Chương 85: 82: Unbroken

Zeo The floodlights glared down at Zeo as he stood in the center of the massive arena, as if judging him for what he had done. Red painted the metallic ground, filling the dents where bones had cracked so many times. It had become so natural that his mind was already astray, looking for the next target. A monotonous recording played through the speakers above, and the iron gates opened, signaling the end of another massacre. Fifty-six today, prisoners at one point, now just numbers.

Faceless creatures to whom he had delivered mercy. He crossed the gate and dragged his feet down the same old corridor toward the showers, where he would mark the next tile on the wall with his own blood. Three hundred days. The wall was a red canvas, a testament to how long he'd held on and how far he had fallen. Nonetheless, dead numbers weren't what made Zeo's heart pump. Forgetting her face. That was what truly tormented him. Were her eyes like blood? Was her skin like snow?

He tried to recall, the effort causing a dull headache. Every night before sleeping, he would try to conjure the image of her face, to hold onto it before it faded completely. The memory was slipping through his fingers like sand. The water washed away the evidence of his sins, a pool of reddish-brown swirling around his feet before disappearing down the drain.

"Oh, what a day!" an annoying voice boomed from the door.

"That old fucker was a tough nut to crack. I had to blow up his whole fucking head." Zeo grimaced. It was always her after the arena.

"Hey! Are you there?" she shouted, then appeared behind him.

"Goddammit, Mara!" Zeo groaned, covering himself with his left hand. There she stood. Marakudra. Her large, muscular build was a stark contrast to her high-pitched voice. Her afro was a mess of black hair, matted with blood and dust. But what triggered a different kind of feeling was the sight of her naked body. The countless scars covering her dark skin were a map of her own hell. She grinned, her black eyes dropping from his face to his crotch and back up.

"What are you hiding? I've already seen it." She turned to her own shower, her back facing him. More scars. Mara turned her head slightly, a smirk playing on her lips.

"There are like fifty other showers to use."

"I know. But I like this one." The water hit her skin, and she let out a sigh of relief.

"So... when is your girlfriend coming for you?"

"I hope she never does." Mara giggled.

"Even in this pathetic state, you still have room in your heart for love."

"Fuck you." He rolled his eyes, his fingers entangled in his wet hair.

"Sorry, but I'm not into men. They disgust me beyond what I can express." She stuck out her tongue.

"Right..." Mara finished her shower, turned off the water, and approached Zeo. She stood behind him, water dripping from her hair. Her demeanor changed.

"That cunt, Virgil, will be here today. He says I'll be able to see my niece soon." Zeo turned and looked into her eyes, trying to read her thoughts.

"So, she's still alive."

"As far as I know. But I need to confirm it," she whispered. Her eyes darted to the side, as if someone might be listening.

"And for that, he wants something in return." Zeo knew what that meant. Virgil Alzer never gave anything without taking something more valuable in return.

"Do you want me to be there?" he asked. Mara looked at him, her expression unreadable.

"Could it be..." She put her hands on her face and faked a gasp.

"The big boy wants to protect me?"

"Stop being stupid and just tell me." She lowered her hands, the smirk returning.

"No. I need to do this alone." Her eyes locked with his.

"But thank you." With that, she turned and left him alone with the sound of dripping water and the ghost of a forgotten face. The silent darkness was winning. After putting on the same ragged uniform, he left the showers and headed to the dining hall for his daily meal. The routine was so ingrained that he could navigate the corridors blindfolded. Unlike other prisoners, Zeo was allowed to wander around. The freedom offered him a semblance of normalcy while reminding him of his situation. Someone stood in his way.

Dovah Azai, a pure Nephilim woman with short red hair and piercing yellow eyes. She wore a customized Hunter uniform with the snake emblem on her shoulder, the mark of Virgil's army, Unit 67. Zeo stopped, acknowledged her with a nod, and waited for her to speak. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"The Great Virgil requests your presence in his quarters after your meal," Dovah said, her voice raspy.

"Understood," Zeo replied. The woman scanned him from head to toe for longer than necessary.

"You've become stronger, Carnifex." A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, her lips red like blood.

"No wonder you're his favorite pet." Her words passed through him like wind. She moved aside, leaving a mist of citrus perfume in her wake. A familiar scent that vaguely reminded him of a life long forgotten. He shook the thought away and continued toward the dining hall, where the same faces awaited him. Men and women, all prisoners like him, but no one was as lucky as he was. They were broken, their spirits shattered by the brutality of their existence.

He could see it in their hollow eyes, the way they ate their food without tasting it, their bodies just going through the motions like puppets. There was a time when he would have pitied them. But that time was gone. They were mere background characters. He sat alone, like every time Marakudra had to endure Virgil's humiliations. He had seen it many times, the way Virgil would try to break her. However, you cannot break what's already broken.

The tasteless food slid down his throat, his mind already preparing for the upcoming meeting. He knew what Virgil wanted, the same thing he had obsessed over for the past months. And each day, Zeo failed to provide the answers he sought. He waited until his body was full, then stood up and left the dining hall. The walk to Virgil's quarters was a familiar one, the elevator ride a moment of contemplation. Over one kilometer of ascent, each second a step closer to his tormentor.

A corridor waited at the end, lined with Nephilim guards who ignored his existence. The door to Virgil's quarters was always open. Inside, the room was dimly lit, the faint smell of burnt metal lingering in the air. Virgil Alzer sat in his red chair, his fingers interlaced in front of his face as if in prayer. He stared into the void, his mind lost in thought. Zeo stopped before him, waiting for the man to acknowledge him. The silence was only interrupted by the familiar sound of Virgil's breathing.

