NOVEL NEXT Chapter 52: As the world as the world caves in
Ryan descended the hill with calm steps, as if he were on a casual stroll. The Glock in his hand swung slightly as he set his rifle aside, humming carelessly, his melodious voice contrasting with the destruction around him.
"And here it is... Our final night alive..."
The melody sounded surreal amidst the chaos, muffled screams of wounded officers mingling with the crackling of flames consuming the destroyed van. Ryan, however, seemed oblivious to the hellish scene, pulling the trigger leisurely, eliminating the survivors with precise shots while continuing the song.
"And as the earth burns to the ground..."
His footsteps echoed as he stopped beside the old man crawling on the ground like a wounded animal, fists clenched in defiance. In a swift move, the man drew a pistol, but Ryan was quicker, firing a shot that pierced the old man's hand before he could even raise the weapon.
A scream of pain cut through the air, but Ryan didn't react. He simply watched as the man tried to grab the gun with his other hand. With a brutal kick to the ribs, Ryan sent him flying a few meters away, distancing him from the weapon and the searing heat of the flames.
"Oh, girl, it's you... that I lie with..."
His voice remained flawless, as if he were rehearsing for an invisible audience. Ryan walked slowly toward the old man, his serene expression in stark contrast to the sadistic intent in each step. As he finished the final note, he knelt on the man's back, pressing the Glock against his thigh with a smile.
"As the atom bomb locks in..."
Ryan sighed as if genuinely moved. "This song... it's just perfect, isn't it?" His voice was almost gentle but laced with cold, cutting sarcasm.
The old man, groaning in pain, responded with animalistic hatred. "Go to hell!"
Ryan let out a venomous laugh, leaning in slightly. "People have told me that before... But for some reason, they didn't want to let me in." He pressed the Glock slightly harder against the man's leg, his smile widening. "Now, sir... Something tells me you know the queen I'm looking for. Will you help me, or would you rather test your endurance?"
The man kept struggling, his hair darkened with soot and his face twisted in pain. "You can kill me! But I'll never say a thing to a bastard like you!"
Ryan rolled his eyes, almost annoyed, and shot the old man in the leg. The agonized scream that followed was music to his ears. "You know... I admire your determination," Ryan remarked casually, "but you're starting to irritate me."
Without waiting, he fired again, this time at the right hand, blowing off the index finger in a burst of blood. The old man screamed, his eyes nearly rolling back into his head. But to Ryan's surprise, the man remained silent, refusing to yield.
Ryan tilted his head, like a teacher assessing a difficult student. "Look at that... You're a real soldier." He smirked, and before the old man could react, another shot hit his abdomen, avoiding vital organs but ensuring unbearable pain.
"So, let me ask again." Ryan pressed the gun against the man's other leg and fired once more. "Where is the queen?"
Breathing heavily, the old man mustered what little strength he had left and, with a raspy voice, replied, "You can kill me."
Ryan's smile disappeared. His face became a mask of absolute coldness. Without saying a word, he lowered his hand, plunging his fingers into the open wound on the man's leg and pressing down, digging into the exposed flesh.
The man screamed like an animal, writhing in agony as Ryan spoke calmly, almost paternally. "Is this woman really worth all this pain? Do you think she'll reward you for this? Because honestly, all I see is an idiot bleeding for nothing."
He increased the pressure, twisting his fingers inside the wound. "Last chance... Where. Is. The. Queen?"
The man was on the brink of unconsciousness, his face pale and his eyes half-closed. The pain seemed to drain what little life he had left. Ryan watched with a mix of fascination and impatience. He sighed, standing as he wiped the blood off his fingers on his pants. His voice, low and grim, sounded like a final verdict.
"You're good, I have to admit. Truly worthy of a veteran. Congratulations." He cast a brief glance at the horizon, his eyes fixing on the rooftop of the Sonozaki mansion. A detail caught his attention: Rika and Yuno were no longer there.
Taking a deep breath, Ryan turned his gaze back to the man in front of him, now weaker than ever. His expression lost any trace of patience. "I don't have time for this anymore."
In a quick move, he grabbed the man's bloody hand, tearing off the thumb in a brutal, surgical gesture. The sound of bone breaking was muffled by the man's weak screams, who, even on the brink of death, still reacted to the pain.
"Will you tell me where she is now, or do you want to keep playing this game?" Ryan asked, his voice apathetic and distant, as if discussing something trivial.
The man, his eyes glazed from blood loss, blinked a few times. The pain seemed to pull him back to reality, but his resistance was clearly at its limit.
Ryan tilted his head, almost curious. "You know you'll bleed to death, right? Maybe five minutes, if you're lucky. But I can guarantee those five minutes will feel like an eternity if I keep you awake. Now, tell me: would you rather spend that time with me, or take that woman to hell with you?"
Ryan's voice was sharp, each word cutting like a knife. The man's eyes widened, a flicker of fear breaking through his hardened expression. He tried to speak, but his voice came out weak and broken.
"A... an extraction point..." he said with difficulty, gasping for air. "Near... the hospital..."
Ryan let out a faint smile, lifting his chin slightly in a gesture almost condescending. "Good boy. That's better."
Calmly, Ryan began patting the man's pockets, pulling out a bloodstained ID. He read it aloud, as if savoring the moment. "Tetsuro Okonogi..."
He turned his gaze back to the man, who still stared at him with a mix of hatred and despair. Ryan raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "And your Queen... Is Takano Miyo, isn't it?"
Okonogi gritted his teeth, his breathing irregular and labored. He didn't answer, but the tension in his expression said it all.
"Thanks for your cooperation," Ryan murmured coldly, raising the Glock. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.
The sound of the gunshot reverberated through the air, Okonogi's body collapsing lifelessly to the ground. Blood pooled thickly around his head, mixing with the dirt. Ryan stared at the corpse for a moment, tossing the ID to the ground as if it were trash.
"Rest in peace... or not. Whatever."
He turned away, his steps echoing as he began to sing again. The sweet melody of his voice clashed with the brutal scene he had just created.
"Oh, it's you I watch TV with..."
With the Glock spinning between his fingers like a toy, Ryan walked to one of the still-intact police cars. He forced the door open with ease, his brute strength snapping the rusty lock.
"As the world... as the world caves in..."
Sliding into the driver's seat, still humming, he began fiddling with the wires on the dashboard to start the car. His face was calm, but his eyes remained lifeless, a reflection of someone who no longer cared about the consequences of their actions.
The engine finally roared to life. Ryan let out a satisfied sigh, adjusting the rearview mirror. "Now then... On to the next act."
With that, he sped off, leaving behind the flames, the bodies, and the chaos he had orchestrated.
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