Free Web NovelI swung by the specimen storage area first, hoping to save anyone still alive. There might be survivors—maybe someone still intact. And after all, this one’s still human... at least for now.
“Well done. Now you’re going to go out this way—”
“I have work to do, you know?”
“Listen to me until I finish.”
“...Okay.”
“You go out and report to the Detention Bureau.”
Because I couldn’t be sure whether Galbi had escaped safely, I had no choice but to send Cultist 1 out first.
“Who, me? You want me to—”
“Do you think I’d send you out just for fun?”
Roy fixed him with a steely glare, and Cultist 1 immediately wilted.
“You go surrender yourself. Tell them, ‘I created Blood Fiends in the church’s basement. There’s a ticking time bomb down there that could go off anytime—please come deal with it.’”
“Okay.”
Thanks to the perfect gaslighting, the man obeyed without question. He might be a Cultist, but if he did as instructed, I’d even be willing to put in a good word for him at the Detention Bureau later.
“Are you not going?”
“I-I am...!”
Cultist 1 practically flew up the stairs. Watching him go in the distance, I followed more cautiously.
At the top of the stairs, a faint light leaked through a wall panel.
‘So this is the second floor.’
I could tell the door beyond led to the specimen storage room. Just like opening it from outside, a red sensor sat on the floor inside. When Cultist 1 had demonstrated, he simply pointed at it—and the security system deactivated.
The room revealed itself. It felt different from the third floor.
“What the hell....”
I instinctively took a step back, unable to believe my eyes. Iron bars lined the walls, and inside sat people slumped and listless. This was a prison. Those trapped behind the bars even wore heavy shackles around their ankles. Was it because of that incident a few days ago, when a specimen escaped the church? Or maybe it was to prevent anyone from turning into a Blood Fiend. Either way, the sight before me was revolting.
‘You crazy bastards.’
My fist clenched on its own. I should’ve seen this coming when it was labeled “specimen storage.” In the Cultists’ eyes, these people were nothing but lab rats—no more, no less.
Taking a steadying breath, I approached the iron bars.
“Excuse me.”
If they weren’t too far gone, I wanted to help however I could. But my voice drew no reaction—only occasional coughs echoed back. Had their transformation into Blood Fiends already progressed too far?
I wasn’t sure I could open the door. If I freed them and they went berserk, the result could be worse than this prison.
“Goddamn these Cultists.”
I sighed in frustration. Kneeling before the bars, tearing at my own hair, I heard a faint voice somewhere.
“Excuse me....”
Looking up, I saw a woman staring at me with a weary expression. The moment our eyes met, her face drained of color. I hurried over.
“Are you okay?”
F17. The specimen the researchers on the fifth floor had said was slow earlier.
“Cough... You’re not a researcher, are you? Please, save me....”
She reached out through the bars. Her arm hung limply, as if she’d lost all strength.
“Just... hang on. I’ll get you out right away.” frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
I began inspecting the lock. It was electronic. Since I had no idea what the code was, I was about to break it when I heard footsteps approaching from the stairs.
Startled, I whispered, then stepped back from the bars.
“Stay quiet.”
Then I darted toward the trash can in the corner. At first, I’d planned to hide inside since it was larger than the office ones. But when I lifted the lid, I saw several discarded syringes—who knew what drugs they contained.
“Damn it.”
The footsteps drew ever closer, and my heart pounded. I rifled through the trash and found a crumpled mask. In this critical moment, I quickly strapped it over my ears. Almost immediately, the secret passage’s security disengaged and researchers flooded in.
“Hey, who’s there?”
I whirled around as the bars creaked behind me.
‘If things go south, I’ll just set everything on fire.’
The only ally I could trust was my little adorable flame. This was the wasteland, I was a fire‐element Awakener, and those assholes were agents of chaos and evil. Even if I had to kill a dog or two...
‘That’s impossible!’
I could barely handle one Blood Fiend—killing ordinary people, even if they were Cultists, was out of the question. I wanted to strike back at evil, not ruin my life.
Just then, one researcher recognized me.
“You’re the new kid, right?”
