CHAPTER 118: Hell in Berlin-11

CHAPTER 118: Hell in Berlin-11

The house where Enid, Lucian, and Vanessa had taken refuge was in good condition: solid walls, reinforced windows, and a silence that, at least for a moment, gave them the illusion of safety. The three of them were sitting in what appeared to be an intact living room.

Lucian couldn't stop fidgeting in his chair, tapping his foot on the floor, visibly restless.

"What if Anna and Phoenix don't come back?" he asked suddenly, breaking the silence. "I mean... if they don't return... we're dead."

Enid glanced at him sideways, not answering immediately. Vanessa shot a serious look at Lucian, trying to calm him.

"Don't say that," she replied. "They're alive, they have to be."

But Lucian didn't relent. He ran his hands through his hair, gritting his teeth.

"Don't you understand? Without Phoenix, we don't have a chance. None!" he said, a tremor in his voice, almost desperate. "As long as he's with us, even if it's a slim possibility... we can win. But if he falls... it's all over."

Enid watched him with a furrowed brow, her expression oscillating between anger and concern. Before she could respond, the creak of the front door interrupted the tension.

Anna appeared, carrying Marcus, who was in tatters: blood, open wounds, barely conscious.

"Help me!" exclaimed Anna, straining to get him to the sofa.

Vanessa and Lucian immediately stood up, helping her lay Marcus down. Enid knelt in front of him, quickly examining his wounds.

"Marcus..." she said quietly, holding his face. "Where is Phoenix?"

The young man breathed with difficulty, his voice hoarse, as if every word cost him dearly.

"Most likely..." he coughed, spitting out a thread of blood, "...in the Berlin subway..."

Silence fell abruptly over everyone. No one dared to speak.

Marcus was lying on the sofa, breathing laboriously. His wounds, though deep, were gradually beginning to regenerate thanks to his condition. The process was slow, painful, but evident.

With a sigh laden with weariness, he murmured:

"I hope... Phoenix is still alive..." He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to withstand the pain.

Suddenly, the wall of the living room exploded into pieces of brick and dust. A figure burst through the wall as if it weren't there, landing lightly in the middle of the room.

It was Alucard.

"Well, well..." he said with a lopsided smile and a mocking tone. "Why the long faces? Did someone important die?"

Those present immediately tensed up. Vanessa got into a defensive stance, Lucian took a few steps back, and Enid clenched her jaw, not taking her eyes off him.

Alucard let his gaze wander over the group, finally stopping on Anna and Marcus before laughing softly.

"Relax, it's not the end of the world." He shrugged. "Well... for you, maybe it is. But don't worry so much about the wolf-boy. I have no problem bringing him back alive."

Everyone looked at him, distrustful. Enid stepped forward, her expression hardened.

"What are you implying?" she snapped.

Alucard pointed a finger at her, as if explaining something obvious to a child.

"Come on, Enid... don't you get it? If Phoenix has fallen into the wrong hands, the poor guy is in the subway surrounded by unpleasant surprises. And I..." he paused, tilting his head with a sadistic smile, "...could go in there, pull him out in one piece... or in several, depends on my mood."

Enid pursed her lips, her eyes blazing with contained fury.

"Listen to me carefully," she said with an icy voice. "If you're going to bring Phoenix back, you'd better bring him back whole. Not a single extra scratch, do you hear me? Or you'll pay dearly."

The atmosphere grew even more tense. Alucard looked at her in silence for a second... and then suddenly burst out laughing, amused.

"I like that!" he exclaimed, snapping his fingers as if he'd been given an exciting challenge. "Very well, princess, let's see how intact I can leave your boy."

He turned towards the broken wall, as if he were about to leap into action right then.