Descendant of Sloth
Chapter 85: The Rising Shadow

Chapter 85: The Rising Shadow

The auction was over, and now we were stuck in the paperwork line, a slow shuffle of winners and staff under the dim glow of overhead lights. The air smelled faintly of sweat perfume, the buzz of the crowd fading into tired murmurs. I stood with Serina a step behind Hina, who was at the front of our little group, handling everything like she always did. Her boots tapped impatiently against the tiled floor as we waited our turn to claim Nox.

When we finally reached the table, a bored-looking guy in a wrinkled shirt glanced up at us. "IDs and payment method," he said, barely looking up from his clipboard. His partner, a woman with a tight bun and too much lipstick, sat nearby, tapping a pen against her paper.

Hina stepped forward, cool as ever, and nodded at me. I lifted the heavy bag sack I’d been carrying and dropped it onto the table with a loud *thud*. The thing hit hard, coins clinking inside, and when I pulled the zipper open, a flood of gold spilled out—gleaming, perfect, thirty million dollars’ worth.

The guy’s jaw dropped, his pen slipping from his hand to clatter on the table. The woman froze mid-tap, her pen hovering in the air, her eyes bugging out as she stared at the pile.

Hina grinned, a mischievous little smirk tugging at her lips.

"Cool, right?" she said, leaning forward just enough to make them squirm. The guy stammered something I couldn’t catch, his hands fumbling to scoop up a few coins like he needed to make sure they were real.

A moment later, one of the bunny-costumed girls appeared from the back, leading Nox toward us.

He looked tiny next to her, his green skin catching the light, his flaming hair dimmer than before, like he was worn out. Someone had tied a big red bow around his collar, probably to make him look "cute" for the handover. His big eyes flicked up to us, tired but curious.

Hina didn’t waste a second. She dropped to her knees and pulled him into a tight hug.

"Nox!" she said, her voice softer than I’d heard it all night. "You’re with us now, okay? You’re safe." She squeezed him gently, and he blinked up at her, a small, shaky smile tugging at his little face.

Serina crouched down next to them, brushing a hand lightly over his flaming hair—it didn’t burn, just flickered under her touch. She leaned in close and whispered, "Let’s go meet your sister."

Nox’s eyes went wide, those huge pupils shimmering with sudden tears. "Sister Billie..." he squeaked, his voice cracking as he clutched at Hina’s sleeve.

Hina nodded, her smile warm and steady. "Yeah, Billie’s waiting for you," she said, ruffling his hair. "We’re getting you out of here."

I stood back, hands shoved in my pockets, watching it all play out. My eyes drifted past them, scanning the room. The guards in their stiff uniforms lingered near the exits, hands resting on their belts. The winners were starting to go back to the main hall—some laughing, some dragging their "prizes" behind them.

I caught sight of Sara, the first trade, her sheer dress catching the light as she was led off by that group of smirking guys.

*We saved Nox,* I thought, my mind calm but running, *but what about them?* All those faces, all those lives, swallowed up by this rotten place. I shook it off, turning my back on the scene.

"Let’s go now," I said, my voice flat. "We don’t want to waste any more time."

Serina glanced up at me, frowning. "But there’s one more thing—the after-ceremony. It’s starting soon."

"Yeah," Hina added, standing up with Nox still clinging to her arm. "They’re gonna drop hints about the next trades, where they’re coming from, all that stuff. We should stay, get some clues, right?" She tilted her head, waiting for me to agree.

I didn’t even turn around. "Not interested," I said, already walking toward the exit.

"Now walk. Billie’s waiting for her brother, and I’m done with this place." My boots echoed on the floor, steady and sharp, cutting through the low hum of the room. They didn’t argue this time—just followed, their steps falling behind mine as we left the chaos behind.

Hina glanced at me, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "So cold all the time, huh?" she teased, sticking her tongue out with a little "*bleh*" sound.

