CHAPTER 12: CH 12: DONE.

~Krrr-krrr-krrr-VROOOM!~

The numerous engines of the trucks parked outside spurted to life.

"Alright, Let’s move out!"

Selene’s voice echoed throughout the room.

They all got into the trucks as they headed out— not a sound from anyone except from the slight rattling of the guns on the sides.

Selene’s lingering gaze bore a hole through Levi although he said nothing, pretending he didn’t notice.

The journey ran for hours— so much so that they had run out of tar road and were now just driving against the dirt, the vehicle jerking continuously.

’Where the hell are we even going?’

Levi thought but said nothing, the silence from everyone made it clear they wouldn’t answer him.

Before—

It finally stopped.

In the middle of nowhere.

Levi glanced out the window to see nothing but endless miles of desert roads and the thick midnight sky above them.

~Ggggrrrrkkk!!~

The ground underneath them began to rumble.

A circular section of sand retracts, revealing a massive steel platform. The vehicle descends slowly into the earth—Levi grips the seat, unsure if he’s being buried or initiated.

He lunged for the window trying to see what was beneath them— the platform descended smoothly without even the slightest hum.

As the platform descended, the desert darkness turned into cold, artificial light. The walls around Levi shift from sand to steel—smooth, matte-black panels lined with faint blue veins of circuitry. The air grows sterile, humming with quiet electricity.

It finally stopped as they stepped out of the truck, L.U.X soldiers every which way, some sparring into the corner while others just talking but one thing in common —

They all stopped and guided their heads in the direction of Levi immediately his boots made contact with their grounds.

"Come with me."

Selene said, completely ignoring everyone.

They all followed behind her, Zack and Levi side by side as the rest of the soldiers and Umbra left them.

They continued to move until—

"Selene, my office, Now!"

A commanding voice thundered through the speakers, almost stopping her instantly.

She placed her hands against her waist, "Zack, take him to the rooms."

That was all she said before she moved, now on her own— heading for the elevator.

She stepped in, sliding her fingers across the panel before pushing a button and watching the doors slid shut.

She arrived on the new floor, turning at the corridor only to stop before a door that read on the sign overhead, ’Mr. Manhattan.’

She knocked.

A voice called out from within— she pushed the door.

An office type room, Shelves lined the far wall, stacked with papers. At the center, a table so polished it reflected the tension in the room

Sat across it was an older man his face was twisted in anger, framed by a well-trimmed white beard and matching hair. An eyepatch covered his left eye, and his face bore enough scars to prove he’d been through hell. He wore a black giant overcoat covered with medals on nearly every inch.

Immediately his eyes rose to Selene he tilted back into his seat, rubbing his eyelids furiously.

"What did you do, Selene?"

His voice stoic and flat.

She rolled her shoulders, "I don’t know what you’re talking about Sir—"

~BAM~

His fist slammed against the table making everything on it slightly jump.

He raised a finger, pointing at Selene, "I might have one eye but I’m not blind, I know what you’re doing and so does everyone here."

" Sir, with all due respect, I don’t care... We needed him and you know it."

"Selene, what were you thinking?" he asked, his voice now calm, low, and exhausted. He’d realized yelling never worked on her.

"He’s a Kane... You know exactly what that means—"

Selene cut in, "it means he’s hungry and starving for the kill... It means we can aim him at any vampire and he’d never hesitate before pulling the trigger."

Manhattan crossed his hands behind his head, "what about his sister? Do you think he’d kill her too. No hesitation?"

"We’ll handle that when we get there, Sir... Or if we ever get there," she said finally.

"So you want to bank on the possibility he won’t find out what really happened to his family. What we did to his family."

She folded her arms, voice completely detached, "Yes. Like it or not, we have vampires crawling through the cracks, new bastards making new and more impossible variants to kill and the network is growing larger and larger... The balance that the U.N had us build is on it’s last legs and we need to act now."

Manhattan stood from his seat.

The chair snapped upright as he stood, tension bleeding into motion

~Clink.~

He locked it.

He let out a heavy sigh.

"Alright, Selene. If you want to do this then I won’t stop you. But just know that if this goes off the rails... It’s all on you and I’ll make sure to bury your ass with it. Most of the higher ups already know who he is so it’s now your job to keep him alive, keep his unknowing and most of all...

Controlled."

Staring straight ahead she finally turned in his direction, "I promise. I’ll handle him. And if he ever steps out of line I’ll put him down."

---

Back to Zack and Levi as they walked through the wide corridor, while every passing soldier or trainee turned and stared in their direction.

Levi kept his eyes straight ahead, completely ignoring everyone, "Zack, why are they staring at me?"

Zack gulped hard but said nothing.

Levi smirked, "Zack I know you can hear me and you more than anyone know what I can do so unless you want me to pin you to that wall and rip out your throat I suggest you tell me what’s going on here?"

Zack stuttering, "uhmm... They’re staring because they know who you are."

"Wait what? What the fuck do they think I am," Levi stopped and turned to him.

He said nothing until—

~BAM~

He slammed Zack’s back against the wall.

"I really don’t like feeling like I’m being set up Zack."

"Drop him."

Another voice rose in the corridor.

Short curly golden blonde hair only matched by serene blue eyes and a build that looked like he bench pressed for a living.

Behind him were two other trainees, fists clenched tightly and brows furrowed.

Levi paid them no heed, not even turning to their direction, "Walk away Uncle Sam. This doesn’t concern you."

"And I said drop him so I think it does,"

He hissed.

A slight smile tugging at the corners of Levi’s cheeks, "And what are you going to do if I don’t?"

The trainee walked up to Levi, the others standing in place, "you really wanna find out?"

’I’m so done being pushed around.’

The last strings were finally cut loose.

~CRACK!~

His elbow shot back—clean, fast, and savage—smashing into the trainee’s nose with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed as the man stumbled back, hands flying to his face.

As a result— Zack dropped to the floor, holding on to his glasses.

’I don’t think this is gonna end well.’