CHAPTER 103: The Origin of the Name

CHAPTER 103: The Origin of the Name

The team arrived at the prison, a grim and desolate place surrounded by high concrete walls and barbed wire. The atmosphere was heavy, saturated with a sense of hopelessness that seemed to seep into the bones. Anna, Marcus, Vanessa, and Lucian walked in a line, ready to carry out their mission.

As they moved deeper into the prison, Anna couldn't help but ask, her voice echoing in the oppressive silence:

"Hey, why is it called 'Phoenix Squad'? I mean, I've always been curious about that."

Marcus looked at her with a raised eyebrow, remembering the old days.

"It's called that because Phoenix used to be the squad leader. He was the one who led the missions, made the decisions, and faced the danger. He was... well, he was a true leader."

Anna nodded, processing the information.

"And what happened for him to not be it anymore?"

A shadow crossed Marcus's expression.

"After a while, he became Enid's right hand. Not only that, things changed for him. Now he's dealing with his own demons, and, well, I guess life has taken an unexpected turn for him."

"Phoenix has always been the tough guy, but even he has his limits," Marcus added in a somber tone. "And now, after everything he's been through, he's just... dealing with it. It's not easy being the best at what you do and then watching your world crumble."

Lucian, who had been silent, interjected:

"It's strange to think that Phoenix, who has always been the pillar of this team..."

The group continued down the dark hallway, Marcus's words resonating in their minds.

The sound of their footsteps mixed with the echo in the gloom. The walls were covered in graffiti and marks from years of neglect, and the air was thick with a stench of damp and despair. The dim lighting barely allowed them to see beyond the next corner.

Marcus stopped at an intersection.

"Let's split up. Lucian, Vanessa, you take the south wing. Anna and I will handle the north wing. If we find anything, we communicate by radio."

"Understood," replied Lucian, exchanging a glance with Vanessa before heading towards the south wing door.

Marcus and Anna took the path to the north wing, the atmosphere growing increasingly tense.

"What happened here?" asked Anna, breaking the silence. "I've heard rumors, but I don't know the details."

Marcus frowned, recalling the horror.

"It was a couple of hours ago. They found a group of prisoners massacred in one of the cells. It all happened in less than a minute. They went in and the bodies were scattered everywhere, with no sign of a struggle. It was... brutal."

Anna stopped, processing his words.

"Massacred? No struggle?"

"That's right," Marcus replied, his voice tense. "It was as if something, or someone, had entered and annihilated them. The injuries were... unusual. Beyond what any human could cause. My first suspicion was the vampire from the Antigen party, Alex. He's a demon on earth. Facing him isn't just complicated, it's dangerous. Even Phoenix had trouble getting out alive from his encounter with him."

"Do you really think he's involved in this?" asked Anna, uneasy.

"It's a possibility. The style of attack is similar, and the speed with which it happened... I can't help but think he's behind it all. If he really is who I think he is, he can do unimaginable things."

"If that's the case, we're playing on very dangerous ground," Anna reflected, a chill running down her spine. "We must be careful. If he's here, we're not just dealing with prisoners, but with a being who can take us out before we can even react."

"Exactly," Marcus nodded, quickening his pace. "Let's keep moving and keep our guard up. We can't afford to underestimate what might be lurking in the shadows."

The tension was palpable in the air. Marcus scanned every dark corner until his gaze stopped at a puddle of water, faintly illuminated. Something moved on the surface: a glint of metal.

Before he could react, he felt a presence behind him. It was too late. A swift, lethal movement was approaching. Marcus shoved Anna hard, sending her tumbling to the side as he threw himself to the ground.

Both rolled, avoiding the impact, and then they saw him: a figure emerging from the shadows.

Alex smiled, unsettling, his eyes gleaming with amusement and contempt.

"Oh, look who it is, the brave ones from the squad. Come to play in my garden?"

Marcus got to his feet, still alert, as Anna tried to get up.

"What the hell are you doing here, Alex?" he shouted, adrenaline in his voice.

Alex took a step forward, enjoying the moment.

"Just admiring the chaos. It's so... fun, don't you think? The way you rush headlong into your own destruction, trying to act like heroes."

He leaned towards them, a malicious glint on his face.

"But please, don't let me stop you. Carry on with your little game. I just wanted to make sure you were having fun."

The atmosphere grew heavier. Marcus clenched his fists, containing his anger.

"You're not doing this just for fun. What do you really want?"

Alex smiled, his playful tone turning grim.

"Me? Oh, I'm just a spectator in this play. But I'm sure you all have your roles to perform. Although, if you ask me, I'd say the ending is pretty clear."