“...?”
I froze, then forced a nod. It was lucky I’d taken that Cultist’s coat—everyone here wore masks, so no one suspected a thing. I was free of doubt.
“Perfect timing. We need you to bring down M15 for incineration at the end of the hall.”
“Okay.”
I answered quickly and turned to leave—when someone called me back.
“Hold on.”
The group split in two, and a woman in red horn‐rimmed glasses stepped forward.
✧
Meanwhile, on the Salvation Church’s ground floor...
“Check over there, too!”
Footsteps and furious shouts echoed beyond the door. Bi, who hadn’t escaped the warehouse yet, was sweating so badly she was biting her nails.
“Ha... stay calm.”
She’d reported it to the Detention Bureau, but only five minutes had passed. Five minutes? Could she really wait that long? If she’d encountered a Blood Fiend, she’d be dead by now. She’d never forget this.
‘I’m going to post about this on the national petition site, damn it.’
She bit her ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) lip and grips tightened around her hand. Suddenly, ruckus broke out outside. Pressing her ear to the door crack, she barely made out the conversation.
“We’re from the Awakened Management Bureau. Due to an emergency rescue request, we need to conduct a brief search.”
“Emergency rescue? Who’s playing jokes—”
“We ask for your cooperation.”
“No, there’s no one inside! I just finished my patrol!”
It was clearly an argument. Relieved that help was coming, Bi flung the door open—and tried to call out that she was in here. But...
“There you are, you rat. Hiding here, were you?”
As soon as the door opened, a vicious man clamped his hand over her mouth.
“Ugh! Mmph!”
With tremendous force, she was thrown to the ground. She thrashed and struggled, but her tiny frame couldn’t break free. His iron grip squeezed her neck, and darkness closed in as her breath failed.
“Kuh—!”
Unable even to scream, she gasped for air—
“Ah! Over here! Over here!”
Loud noises spilled through the wall. The man, startled, relaxed his grip. Bi seized the chance and swung the Cultist idol she’d been holding.
Clang!
Their eyes met.
‘I’m done for.’
She was sure this was it—death for sure. But then... thud!
His massive body slumped and hit the floor.
‘Oh shit, Buddha. I just killed a person.’
Clang!
She dropped the idol, trembling, unsure what to do. She was only seventeen—could she become a criminal record next?
The dark warehouse pressuring her felt like a shadow over her future.
“Fuck....”
She was doomed. Making a wrong friend had brought this calamity down on her. Tears streaming, she crawled out of the warehouse, hoping that surrendering to the Bureau agents waiting outside would earn her some leniency. She even kept the Cultist idol as evidence—maybe it’d reduce her sentence by a day.
But no sooner had she stepped out than she saw a plainclothes man hanging onto an agent’s arm, pleading.
“You must be from the Detention Bureau, right? Please, arrest me! I conducted research making Blood Fiends in the basement!”
It was Roy’s loyal underling, Cultist 1. He claimed there were eleven ticking Blood Fiends downstairs—any moment they might escape. Impossible to believe, Bi, the church guards, and the agent blocking entry all stared at him in shock.
“Please, arrest me. Otherwise, that friend might kill me.”
At that moment, Saeon grabbed Cultist 1 by the collar.
“Be specific. How many Blood Fiends are in the basement?”
“Eleven... but they’re recent specimens, so I’m not sure if they succeeded....”
As Cultist 1 trembled under Saeon’s razor glare, a tremendous roar came from below. The church building shook violently, dust raining from the ceiling, cracks forming in the walls.
‘...What is happening right now?’
Bi felt like she’d heard him say eleven Blood Fiends. She wanted to faint. Gathering her wits, she crawled forward—and locked eyes with the agent entering. It was Shin Wonil, the new recruit of Special Team 1, marking his third week on the job.
Bi raised her trembling hand to Wonil.
“P-please save me—”
Click—
Handcuffs snapped around her wrist.
“You have the right to remain silent and to an attorney.” freewebnøvel.coɱ
Hearing her first Miranda warning, her head fell. It was over. Her life was ruined.
