Chapter 14: Order and Voice

Crosu woke up, quickly raising his head and hitting the back of it against a piece of wood, letting out a painful groan. He tried to bring his hand to the spot where it hurt, but his arm wouldn't move. At that moment, he realized that he wasn't dreaming about being defeated. The old man was real. The whole battle in his mind, the beating he took, and not landing a single blow. In the middle of the night, with the advantage, his enemy dropped his weapon and hit him with his fists. It was the worst defeat he had ever received since he challenged Hugo. His iron arm also didn't move properly. Why?

"Finally awake. You're slow even for that."

He quickly turned his head. Liana was beside him, chained with red chains to a piece of wood. She had her neck raised, with a proud look, but stared at him angrily.

"You just had to kill one guy." Her teeth pressed together. This was when she was angriest. She always did that when there was no more place to hide her hatred. "You managed to mess up even a simple plan."

Crosu blinked several times. Then he looked around. They were trapped in a house with only three walls. The ceiling was high, with a second floor, and people in those disgusting white uniforms walked back and forth. He saw the day outside, it was almost noon. This meant he had been unconscious for more than 10 hours.

"They're going to interrogate us," Liana said, inserting her fingers into the chains and receiving a burn. She stopped moving, grimacing in pain. "Shit. Don't say anything, understood?"

"I know."

Crosu took a deep breath and looked ahead. Nothing. Was he really here? Dante was sitting with his arms crossed on a wooden crate, his head tilted back. Eyes closed, occasionally letting out some snores.

Some officers passed by, commenting.

"How does he manage to sleep with all that noise?"

Another shrugged, not caring.

"He's part of Officer Dalia's squad, it's normal for them to be all strange. I heard she was one of the few people who stood up to High Command and didn't get punished."

The comments dragged on, becoming just comments and assumptions. Crosu learned the old man's name, it was Dante. And he had no special attributes. He could feel his energy, it was thin, shallow.

Liana felt disgusted knowing that the old man had beaten Crosu.

"How did you lose to someone so weak, idiot?"

"I doubt you would have beaten him either."

Liana lifted her head. A man was standing, leaning against the wood they were chained to, smiling as he watched Dante sleep.

"A lot of people think that strange people tend to be placed on high pedestals. But..." The man pointed at the old man. "That one is just a regular person using his personal experience to make a little money to save his parents. Do you believe that story?"

"Why would an old man do that?" Liana asked and realized she had answered the question. "And fuck him and you all. I don't care about anyone's story in this filthy place."

The man took two steps forward, relaxed, and opened his arms.

"You should want to know who ruined your plan, but I believe you don't like that since you're angry." The officer sighed and sat in the chair, crossing his legs. "I didn't even want to know who you are, but I'm forced to, you know? I would have just slit your throats and left it at that. I used the Frequency Cube and got communication with your peers and tracked you through High Frequency. Unfortunately, I'm not the one in charge."

He was telling the truth, Crosu could feel it. The murderous intent from this man was clear. If he drew his sword and cut them into pieces, it would be intentional and personal. Even with that smile on his face, it was clear that his true intent was to take their heads off.

"I feel that when we're close to death, we reveal a bit of our more emotional personality," the man continued. "My name is Rutteo. And I have to say, coming to my camp was the dumbest idea in the world. A bad plan, I understand your side. You're trying your luck out here, being hunted by creatures and trying to make a name for yourselves in a place you call home. And I'm being honest when I say I don't like you or your attitude. I'm an honest man. I love some things and hate others."

"You talk too much," Liana commented. In a swift movement, she spat on the ground right in front of Rutteo's feet. "This place, these people, no one here will survive if we don't go back. He'll come, in the middle of the night or during the afternoon, a huge curtain of smoke will cover all of this, and you'll see your worst nightmares forming."

Rutteo stood still for a moment and then laughed, clapping his hands. Everyone around stopped moving to listen. The officer shook his head, disappointed, and wagged his finger from side to side.

"No, no. I don't buy into mysticism anymore. Or suspense. I'm a dramatic person, but I hate it when it's done to me. So when I speak, you listen. And by listening, you tell me things you wouldn't normally tell others."

Liana swallowed hard. It couldn't be. Hugo had mentioned this once. Inside the Capital, a soldier could make you reveal your thoughts, dreams, and nightmares without you even realizing it.

His ability wasn't the strongest, because torture could be a more effective method. However, this man was extremely dangerous.

"You're Rutteo Rutga," Crosu said, impressed. "The 'Active Voice.'"

The officer opened his mouth, shocked, and then laughed.

"Yes, that's me. I'm flattered you know me, kid. I'm very proud of myself that you know me. And you, what's your name?"

"Crosu..."

Crosu immediately closed his mouth and bit his tongue on purpose. Liana saw her companion get angry for answering. She herself had done the same moments earlier. Even though the officer in front of them wasn't doing anything to harm them, she still felt that energy in her chest, making her want to talk.

"Crosu. Crosu." Rutteo tapped his chin, thinking. "Seems like a common name. I don't know it. Well, I'm glad you told me. So why did you come here, Crosu? Is there something that belongs to you here or something we took?"

Liana struggled against the chains, burning her arm skin. She stopped moving.

"Look, I don't want you to get hurt. Stop it."

Crosu shook his head repeatedly. If he heard Rutteo's voice, he would talk to them automatically. They couldn't... give any information.

Liana realized that all the officers were listening intently, but none of them said anything. She doubted the ability was selective, so if she didn't answer, he wouldn't be able to extract anything. No information. Nothing.

Rarely did Liana have to stay quiet. She swallowed her pride in responding to that bastard in front of her. She wouldn't say anything. Not even if they cut her wrists and sewed them back. Never again. Not even if they killed me.

"I see you don't like talking to me," said Rutteo. "I apologize for that. But today, literally today, I can't be so nice. And I'll say more, you were very unlucky coming here. If you had attacked a day before or a day after, you might have had some chance of success. Because if you know me as 'Active Voice,' then you should be even more afraid of the person who carries the title of 'Living Order.'"

The pressure increased. In the middle of the silence, the steps of that woman grew louder, closer. How many times had they heard about the demon that lived in the Capital? How many stories about the only officer who had an ability considered unreal, unfair? How many times, during classes, had they heard about 'Living Order'? And if there was someone they shouldn't face, it was her.

The black boots, the white uniform. They didn't want to face the demon in the eyes. They didn't want to see her.

"Lift your heads. Both of you."

The Cosmic Energy mixed within their muscles. They didn't want to, and that's why their muscles trembled. Their heads, necks, and shoulders shaking at the same time the pressure forced them to lift their eyes.

The woman with an indifferent face, cruel eyes, and rosy lips. She was exactly as Hugo had described her. Never face 'Living Order.'

"And why, Hugo?" Liana asked the first time she heard about her.

"Because you won't leave there alive," was Hugo's answer. Harsh and dry. "Not even I would face her head-on. So don't get caught. Not by her."

She cursed under her breath. Liana hated the time, hated the plans, hated that specific moment. One more day or one less day, as that damn talker had said. If she had just waited one more day, she wouldn't be here. And the plan would have been a success.

"Now." Dalia took two steps back and stood next to Rutteo. "You will answer all of his questions."

The pressure on their throats, and the twisting of their muscles. At the same time, both responded against their will:

"Yes... ma'am."