Cheeto girl. {4}

Satisfied, the man holstered his weapon and turned his attention to the Cheeto girl lying motionless on the floor. Her fiery hair was splayed out around her like a halo, her face pale and lifeless. He crouched beside her, his gloved hand brushing against her neck to check for a pulse. There was none.

{Now then, what should I do with you?} he ponders over, his thoughts cold and detached. {I don't have too much time to deal with you, so please be dead.}

He stood up, glancing around the room. The prefect's office was a mess, papers scattered, the typewriter knocked crooked, and the faint smell of gunpowder lingering in the air. Time was running short; he needed to move quickly.

He reached into his coat and pulled out a small, cylindrical device, a portable incendiary charge. With a few quick adjustments, he set the timer and placed it on the prefect's desk.

{This should cover my tracks,} he thought, his mind already racing ahead to the next steps. He took one last look at the Cheeto girl, with a flicker of something like regret, perhaps? crosed his face before he pushed it aside. There was no room for sentimentality in his line of work.

As he turned to leave, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway outside. He froze, his hand instinctively moving to his pistol. The footsteps grew louder, accompanied by the faint murmur of voices. He glanced at the incendiary device, its timer ticking down and made a split-second decision.

He moved to the window, his movements swift and silent. With practiced ease, he unlocked it and slipped outside, disappearing into the night just as the door to the office burst open. A group of soldiers rushed in, their weapons drawn, only to be met with the sight of the prefect's lifeless body.

"What the hell happened here?!" one of them shouted, his voice tinged with panic.

Before anyone could answer, the incendiary device on the desk beeped once, then exploded in a burst of flames. The fire spread rapidly, consuming everything in its path. The soldiers scrambled to retreat, their shouts drowned out by the roar of the inferno.

Outside, the figure watched from a distance as the flames engulfed the building, his face illuminated by the flickering light. He adjusted his coat and turned away, melting into the shadows of the academy grounds.

{One less problem to deal with, now... what the hell should I do with you....}

The rain began to fall in heavy sheets, the droplets hissing as they hit the cracked pavement of the dark alley. Alexius crouched low, his breath visible in the cold air, his hand pressed against the Cheeto girl's neck.

{Her pulse is faint... too faint}

He sighed while running a hand through his rain-soaked hair, frustration etched across his face.

"Mmm... It's weak, but there's still a pulse... Damn it, why do I always have to be the soft one?" He muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the pounding rain.

With a grunt, he carefully laid her down on the wet ground, the dim glow of a distant streetlamp casting long shadows across her pale face. Her vibrant orange hair, now darkened by the rain, clung to her skin like a second mask.

Alexius hesitated for a moment, then quickly removed her corset; his movements were precise but hurried. He began CPR, his hands pressing rhythmically against her chest, each compression a desperate plea for her to wake up.

Minutes felt like hours until, finally, her body jerked violently. A loud, gasping breath escaped her lips as she bolted upright, coughing and choking, her wide blue eyes darting around in panic. Without thinking, she lashed out, her fists and feet striking Alexius as he tried to steady her.

"NO! NO! GET AWAY FROM ME! WHO ARE YOU?!" She screamed with her voice trembling with fear, her face pale and drenched in rain and tears.

Alexius moved quickly, pinning her to the ground with one hand while covering her mouth with the other. His voice was low, sharp, and commanding. "Can you please shut up already? This is how you thank me after saving your life?"

The Cheeto girl froze, her breath hitching. There was something familiar about his voice, about the way his hand felt against her mouth. She stopped struggling, her body tense but no longer fighting.

"I'm going to remove my hand," Alexius said, his tone icy. "But I swear to whatever god you believe in, if you scream, I'll put a bullet in your head. Are we clear?"

She nodded slowly, her wide blue eyes locked on his with a mix of fear and confusion swirling within them. Alexius released her while standing up and running a hand through his hair in exasperation. The rain continued to pour, soaking them both as he reloaded his gun with practiced ease.