Most of his nose was missing, leaving two uneven holes in his face that whistled with each breath. A gift from Ronner, a reminder of the warrior he had once been. Virgil remained still for what felt like an eternity, his green eyes triggering a mixture of contradictions in Zeo's soul. Amy had those same eyes. The same eyes his old friend had seen when he killed Brisa. The memory made his blood boil, but he remained calm. He knew better than to show any emotion. Finally, Virgil spoke, his voice steady and calm.

"How was your day?" Zeo waited a moment, then replied, "Alright." Virgil leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving Zeo.

"Dovah told me you've gotten stronger since our last encounter. She seems very interested in your young body." The words hung heavy in the air.

"Not strong enough." He tightened his lips.

"No, I suppose not." Virgil let out a deep breath.

"Be that as it may, I believe the time has come for us to move forward." Zeo glanced toward the giant window behind Virgil. The world outside was a blur of lights and shadows, a different reality.

"I have a proposal for you." Virgil's voice was calm.

"You have proven your worth, and I might give you a rest from the arena." Zeo's heart skipped a beat. The routine, the daily massacre, had given him a sense of control in a world where he had none.

"Tomorrow, I shall assign you an important task."

"What kind of task?" Zeo asked.

"Be patient, young man, because that's not what I summoned you here for." An uneven smile appeared on Virgil's face.

"As you well know, we're going to retrieve my daughter." His hand hit the chair's armrest.

"And then we're going to burn the remnants of Karx to the ground." Zeo stood motionless, the words sinking in. It was what Virgil had wanted to do for almost a year. However, not even that monster would dare to step into Debrin Kavram's territory, not without a guarantee of success. No, he won't risk it.

"What's the catch?" Zeo asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Virgil's smile widened.

"I'm glad you asked." He rose from his chair and turned his back to Zeo, walking toward the window. He gestured at the world below.

"Debrin Kavram has abandoned his camp yet again. This time, it seems he will be gone for quite some time." Zeo knew that wasn't true. There was no way Debrin would leave his home unguarded, especially now. No. Of course, he wouldn't.

"You don't believe me, do you?" Virgil asked, glancing back. The boy shook his head.

"Have I ever lied?"

"I don't think you're lying." He paused.

"I think you're so blinded by your own ambitions that you can't see the truth."

"And what truth is that?"

"That you'll never get your hands on Amy." Words escaped his lips before he could stop them. Virgil twisted creepily as he held back a burst of laughter, then he released a disgusting, high-pitched sound that made Zeo's skin crawl. Not a laugh, something alien. His pupils dilated with an unsettling eagerness.

"Ah… This is why I like you. Most of them break so easily, yet you… You still have teeth." He licked his lips. Zeo held his gaze and swallowed hard.

"Go back to your cell. Tomorrow will be a great day," Virgil said, winking and waving a dismissive hand. Zeo turned to leave, feeling the weight of the decision that had just been made for him. Amy. Her name resonated in his mind along with her mother's, the woman he had seen die for her little girl. If the time came, would he be able to protect her from her father? He doubted it. Only Manzur could give her the protection she needed. Zeo had already done his part.

When he reached his cell, he stood by the metal door, the coldness a comfort against his skin. Like a good pet, he returned to his cage every night. No need for chains, locks, or guards; he was his own warden. Zeo lay on the cold floor, staring at the ceiling, his mind a blank canvas. Time lost its meaning, but no sleep came. It was mere emptiness, a comforting void that allowed him to rest more than trying to dream. Hours passed, and the old routine began.

He tried to rebuild her face, but the pieces of the puzzle didn't fit. They were twisted and stained with dark blood. Some were broken, missing chunks. And every day, more pieces got lost in the night. … The clank of a heavy door resounded through the corridor. Zeo opened his eye, his ears twitching. He sat up and remained still for long minutes before pushing himself to his feet. Without thinking, he left his cage and headed to Marakudra's, which was next to his. Why? Zeo wasn't sure.

Perhaps he just wanted to know the day Marakudra died so he could mark it on his blood calendar. He knocked gently. … As expected, no answer. Then he noticed the latch hadn't caught, and the door was resting ajar. That meant only one thing. Zeo pushed the dark steel aside. The metallic scent of copper hit him instantly. There she lay on the floor. Naked, her body covered in a mixture of sweat and blood. Mara turned her bruised face to him, her breathing erratic and slow.

"Did you come to… wish me goodnight?" she whispered, her voice drained of life. Zeo remained on the other side of the doorway, looking at her with pity.

"Did you get what you wanted?" he asked.

"Fuck yes." She laughed, then coughed blood.

"My niece is alive." She nodded, trying to sit up, then grimaced in pain.

"She's... there." Zeo remained silent, her words sinking in. She had sacrificed so much for this moment. When she could've run away that day, when the rebellion took place. Yet, Marakudra chose to stay, the same madness that forced Zeo to return the night that Ozura died. He looked into her eyes one last time and nodded, paying his respects.

"Good night, Captain."

"Goodnight, big boy." Zeo stepped back into the corridor and pulled the door shut. The heavy metallic slam echoed in his head for longer than usual. He walked back to his own cage, the ghost of a forgotten face waiting for him in the dark. Whatever her name was, the girl with the crimson eyes would come.