Chapter 13: The Puppet’s Awakening
1245 Words
The alarms screamed.
Red light flooded the chamber.
---
But Elian didn’t move.
---
He stood there—
Hand still wrapped around Mike’s.
---
Cold.
Too cold.
---
“…Mike,” he said.
---
No response.
---
Then—
Mike’s body jerked.
---
Violently.
---
The tubes embedded in his skin tore free—
Snapping like they couldn’t hold him anymore.
---
His back arched.
A sound ripped from his throat—
Not human.
---
Then—
Stillness.
---
Slowly—
His head tilted.
---
His eyes opened.
---
Black.
---
Empty.
---
Locked onto Elian.
---
No hesitation.
No recognition.
---
Only one thing—
---
Hostility.
---
“Elian…” Nyx whispered behind him.
---
“Get back.”
---
Too late.
---
Mike moved.
---
Not like before.
---
Faster.
Cleaner.
---
He didn’t lunge wildly—
He *struck*.
---
A calculated blur—
---
His hand slammed into Elian’s chest—
---
And launched him across the room.
---
Elian crashed into metal, the impact bending it inward.
---
Mike didn’t follow immediately.
---
He stepped forward—
Slow.
Measured.
---
Like a predator that knew it had already won.
---
“Elian…” Lena breathed. “He’s not—”
---
“He’s gone,” Akira said.
Flat.
Certain.
---
“No,” Elian growled, pushing himself up.
---
Blood ran down his lip.
---
“That’s not him.”
---
Mike stopped a few feet away.
---
His head tilted again.
Studying.
---
Then—
His voice came out.
---
“…Target… confirmed.”
---
The words hit harder than any attack.
---
Julian swore under his breath.
“He’s being controlled.”
---
Nyx’s eyes darkened.
“No… worse.”
---
“He’s *linked*.”
---
Mike vanished.
---
Reappeared in front of Elian—
---
And drove his fist down.
---
Elian barely blocked—
The force dropped him to one knee.
---
The ground cracked.
---
Mike didn’t stop.
---
Strike after strike—
Precise.
Efficient.
---
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
---
Not human.
---
Elian countered—
Dodged—
Turned—
Everything he’d learned—
---
But Mike adapted instantly.
---
He learned mid-fight.
---
Improving.
---
Evolving.
---
“Elian, MOVE!” Marcus fired—
Rounds hitting Mike’s side—
---
No effect.
---
Mike turned—
And in one motion—
Backhanded Marcus across the room.
---
He crashed into the wall hard enough to shake it.
---
“Marcus!” Nyx snapped—
---
But the air shifted.
---
And everything stopped.
---
A slow clap echoed.
---
Vesper stepped forward.
---
Calm.
Untouched.
---
Behind her—
Liora.
---
And Malakai.
---
The room *tightened* around them.
---
“You see?” Vesper said softly.
---
Her gaze rested on Mike.
---
“Perfect synchronization.”
---
Elian’s breathing turned sharp.
---
“You turned him into a weapon.”
---
Vesper smiled faintly.
---
“I refined him.”
---
Mike stood still now.
---
Waiting.
---
Like a trained hound.
---
“Attack,” Vesper said.
---
One word.
---
Mike moved instantly.
---
This time—
He didn’t hold back.
---
He *overwhelmed*.
---
Elian was driven back—
Hit after hit—
Forced into defense—
---
Until—
Akira stepped in.
---
She intercepted Mike mid-strike—
Their collision sent a shockwave through the room.
---
She *held* him—
---
Barely.
---
“He’s stronger than you,” she muttered to Elian.
---
“I don’t care.”
---
Elian surged forward—
Joining the fight—
---
Together—
They pushed Mike back—
---
For a second.
---
Only a second.
---
Because Malakai moved.
---
He stepped into Nyx’s range—
And her mind attack hit—
---
Nothing.
---
He walked through it.
---
“You rely too much on control,” he said calmly.
---
Then struck—
---
Nyx staggered back, pain flashing across her face.
---
Liora moved next—
---
Straight for Lena and Julian.
---
Fast.
Elegant.
Deadly.
---
Julian reacted first—
Pulling Lena back—
Blade flashing—
---
Liora caught it—
Smiled—
---
Then twisted—
---
Julian was thrown hard into the ground.
---
Lena rushed forward—
Desperate—
---
Energy flickering around her hands—
---
Liora paused.
---
Interested.
---
“Oh?” she murmured.
---
Then struck—
---
Lena barely blocked—
Forced back—
Struggling to keep up.
---
The fight fractured.
---
Three battles.
---
All losing.
---
Elian and Akira vs Mike.
Nyx vs Malakai.
Lena and Julian vs Liora.
Marcus trying to hold everything together—
---
But they were outmatched.
---
Completely.
---
Mike broke through first.
---
He caught Elian—
Lifted him—
---
And slammed him into the floor.
---
Hard.
---
Elian gasped—
Vision blurring—
---
Mike raised his hand—
---
Power gathering—
---
“STOP!” Elian shouted.
---
For a split second—
---
Mike froze.
---
A c***k.
---
“…El…” he whispered.
---
Hope.
---
Then—
Vesper’s voice cut through.
---
“Finish it.”
---
Mike’s eyes went dead again.
---
His hand came down.
---
Elian braced—
---
And the impact never came.
---
Marcus intercepted.
---
He took the hit.
---
Full force.
---
His body slammed back—
But he stayed standing.
---
Barely.
---
“Elian…” Marcus said, voice strained.
---
“Get up.”
---
Elian stared.
---
“No—”
---
Marcus turned—
Facing Mike.
---
“I’ll hold him.”
---
“You can’t—”
---
“I can try.”
---
That was enough.
---
Marcus charged.
---
Everything he had—
Everything left—
---
Thrown into one final stand.
---
He fought Mike—
Not to win—
But to delay.
---
To buy seconds.
---
Precious seconds.
---
“GO!” Nyx shouted.
---
She grabbed Elian—
Trying to pull him back—
---
“I’M NOT LEAVING HIM!”
---
“You already lost him!” she snapped.
---
That hit.
---
Hard.
---
Elian froze—
Just long enough—
---
For Malakai to move.
---
He appeared in front of Elian.
---
“You’re done.”
---
Elian struck—
---
Malakai caught it effortlessly.
---
Crushed his arm down—
---
And drove a knee into his chest.
---
Air left Elian’s lungs.
---
He dropped.
---
Vesper stepped forward.
---
Finally.
---
“This is where it ends,” she said softly.
---
Elian tried to stand—
---
Failed.
---
Her hand pressed against his chest.
---
Power surged.
---
Cold.
---
Overwhelming.
---
His vision shattered—
---
Darkness took him.
---
---
When the light returned—
---
He was gone.
---
Captured.
---
The fight stopped.
---
Nyx stood frozen.
---
Akira’s fists clenched.
---
Lena shook.
---
Julian dragged her back.
---
Marcus—
---
Still fighting.
---
Still standing.
---
Until—
---
Mike struck again.
---
This time—
---
Marcus didn’t get back up.
---
---
Silence.
---
Vesper turned away.
---
“Secure the Dawnblood.”
---
Chains moved.
Shadows obeyed.
---
Mike stood still again.
---
Empty.
---
Controlled.
---
A perfect puppet.
---
And far away—
---
Elian fell deeper into darkness.
---
Alone.
---
---
End of Chapter 13
- Writer