"W-why did you help me, Alexius...?" she asked, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face. She hugged her knees to her chest, her body trembling.

Alexius didn't look at her; instead, his eyes were scanning the alley for any signs of movement. "No reason," he said flatly. "If you need one, I guess I just wanted to sleep tonight without the guilt of letting the Cheeto girl die." He clicked the magazine into place, the sound sharp and final.

"So, do you have a place to stay tonight?" he asked while his gaze flickered toward the main street. The faint sound of sirens echoed in the distance, a reminder of the chaos they'd left behind.

"I have a dorm at the academy... I can go back by myself," she said, her voice small as she wiped her tears and tried to stand.

Alexius grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. His eyes were hard, unyielding. "Are you nuts?" he snapped, his thumb brushing against the faint wire marks on her neck. "If you go back now, you'll be dead before sunrise. We don't know who's waiting for you there. We can't risk it."

She yanked her face away while raising her voice. "Then what am I supposed to do? I have nowhere to go in this godforsaken city!"

Alexius let out a long, frustrated sigh, his shoulders slumping as the rain intensified. "Just great," he muttered. "Put your mask on. The rain's not safe to breathe. And take my coat; cover your hair. Follow me, and don't ask questions."

He tossed his coat to her, the heavy fabric landing in her arms. She hesitated, then slipped it on, the warmth a stark contrast to the cold rain. Alexius led her through a maze of narrow alleys and rusted pipes, the city's underbelly alive with the hum of steam and the occasional flicker of lights.

The rain poured down in sheets, drenching the city in a cold, metallic haze. The air was thick with the acrid smell of industrial pollution, and the faint hum of steam-powered machinery echoed through the streets.

Alexius pulled his coat tighter around himself, his eyes scanning the shadows as he led the Cheeto girl through the labyrinth of alleys. She followed reluctantly, her fiery hair hidden beneath his coat, her mask firmly in place to filter out the toxic rain.

When they finally reached the old train station entrance, the Cheeto girl's eyes widened in surprise. The entrance was supposed to be sealed shut, a relic of a bygone era, but instead, it was alive with activity.

Men armed with steam rifles patrolled the area, their faces obscured by goggles and scarves. They didn't wear uniforms, and their gear was a patchwork of scavenged parts, clearly not soldiers or police.

Alexius approached one of the guards, who immediately raised his rifle. "Halt! State your business," the guard shouted, his voice muffled by his mask.

"Relax, it's me," Alexius said while pulling down his own mask just enough to reveal his face. The guard hesitated, then lowered his weapon.

"Alexius? What the hell are you doing here? And who's that?" the guard asked while nodding toward the Cheeto girl.

"None of your concern," Alexius replied sharply. "Just let us through. We need to get out of the rain."

The guard exchanged a glance with his companion, then stepped aside. "Fine. But keep her quiet. We don't need any trouble."

Alexius nodded and motioned for the Cheeto girl to follow. She hesitated, her eyes darting between the armed men and the dark entrance. "Alexius, what is this place? Who are these people?" she whispered with her voice trembling.

"Later," Alexius said curtly while grabbing her arm and pulling her inside. The interior of the old station was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of oil and rust. The walls were lined with crates and barrels, and the sound of distant machinery echoed through the cavernous space.

As they walked deeper into the station, the Cheeto girl couldn't help but notice the strange mix of people milling about, from merchants to smugglers, and what looked like former soldiers. It was a shadowy underworld, hidden beneath the city's surface.

"Alexius, where are we?" she asked again, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Safe. For now," he replied, his tone leaving no room for further questions. He led her to a small alcove tucked away in a corner, where a makeshift bed and a few supplies were stashed. "Stay here. Don't talk to anyone. Don't draw attention to yourself. Understand?"

The Cheeto girl nodded, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and curiosity. Alexius handed her a canteen of water and a small packet of rations. "Eat. Rest. I'll be back soon."

"Wait!" she called out as he turned to leave. "Why are you helping me? After everything I did... after I tried to report you..."