Chapter 89

She affixed a plastic placard to the wall.

"Let's go in this direction immediately. This direction. It'll simply take a minute."

Jas fumbled with a door before eventually forcing it open with his foot.

Anthony observed that she did not have a key in her hand while she was doing the action. Not until Anthony entered through the door numbered 5 did the count begin. Having said that, he was fully aware that something was off. They were not inside of a business office. They were in a dingy, industrial-looking stairwell that appeared to extend the entire length of the convention facilities.

They were left in shock as the door slammed shut behind them. Anthony became frantic.

This is not correct at all. This is not a good sign —

His natural impulses took over.

When he turned to leave, Jas grabbed the arm of his jacket that he was wearing. "Sorry, youngster, but that door is locked. You won't get very far with that."

Anthony looked at her in a state of stunned astonishment.

Her arm seemed to be on fire beneath the official's grasp, and the pain was so intense that it even through the sleeve of her jacket.

Anthony's entire body started to char from the inside out. He struggled to liberate himself but was ultimately unsuccessful in his efforts. "Are you some sort of completely insane person? I beg you, let go of me!

"Hold it right there, Anthony. We just need to have a quick conversation about something." The tension in Jas's voice was mirrored in the tight hold she held on her jacket. Anthony's arm was throbbing with excruciating pain at this point.

"Yeah? "The next person I chat with will be the cop who hauls your butt to jail," Anthony muttered, pushing himself to calm down. "The next person I chat with will be the cop who hauls your butt to jail."

I need some time to think.

I can't stay here any longer; I have to leave.

Jas let out a sigh. "Why don't we go out and get some fresh air?" She grabbed Anthony by the arm and dragged him up the stairway of the convention center, pulling him alongside her a few steps at a time.

Anthony's jacket was firmly held in his iron grip.

Anthony's head started hurting so badly right at that moment that he began to worry that he would pass out.

Up? That doesn't make sense. That is not the way out of the situation.

But Jas was a lot stronger than Anthony expected, and he realized he was in a lot of trouble.

He screamed, but the sound reverberated across the empty stairway without accomplishing anything.

From this close of a distance, Anthony was able to determine that Jas Louis was not an official. Police? Or . . . worse? She was dressed in all black, including black boots, black pants, and a black top. There was no further evidence that could point to her identification.

If her name was Jas, then she pushed his bag even further up the staircase.

Anthony made another attempt to catch a glimpse of her. A better look. Even her captor had glossy black hair, as far as he could tell; she had sharp, geometric bangs and a chin-length crop that protruded from beneath her cap while she wore expensive-looking aviator sunglasses. She had the appearance of a well-known person, perhaps a celebrity from one of the Gideon Wick films or something.

This individual is most likely not one of the good guys.

Now that Jas was driving him up through the stairway at such a rapid pace, Anthony had the distinct impression that he was floating above the ground.

They were in the vicinity of a doorway and could see it. A door made of corroded metal that has a depressing appearance and is framed by a little rectangle of light. They must have made it to the top of the building.

Anthony was pushed forward into the light by Jas as he kicked open the door with one of his leather-booted feet.

Anthony found himself on the roof after falling. The woman remained behind him, maintaining her position directly between Anthony and her one and only means of egress.

Anthony let out a sigh as the ache in his arm gradually subsided.

They were surrounded by brisk winter sunshine and the iconic skyline of New York City, yet the sky above them was clear and blue. Anthony inched his way closer to the short wall that surrounded the building on all sides. In the distance, he could make out cars driving slowly and indifferent to their surroundings.

There is no escape.

His head was no longer pounding, but it continued to buzz with static even after it stopped. As she increased her voice, he took a deep breath to stabilize himself and gazed out toward the horizon, which was the point where the buildings met the beach. "What is your name?"

"I'm sure you've heard my name before, little bro."

The words lingered there, heavy and ominous in the air.

Anthony could not find the response he was seeking for here. It was the complete opposite in practically every respect.

Only one person in his entire life had ever referred to him in that manner.

But there's no way that could happen—

Anthony was not making any sound.

Everything started to become clear to him at this moment, piece by piece and in a haphazard manner, like so many scorched ashes dropping from a destroyed London warehouse.

The explosion.

I fell to the ground after being tackled by the woman dressed in black. The light-colored hair

The flames of a crimson color. It was the blood.

The smoldering countenance of the man who was actually a demon. Anthony responded by saying, "It's you."

He slowly and eventually made his way around to face the woman who had abducted him.

The woman whose name was never actually Jas Louis and who claimed that it was.

The woman's response was, "It would appear that the goddess has watched over you."