Chapter 4 Hostage

What lay before Brent was too horrifying for anyone with a normal mind to bear.

It was a twisted nightmare, so grotesque that it was almost unbearable to witness.

"Damn these bastards! Using people as lab rats like this is beyond cruel!" Brent muttered, his eyes flicking to the glass tanks before he quickly looked away, repulsed by the merciless acts of Vertex Worldwide.

Little did he know, when the heavy door creaked open and Scarlett saw the rows of glass tanks standing upright, her eyes burned with shock and rage.

She never could have guessed what horrors were hidden behind that door.

Soon after, a team member approached Shane with a young girl.

"Who is she? What's happening?" The group exchanged confused looks.

"Please, don't kill me. I'm begging you..." The girl trembled, her words jumbled in fear.

She looked about eighteen, wearing a white dress like a college student who had been taken. Her mind seemed confused, like she had been through terrible pain.

Scarlett's brow furrowed in concern.

The team member explained, "Captain, we discovered her in a secret chamber close by. She's likely been imprisoned there for ages!"

Brent's tone softened as he addressed her. "Don't be scared, young lady. We're here to help. Do you know who you are? Why are you here? Did they capture you?"

"I don't know... I don't remember much. I came to Hopolis for my boyfriend, but those bad guys tricked me and dragged me here. I just want to go home... I just want to go home!"

Suddenly, she clutched Brent's hand-the same man who had been glaring at Scarlett only moments before. His expression softened as he tried to soothe her. "Where's your home? Can you remember?"

"Shupbert," she whispered desperately, holding onto Brent like a lifeline. "My home... it's in Shupbert."

"Captain, she's from Shupbert."

It was clear this girl was another victim of the experiment base, held captive for who knew how long.

But today, she was finally saved. She was still clear-headed and remembered where she came from.

This realization only fueled Brent's burning hatred for Vertex Worldwide even more.

"Captain, honestly, I think we should just shoot her," Brent growled, his eyes flashing with fury.

He meant Scarlett.

At that moment, the girl curled up beside him looked up, following his gaze.

She looked at Scarlett standing outside, her eyes full of hate.

Scarlett's frown deepened as she felt uneasy.

Something about the way the girl looked at her felt off.

It was strange that this girl was the only one still alive if she had really been held there.

"No, don't kill me... Please!" the girl murmured in panic.

She shoved Brent fiercely as if she had been possessed.

Her face contorted in fury as she grabbed the gun strapped to Brent's waist.

Shane's eyes went cold, sharp with alarm.

Without hesitation, she lunged toward Scarlett, weapon raised.

"It's you! You're the reason for all this! I'll kill you!"

Her voice was wild, trembling with hatred as she aimed the gun directly at Scarlett. Her loathing was raw and exposed.

Before Shane could react, a gunshot echoed sharply through the room.

The bullet barely nicked Scarlett's cheek before slammed into the control panel next to her.

Clumsy and inexperienced, the girl missed her mark completely.

In the blink of an eye, she lunged forward, pressing the gun dangerously to Scarlett's forehead.

But Scarlett was no one to underestimate.

"You want to kill me?" Scarlett's voice was a quiet, sharp taunt as she snatched the girl's wrist with lightning speed. Her icy eyes locked onto the furious glare burning in the girl's own. "Big mistake."

Before anyone could react, Scarlett had already ripped the gun from the girl's grip, holding it steady with a sly smirk curling at the corner of her mouth.

"Don't shoot her!"

Scarlett lifted an eyebrow. "Shoot her? You're blind if you can't see she's the one aiming at me."

Her voice was flat and unwavering.

Yet the crowd sided with the girl-after all, she was from Shupbert, just like them, while Scarlett was cast as the enemy.

Just as the group hesitated, the girl suddenly pushed Scarlett and tried to run.

The shove caught Scarlett off guard, and she stumbled.

Her chest injury, already bad, got worse when she hit the edge of the lab table, sending glassware crashing to the floor. Sharp pieces cut into her hand, making her flinch.

Still, Scarlett moved fast, grabbing the girl's arm with a steady, firm grip that left no room to fight back.

The girl froze, shocked and helpless under Scarlett's hold.

In a flash, Scarlett had already moved behind the girl, holding her firmly. The cold barrel of her gun was now pressed against the girl's throat.

"Don't make a move," Scarlett warned her.

Killing the girl wasn't part of her plan, but her patience had almost run out.

Even so, she kept the gun steady, aimed right at the girl's neck, ready if needed.

The girl stopped dead in her tracks, her attempt to run instantly shut down.

Right then, Shane let out a low chuckle, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

"Do you think you will get away?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.

Scarlett's brow furrowed. He really was impossible.

It baffled her how he could still find something to smirk about, even now.

Her tone dropped to a chilling cold. "You really think I won't shoot?" she threatened.

"You think holding her hostage is your ticket out of here?" he retorted.

Shane, dressed in black from head to toe, stood tall like a looming shadow. His sharp brows and straight nose gave his face a fierce edge, and his expression was unreadable as he looked at her.

For a brief second, Scarlett found herself unable to make out a single thing he was thinking.

She hesitated, just a little.

But then she quickly straightened up, tightening her hold on the gun.

"Of course," she replied in a cold, flat tone.

Truthfully, using a hostage wasn't her real escape plan.

Yet despite the sweat pouring down her face and her pale complexion, she held her ground with the girl in her clutch. "Don't take another step!" she warned.

Albin and Brent froze, unsure what to do next.

Shane, however, started walking toward her without hesitation.

Under the cold glare of the overhead lights, Shane's sharp features stood out even more. His lips were pressed into a hard line, his eyes gleaming with silent disdain. Though he looked calm, there was something dangerous in the way he carried himself.

"Stop!" Scarlett's expression shifted as he came closer, her voice rising in panic. "I told you to stop! Are you deaf? If you want this girl to live, then do exactly what I say. Don't make me do something we'll both regret!"

Scarlett understood their goal wasn't just to get the key, but it was also to make sure no one got killed.

That was why she bet on Shane-she believed he wouldn't let the girl die on his watch.

And while she was right about that, there was one thing she failed to consider.

She hadn't expected anyone to move with such blinding speed or be so skilled at close-range combat.

In a blink, Shane closed the distance. Scarlett's eyes widened in disbelief. "You..."

Before she could finish speaking, the light above dimmed as Shane stepped in front of her. His cold, piercing eyes were all she could see.

In one swift move, his hand shot forward and grabbed the arm she was using to hold the gun.

Then his hand locked around her wrist.

His grip was strong and precise, like he had found her weakness, leaving her unable to fight back.

Scarlett's body went limp with helplessness.

With a harsh clang, the gun clattered to the floor.

And almost instantly, she felt an excruciating pain coming from her right arm. Alongside it came the crisp snap of bones giving way.

Shane had expertly dislocated her arm.