act10mini

You're daft! Are you looking for a fight?

Massive vines, each at least as thick as a hand, shoot out from the ground and knock the ruffians to the floor.

From the ground, from the walls, from the supports, green vegetation sprawls wantonly.

The fallen mercenaries are quickly bound tight by plants, with not even a moment to shout.

Are your salaries worth continuing this fight?

Or will you make way and let me through?

...You go on ahead, Miss. I never saw anything today.

Out, out! We're off the clock now!

That's more like it.

So it was... all of you who burned down my shop?

Enough rubbish from you. Keep walking.

For crying out loud, don't blame me. If anyone, blame yourself, for being so starved for a hobby you got yourself meddling in all this.

But you Infected were never bound to live long anyway, so this'll do.

...You... You'll be paying for this.

For being at death's door, you've got some bluster.

(She shuts her eyes.)

W-Why is the ground shaking?

What's happening? Is there an earthquake? What sound is that?!

Wait... It's coming from above.

The fierce sound of an explosion arrives from overhead, the structural layer shaking across the entire abandoned sector.

The walls crack, and the rocking intensifies.

Immediately after, the explosion gives way to the rumble of the tunnel's collapse. Together with the tremors, the unbroken sounds of structures bursting draw closer and closer.

What the hell was that?!

Aaaaargh!!

Engulfed in the explosion's roar, the top layer of the subterranean structure collapses, dropping several tons of steel frame directly upon the head of the Guards' Captain.

The rumbling persists as concrete and steel supports rupture and subside, the whole structural layer thrown into chaos.

Huh? Wh-Whaa?

(I... I need to run!)

Run!! It's going to sink!

What on Terra?! The goods! The facilities, they've all been crushed!

Save your skin first, sir! Get out of here!

What's the cause of this? Is there a Catastrophe?!

There's no end to the rotten luck today, I see! Blasted, damned...!

Just leave it for now. Come on, sir, let's move!

That Infected! She's escaped!

Which of you was it who bound her?

We can't let her flee! After her, all of you!

You really can run, you little bastard.

If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't be in this mess.

(Raises weapon)

A keen blade pierces out from the shadows. A simple yet powerful cutting blow. The ruffian falls to the floor in response.

There's more?!

Get running, Miss Susie!

M... Mr. Red? What are you...

Don't mind for now. Move, fast.

A... Alright!

What are you standing there for?! After them!

Still? We don't even know where the Count's gone!

Then don't go. I'll be happy to take your pay.

Dream on.

It's... It's a dead end now.

Before Susie's eyes, the firm alloy platform hangs fractured from the explosion. A broken bridge, at least a four meter jump, is seemingly the only way out.

Behind them, the voices of the ruffians and mercenaries cursing draw ever closer.

Now what...?

These people love their work too much. Following us in these conditions...?

You've really got a knack for inviting trouble, Miss Susie.

Mr. Red, what are you doing here? And do you usually carry that blade?

I'll explain later when we get the chance.

Right now, I need to find a way to get you out of here.

There's no shortage of people in the Infected community worrying about you.

But right now...

Sorry about this, Miss Susie.

The Infected worker lifts her up and tosses her over, like slinging a crate of goods.

The young Feline draws a clean arc through the air, and lands on the platform's other side.

...Ow, ow, ow... Mr. Red?!

Keep running upwards! Quick!

What about you?

Hurry!

The collapsing framework fully blocks off the entrance of the tunnel as the figure of the Infected worker vanishes into its shadows without a trace.

Mr. Red...

...I can't stop here, I need to get out...

(Did the earthquake... stop?)

(What even happened outside?)

(Mr. Red... Is he still okay?)

...There's no way on. It's blocked.

How far away... is the surface still?

Finally... argh, my giddy aunt...

Oh, my back... good grief...

...It's you.

Brilliant. You made it out of there somehow, you Infected wretch.

Bastard, bloody scum of the earth, useless good-for-nothing.

It's all your fault!

It's all you blasted Infected vermin... My money!

Get out of my damned way.

A slap from the greedy politician hits Susie square in the face, all his anger taken out at once on the Feline girl.

However, the Infected in front of him shows no sign of cowering in response to the savage act.

She stares down the noble before her, the stifled depression and pain she had experienced for days on end now nowhere to be seen.

That's the reason?

Your people burned down my shop for something like this.

You'd go this far, hurt so many Infected, for something like this.

All just for... money?

She slowly stands back up, no longer the timid Feline from before.

In this moment, only enmity and anger remain in her gaze.

Every last thing that happened these past few days, all because of the greedy politician before her.

Why should he not pay the price?

All of this was so far overboard... just for money?

What are you doing?! Don't come near!

Keep away from me! You—monster, get out!

...I can't forgive you.

She shivers, electric sparks jumping about her whole body.