CHAPTER 241: Alaska, a Safe Place - 8

CHAPTER 241: Alaska, a Safe Place - 8

Fenix rolled over the bloodstained snow, gasping with difficulty.

Marcus advanced toward him, each step sinking the frozen surface under his enormous weight.

There was no way to face him head-on.

Not in that state.

Fenix spat blood, forced himself to get up, and started running.

Or, at least, something that vaguely resembled running.

Marcus roared behind him and set off in pursuit.

Fenix turned a corner, crossed an exterior corridor, and launched himself into a narrow alley formed between two stone structures.

Marcus tried to follow him.

His shoulder crashed against the walls.

The stone creaked.

But the space was too small for his enormous mutated body.

—Fenix! —Marcus roared, striking the walls with fury.

Fenix did not bother to respond.

He kept advancing until he reached a heavy reinforced wooden door.

He pulled it open and went inside.

He closed it behind him just as Marcus's blows rumbled on the other side.

The corridor was narrow and barely illuminated by torches.

Fenix advanced staggering.

Each step cost him.

He glanced fleetingly at his side.

Blood soaked his clothes and dripped onto the stone.

—Great… —he muttered through his teeth—. Just what I needed.

He leaned against the wall to keep from falling.

His breathing was irregular.

His vision danced.

He had barely advanced a few meters when he heard growls ahead.

He raised his head.

Three mutated lycans blocked the corridor.

Their red eyes glowed in the gloom.

Fenix clenched his jaw.

He tried to raise his left arm.

It trembled.

Too much.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips.

—Well… this is as far as I go.

The creatures launched themselves.

And, in that same instant, three silver flashes crossed the air.

The heads of the monsters separated cleanly from their bodies.

The corpses fell to the ground with a wet thud.

Fenix blinked.

Selene appeared among the bodies, both swords still dripping dark blood.

—You look like a disaster.

Fenix could not help but smile.

—I've never been so glad to see you.

Selene sheathed one of her swords and approached to help him stay on his feet.

—You don't seem in any condition to keep fighting.

—Not remotely.

They began walking down the corridor, advancing quickly.

In the distance, the battle continued to roar.

Screams.

Explosions.

Roars.

Selene looked back.

—We can still help.

Fenix shook his head firmly.

—No.

She frowned.

—Fenix…

—Listen to me —he said, grabbing her by the arm—. This is already lost.

Selene held his gaze.

Fenix's expression was more serious than usual.

—Those mutants turn every fallen vampire into one of their own. If we stay, we'll end up the same.

The silence lasted barely a second.

Then Selene looked away.

She knew he was right.

And that was precisely the worst part.

Finally, she nodded.

—All right.

Fenix let out the air.

—Good decision.

They advanced to the end of the corridor.

There, hidden behind a fallen shelf, was an old iron door.

Fenix opened it with effort.

Some stone stairs descended into the darkness.

Cold, damp air rose from the depths.

Selene observed the descent.

—I hope you have a plan.

Fenix began to go down.

—Not exactly.

He gave her a slight tired smile.

—But staying up there seems like an even worse idea.

The stairs descended in a spiral, carved directly into the rock.

Each step resonated under their hurried footsteps while, above their heads, the battle continued to roar like a distant storm.

Little by little, the sounds faded.

The screams.

The steel.

The roars.

Everything was left behind.

Finally, the stairs led into an enormous underground cavern.

The air was cold, damp, and smelled of wet stone.

Stalactites hung from the ceiling like stone fangs, and small puddles reflected the dim light of the lighter Fenix held in his left hand.

The flame wavered with every current of air.

—This is cozy —Fenix murmured.

Selene did not respond.

Both began walking along the narrow natural path that crossed the cave.

Water dripped from above.

The echo of their steps accompanied them.

The darkness seemed to swallow everything beyond the reach of the lighter.

For several minutes, neither spoke.

They only advanced.

Fenix occasionally leaning on the wall, leaving small stains of blood on the wet rock.

Selene noticed, but said nothing.

Until she finally broke the silence.

—There's something I always wanted to ask you.

Fenix kept walking.

—That never ends well.

Selene ignored the comment.

—When you killed Enid…

The flame of the lighter wavered.

—Did you regret it?

Fenix did not respond immediately.

His steps slowed.

The cave seemed to become even more silent.

For several seconds, only the constant dripping of water could be heard.

Selene did not insist.

She waited.

Fenix lowered his gaze toward the small dancing flame.

Then he kept walking.

—No.

His voice was low, but firm.

Selene glanced at him sideways.

—I don't regret it.

The echo repeated his words in the darkness.

Fenix clenched his jaw slightly.

—That had to happen.

His expression hardened.

—If I didn't do it… someone else would have.

He continued advancing, his gaze fixed forward.

—There was no other ending for her.

Selene remained silent.

Fenix exhaled slowly.

—Even so…

His voice lost part of its hardness.