Chapter 26: In The Dark

I knew the location where they were keeping Noelle. I would launch a surprise attack on them before they knew what hit them, they would never see it coming.

My increased agility, strength and stamina gave me confidence, but I didn't feel prepared enough.

I knew these guys were probably amateurs based on how they left the room after they left, but I couldn't underestimate them. For all I knew they could have guns. I couldn't take any chances.

"System?" I said.

"Download and install martial arts techniques from all regions of the world and download them to my muscle memory" I said.

[Yes] [No]

"Is there any way to reduce or avert the pain?" I said.

I didn't have time but I guessed that that would have to do.

"Alright, begin the process." I said.

<Understood.>

*Downloading information…*

*Download complete*

*Transferring information…1%*

With all my preparations being put in place, I threw on a black jacket and a black top with black pants. I would go at night and I waited patiently for the sun to set.

Thankfully, cram school had already closed. We had finished revising all the necessary materials for the exams, and had been given the week off for personal study.

I threw on a black face cap and left my apartment, my attire making me completely blend into the night.

I walked to the bus stop and after waiting for a short while, I called a taxi.

As I got into the cab, I had a light conversation with the driver. Before I left my house, I'd done research and gotten the address of the warehouse that they were keeping Noelle in, I was prepared.

"Where would you like to go sir?" The cab driver said. I could see the look on his face from the driver mirror and I could tell that he had his guard up.

Realizing that I'd dressed very suspiciously, I removed my face cap from my head and smiled heartily, trying to avoid any confrontations.

He seemed to calm down after I did this and then I proceeded to give him the address.

"Are you sure this is where you wanna go sir?, no disrespect but it's on the outskirts of town and by this hour, it might not be safe." He said.

I could tell he just didn't want to head in that direction for fear of his own safety, and I thought of what I could do to lighten the mood.

"That's okay, you see I'm a filmmaker and we're currently shooting a set on that property so you have nothing to worry about." I said, faking a large smile.

"Oh? In that case let's be on our way then." He said as he began to drive.

I was thankful that he didn't recognize me as a Darhk, my absence from the family and their dealings for so long had caused me to be forgotten by the masses and I'd accepted that. Infact, I appreciated it.

We drove for a little while longer and finally arrived at our destination, where it was very dark.

I could see some light from the warehouse but other than that the whole area seemed to be deserted.

I alighted the cab and paid the driver. I waited and made sure he drove away before making my way toward the warehouse.

I contemplated sneaking in, but I let my overconfidence take over me and decided I would approach from the front gate.

As I reached the entrance, I stood before the large roller shutter doors and thought to myself.

'Let's do this' I thought and I began to lift the door open, a feat that would be impossible for a normal human as the doors were sealed tight and could only be unlocked by a control panel on the inside.

However I wasn't a normal human anymore and using my upgraded strength, I began to lift the door open.

[Criminal leader's POV]

It was the night of the day that we'd kidnapped the girl. 'I will call that brat Damon tomorrow, and ask him to come to the designated location to rescue this girl'.

These were the thoughts that passed through my head on the night of the kidnapping. As I sat there with the rest of my crew, I felt everything was going to plan, it was happening way too smoothly.

We were having dinner and chatted, laughing loudly. I turned my attention to the girl and there she was, just staring quiet as ever, dejected and defeated. It's not like she could speak anyway, we'd tied her mouth shut.

I thought about going to talk to her, I would do so after I was done eating. Our moment of brief joy was brought to a halt when we heard a large noise toward the entrance of the warehouse we'd been hiding out in.

The metal doors were being forced open, but that was impossible! Those doors were sealed shut and could only be unlocked by the control panel on the inside, what on earth could've been opening them.

I signaled the rest of the crew and we turned off the lights, grabbing flashlights each. We picked up our weapons and I went behind the girl and knocked her out once again with the handkerchief.

She struggled for sometime before eventually succumbing and I covered her head with a mask as I did before. I hid behind her and blended in with the dark, just in case.

The rest of my crew stood at alert, two of us had guns, me and one other while the rest were armed with crowbars, baseball bats and sticks.

We all pointed out flashlights toward the door in fear of what would emerge and we were all shocked to see who it was.

It was Damon!

We ignored the amount of abnormal brute strength a person would require to lift those doors, and all burst out into laughter.

He lifted the doors and smashed them in place against its top part and that quieted us all.

He began to slowly walk toward us, not showing any sign of hesitation or fear.

My crew members looked to me in expectation for orders and I decided to speak to him.

"Don't take another step!" I shouted from behind the girl and he stopped. I smiled to myself realizing I'd regained control of the situation.

"Now I don't know how you found us, but you're here early, that's good. I don't know what your plan is but you're clearly outnumbered and outgunned so I suggest you surrender before you get hurt." I said firmly and my crew members stood tall.

We were all shocked when Damon threw off the face cap he was wearing and began to laugh loudly.

"What's so funny?" I screamed in annoyance and he spoke.

"Unfortunately for you guys, I don't consider any of you a threat. Don't worry, this will be over quickly." He said firmly, I could see a smile on the side of his face and the aura he exuded shook me to the bone.

He charged at the guy who had a gun at an incredible speed and was at point black range in less than a second.

"Don't shoot!" I screamed at him but it was too late and I heard a loud bang and saw a large flash of light.

I was surprised to see that it was the guy with a gun who was on the floor.

Damon held the gun now and he aimed and fired at the flashlights that we were holding, causing the room to be consumed by darkness.

I don't exactly know what happened next. As I stood behind the girl I could only hear the screams of my crew and loud thuds.

He was taking them out one by one and they were totally defenseless against him and all I could do was watch.

It felt like a scene straight out of a horror movie and I couldn't help but think that it would be my turn soon.

"Wh-What are you!" I screamed and got no response. The room had quieted and I called out the names of my crew members but got no response.

Suddenly I felt my heart drop as I felt the cold feeling of a gun to my head. I turned behind me to see and saw that it was Damon who stood behind me.

"Surprise!, don't move," he said, loading the trigger of the gun and grinning as he stood over me.

I swallowed hard at his sight and was filled with fear. This guy, whoever he was, wasn't human.

He was a monster!