. The unnatural sight caused the emotionless receptionist to suddenly switch to an expression of fright. 

[Mike] - "Treat him, NOW! "

Commanded Mike with authority. 

In a panic, the receptionist reached her trembling hand toward the phone and called for a stretcher and a medical team. While waiting for the stretcher, Mike tightened his hood and put on a medical mask to further hide his identity. 

As Karson was being treated inside the ICU, Mike started a call with Kadyn through his earpiece. As he did so, he saw two surgeons enter a patient's room with a transparent box of ice on a tray. 

[Mike] - "I will probably miss dinner, just get me something to go. "

[Kadyn] - "Did you rescue anyone? "

[Mike] - "Only a single person, the rest were unfortunately dead when I got there. I'm currently making sure he's alright. Sorry if I couldn't be there with you. "

[Kadyn] - "I'm done eating now, I got you a beef Wellington to go. Where can I come to find you? "

[Mike] - "Probably going to stay the night here. I don't feel reassured if I don't see him make it out alive. You should head to the hotel. "

[Kadyn] - "No, tell me where are you right now! I will not stay the night without you! "

[Mike] - "Sigh... alright, stay where you are. "

While no one was looking, Mike approached the window and phased through it as if it was liquid. A few minutes later, Mike phased back into the hallway through the wall with Kadyn by his side. 

[Kadyn] - "Ew, it's so dirty in here. "

Said Kadyn while covering her nose. 

[Mike] - "You should've gone back to the hotel. "

[Kadyn] - "I'd rather be with you. Who knows when will I see you again after two days? "

Said Kadyn as she grabbed Mike's hand. 

[Mike] - "One day. One day, I'll grant you your freedom. You will not need to be an imperial assassin anymore. You'll be free to do anything or go anywhere you want. "

Said Mike while glancing at Kadyn.

[Kadyn] - "What's the point? Free or not, I'll never be more than a secret girlfriend to you. Sniper would chop off your head if he learned that you were dating a demi-human like me. "

Said Kadyn in a depressed voice. 

[Mike] - "Maybe I'm not the right person for you. You deserve someone who is there for you, not someone like me, who will never be able to put you before my duties. "

Kadyn raised her head in shock as soon as she heard Mike's words.

[Kadyn] - "You dummy, even if I only see you once every ten years, I still choose to be yours. "

Said Kadyn as soon as Mike finished his sentence.

[Mike] - "There are plenty of fish in the sea. I can't deprive you of your happiness like this, it won't be fair to you! You'll learn that there are plenty of good men out there who can give you what you miss with me. "

Kadyn's face burned with a fiery combination of anger and sadness as she placed her hands around Mike's cheeks. 

[Kadyn] - "Shut the fuck up! Never, never fucking mention other men in my face ever again! I said what I said and I will not take it back. We're supposed to make happy memories here, not this kind of unnecessary drama. "

Whispered Kadyn in an anguished voice while holding back tears. 

Upon seeing Kadyn's sadness, Mike thought back at what he said before a determined expression appeared in his eyes. 

[Mike] - "Fuck what I just said. I'm not some bloody coward. "

Kadyn looked up to see Mike staring at her with a grin. 

[Mike] - "When you'll be free, I'll marry you. Even if my duty saps me of all my time, I will create time just to be with you. "

Mike's words blasted through Kadyn's heart like Cupid's arrow. In an instant, Kadyn leaned in and kissed Mike with a bomb of pent-up emotion. 

[Kadyn] - "I'll remember what you said now until death do us part! "

[Mike] - "I'll show Death death if he dares stand between us. "

Mike's confidence had Kadyn turned from sadness to unextinguishable happiness. After a long hug, Kadyn finally let go of Mike but the heart-melting smile remained visible on her face. 

Meanwhile, the surgeons who entered the unnamed patient's room exited with a kidney inside the ice box. Upon witnessing this, Mike immediately stood up and confronted the surgeons. 

[Mike] - "Why did you two remove the patient's kidney? "

[Surgeon 1] - "Who the fuck are you, mate? "

[Surgeon 2] - "Fuck off, bruv, this ain't none of yer business. "

With a single swipe of his hand, both surgeons immediately sunk into the floor with only their heads above the surface. 