Then she turned to Nox, softening her voice. "Don’t mind him, okay? I’m the sweet one." She pulled the tiny demi-human into a gentle hug, pressing him against her chest. His green skin glowed faintly in the dim light, and his flaming hair flickered like a tiny campfire.

From behind us, the announcer’s voice boomed one last time, muffled now as the heavy doors swung shut. "The after-ceremony is about to begin!" he shouted, but it faded into nothing as we kept walking, the words swallowed by the night.

Hina walked beside me, hugging Nox in her hands, while Serina walked a step behind, her arms crossed against the chill. The street was quiet, just the hum of distant traffic and the occasional flicker of a streetlamp lighting our way.

We’d gone maybe two blocks, our boots scuffing against the ground, when Hina lifted Nox higher, studying him with a grin. "Damn, he can fly too?" she said, half-laughing.

Nox nodded, his big eyes sparkling. "Yes, I can fly," he chirped, his squeaky voice full of pride. He stretched his little arms, like he was about to take off right then.

Hina giggled—a rare, light sound from her—and tickled his tiny stomach with her fingertip. "Gegegege!" she cooed, wiggling her fingers.

Nox squirmed in her palms, rolling around and laughing, his flames flaring brighter with every chuckle. Serina watched them, a small smile tugging at her lips.

I stopped walking suddenly, my boots scraped the pavement loud enough to make them turn. Hina raised an eyebrow, still holding Nox.

"What happened?" she asked, her tone shifting from playful to curious.

Serina tilted her head, frowning. "Yeah, what’s up?"

I shrugged, shoving my hands into my pockets. "Nothing. I forgot to buy something. You guys go to the hotel first—I’ll be back in a minute." My voice was flat, like always, giving nothing away.

Hina and Serina exchanged a quick look, their eyes narrowing slightly. "Okay..." Hina said slowly, dragging the word out like she didn’t quite buy it. "But don’t be late. We’ve got to figure out how to rescue the others too, you know." She adjusted Nox in her hands, her expression serious again.

Serina nodded. "Yeah, we need a plan. Soon."

I didn’t answer, just turned and started walking down a different street, my shadow stretching long under the streetlights. I could feel their eyes on my back for a second, but I didn’t look over my shoulder.

"What’s with him?" Serina muttered, her voice low as they started moving again.

Hina sighed, shifting Nox to one hand so she could pat his head with the other.

"Who knows? He’s always like this—off in his own world. Let’s just get to Billie." Her tone was light.

Their footsteps faded as they headed toward the hotel, Nox’s quiet giggles trailing after them. I kept walking, the night closing in around me, my mind already somewhere else.

The streets were quiet as I retraced my steps, the faint hum of the city fading behind me. My boots dragged against the pavement, slow and deliberate, hands buried deep in my pockets.

"Hey, where are you going again—" Tony asked, raising his hand.

Ding.

The elevator doors slid open. I stepped inside, my movements calm, unhurried. Behind me, Tony’s sentence hung unfinished in the air, lost in the silence that followed. His body, along with his guard’s, lay sprawled across the dark floor, blood pooling beneath them like a spreading shadow.

I didn’t look back as the elevator was waiting, its doors sliding open with a soft *ding*.

I stepped in, the cold metal walls closing around me, and hit the button for the lower level.

The closer I got to the underground auditorium, the more the air seemed to shift—thicker, heavier, like it was pressing down on me. Then I saw it: the lights flashing again, slow and hypnotic, spilling out from the cracks of elevator.

The music started low, a distant thrum that grew louder with every step, vibrating through the ground and up into my bones.

When the doors opened again, I was back in the auditorium. The neon lights bathed everything in their eerie glow—pink, blue, green—flickering over the crowd like a storm of color.

The music was loud now, I stayed at the entrance, leaning against the edge of the elevator frame, my hands still in my pockets. My eyes scanned the room, taking it all in, but there was no spark in them—no feeling, just a dull, empty stare.

I sighhhhh* and exhale at the same time bracing myself from what I was about to do.