[Mike] - "Fucking hell, why did you two blood bastards steal that patient's kidney? "

Yelled Mike as the two men panicked in fear. 

[Surgeon 1] - "She didn't have insurance and her bank account didn't have enough to pay her medical bills. "

[Surgeon 2] - "Yeah! The policy is the salvage of the patient's belongings to pay off the debt owed to the hospital. We're just following orders, please! "

Cried the surgeon in a panic. 

[Mike] - "Fucking return her the kidney or I'll bury you two useless spawns permanently. Capich? "

The two surgeons nodded their heads before being sent back into the patient room by Mike. With a frustrated look on his face, Mike turned around only to see another pair of these kinds of surgeons enter Karson's room. 

[Mike] - "Oh mother of Christ! "

As soon as the surgeons prepared to remove Karson's kidney, they were suddenly thrown against the wall by an invisible force before a rain of spikes pinned their clothes against the wall. 

[Mike] - "Touch that man's kidney and you two are dead men! "

[Surgeons] - "We won't, we won't! We swear on our mothers we won't! "

Cried the two surgeons in fear. 

[Mike] - "Is the patient's condition stable? Answer honestly! "

[Surgeon 3] - "Totally stable! He'll be good for discharge tomorrow! "

Said the surgeon while nodding his head as he talked. 

[Surgeon 4] - "Yeah, he's barely harmed. "

With a glance at Karson, Mike became convinced by the men's words. After releasing the men, Mike walked out of the room while the spikes returned to form the doorknob. 

[Kadyn] - "Doing some good deeds? "

Said Kadyn while her face radiated joy. 

[Mike] - "These bloody mongrels, I never realized how low has morality fallen in current society. "

Said Mike in a spiteful voice.

[Kadyn] - "Glad you are around to enforce it. "

[Mike] - "Let's go, he is good enough to make it. "

Mike quickly arrived at the reception desk where he paid off Karson's medical bill without asking questions. Just as he was about to leave, he asked to tip at least 50% of the total cost. 

[Mike] - "50%... what the fuck? For stealing the man's kidney? "

Mike's frustration couldn't contained as he grabbed the receptionist by the collar. To his surprise, the people in the waiting room began to encourage Mike to beat up the receptionist. When heavily armed security guards stormed the room, Mike was beyond done with the ridiculousness of the situation. 

[Mike] - "You are fucking kidding me! In a hospital? "

With a single swing of his arm, all the guards were stripped to their underwear as their weapons and clothes disintegrated into a fine powder on the floor.

[Receptionist] - "Here, mate, that's a check for 25,000 pounds. Please, let me go. "

Begged the receptionist while wiggling a piece of paper in his hand. 

Finally, with an apathetic expression on his face, Mike threw the receptionist into the crowd of angry people where they jumped him like a pack of hungry dogs. As Mike headed toward the exit, Kadyn caught up to him and grabbed his hand. 

[Mike] - "Can't wait for the imperial navy to arrive here. I can't fucking believe all this shit was happening under my eyes this whole time. "

Whispered Mike in frustration. 

[Kadyn] - "I'm sure that hospital has learned its lesson. "

Said Kadyn with a grin. 

Meanwhile, people in France cheered as the imperial fleet flew over Paris. The previously corrupt and hated government was ousted from office while all of its officials were arrested as war criminals by imperial soldiers. The same happened in Iran as masses of imperial ships passed over Tehran. While the old world panicked, Sniper's armies kept making progress into more countries.

Meanwhile, in Africa, where large cities were being liberated, rebel groups and extremists retreated into the forest thinking they would be safe. However, that hope was shattered as cyberknights armed with all sorts of abilities either forced them out of hiding spots or directly executed them without them being able to fight back at all. 

Where the imperial military could not reach or fight, cyberknights were sometimes deployed. To regular humans armed with their current technologies, cyberknights are sometimes Gods before them. However, as promised by Sniper, the war is a revolution, thus it must be fought by people who wish to obtain change through war. Due to this reason, cyberknights will often be held back to allow them the experience of the battle and the thrill of victory. 

To be continued...