Chapter 69: The Claws of Deception
The neon lights of the entertainment district flickered like dying stars, casting long, jagged shadows over the pavement. The bodybuilder, his knuckles still stinging from the blow he'd dealt Mina, walked with a heavy, arrogant stride alongside his friend. They were heading toward "The Crimson Pulse," a notorious underground club where the music was loud enough to drown out a scream.
"Man, I'm telling you," the bodybuilder said, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he lit a cigarette. "I actually feel bad for slapping that girl. Did you see her? She was cute... no, she was hot. Like, a hidden gem in this trash Sector. I should have just dragged her with us instead of wasting a perfectly good hand on her face."
His friend laughed, pocketing the golden coins Lai had surrendered. "Forget it, bro. She was a thief, but a high-class looking one. If we'd taken her, that brother of hers looked like he would've fought to the death. Not worth the drama. Besides, we've got enough gold now to buy the best table in the club and three girls who won't try to pick our pockets. Let's just enjoy the night."
"Yeah, you're right," the bodybuilder grunted, exhaling a cloud of grey smoke. "But still... there was something about her eyes. Something creepy. Whatever. Let's drink."
The Kimo Residence: Mina's Room
The walk home had been a silent nightmare. Lai's grip on Mina's arm was firm but gentle, as if he were afraid she might dissolve into mist if he let go. He led her up the stairs, past their parents' closed door, and straight into her bedroom. He shut the door behind them and turned to face her, his expression a mix of heartbreak and simmering frustration.
"Mina... look at me," Lai commanded, his voice low.
Mina stood by her bed, her head bowed, her messy hair hiding the darkening bruise on her cheek. She felt Michael pulsing inside her brain, a cold, oily sensation that made her skin crawl.
"What was that, Mina?" Lai's voice cracked. "Were you really... were you stealing? Are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea what those men would have done to you if I hadn't arrived? They weren't just going to break your bones, Mina. They are monsters!"
Mina's mind raced. She couldn't tell him about Michael. She couldn't tell him about the hunger for blood and raw meat. If she did, she knew their father—a high-ranking Vaner—would view her as a threat and perhaps even "neutralize" her.
"I... I wasn't stealing, Lai," she whispered, the lie tasting like ash in her mouth. She looked up, her eyes brimming with forced tears. "I just went out for a walk. I was lonely. Those men... they approached me. They tried to grab me, to take me to that club. When I fought back, they accused me of stealing to cover up what they were doing. They were the ones who put that money in my hand to make it look like I was the criminal! Please, Lai... you have to believe me."
Lai stared at her. He had seen her hand inside the man's pocket. He had seen the way she tried to run. Every instinct told him she was lying, but his heart refused to accept it. He wanted to believe his little sister was still the innocent girl who played with dolls, not a thief roaming the dark alleys.
"Dad gives you so little money," Lai muttered, half to himself. "I know he's strict. I know things are hard." He sighed, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a single, shimmering Golden Coin. He pressed it into her palm. "Here. This is all I have right now. Take it."
"Lai, I don't want it," Mina said, her voice trembling. "I told you, I didn't do anything wrong."
"Just take it, Mina!" Lai snapped, then immediately softened. "Please. If you need something, anything, you come to me. Don't ever go out alone again. And don't ever... don't ever make me scared like that again."
Mina closed her fist over the coin. The metal was warm from his pocket. I'm sorry, Lai, she thought, a genuine tear finally falling. I'm so sorry.
"I had some things I needed to buy," Mina said, trying to steady her voice. "Supplies... for school."
"Fine," Lai said, rubbing his eyes. "Get ready. I'll go get some more money from Mom's emergency stash. We're going to the market together. I'm not letting you out of my sight for a second."
As Lai left the room, Mina collapsed onto her bed. She pulled out her clothes, her hands shaking as she began to dress.
"Good girl," Michael's voice echoed in her head, dark and satisfied. "The brother is a fool, but a useful one. His gold will buy what I need. But remember, Mina... the hunger is returning. Do not test my patience again."
The Market District
The market was a sprawling labyrinth of stalls, smelling of spices, rusted metal, and crowded humanity. Lai walked closely beside Mina, his eyes scanning the crowd like a hawk. He was still on edge, his hand frequently drifting to the hilt of the concealed knife he carried.
"Stay close," he muttered as they wove through a group of traders.
They stopped at a clothing stall. Lai wanted to buy Mina a new shawl to hide the bruise on her face. "Wait here, Mina. Don't move an inch. I'm just going to check the quality of these fabrics."
Mina nodded, watching as her brother became distracted by the haggling merchant. This was her chance. Michael was screaming inside her, his hunger reaching a fever pitch.
"There..." Michael whispered. "The smell... the sound of life. Go."
Mina slipped away from the clothing stall, moving through the crowd with a newfound, predatory grace. She followed the sound of squawking and the smell of wet feathers. At the edge of the market sat a small, cramped livestock stall. Cages were stacked high, filled with birds of all kinds.
She approached the merchant, a thin man with dirt under his fingernails. "How much for the chickens?" she asked, her voice sounding strange, even to her own ears.
"Two silver for the cage of three," the man said, not even looking up.
Mina handed him the golden coin Lai had given her. The merchant's eyes widened. He quickly grabbed the coin, bit it to check its authenticity, and handed her a small, rusted wire cage. Inside, three white chickens were huddled together, their black eyes wide with terror. They squawked and beat their wings against the bars, sensing the darkness radiating from the girl holding them.
Mina gripped the handle of the cage. She felt a twisted sense of relief. She looked at the birds—not as animals, but as fuel. As life essence.
"Mina!"
She jumped, nearly dropping the cage. Lai was running toward her, his face flushed with panic. He looked at the cage in her hands, his confusion evident.
"Chickens?" Lai asked, breathless. "Why on earth did you buy live chickens? We have food at home, Mina. Mom was going to make stew tonight."
Mina looked down at the fluttering birds, her purple eyes flickering for a split second behind her hair. "I... I wanted to learn how to cook properly, Lai. I wanted to surprise you and Dad. I thought... I thought starting from scratch was the best way."
Lai looked at the chickens, then at his sister's bruised face. It was a bizarre request, but he was so relieved she hadn't run away that he didn't question it.
"Okay, Mina," he said softly, taking the heavy cage from her. "If that's what you want. Let's go home. It's getting dark, and this Sector isn't safe for birds... or girls."
As they walked away, the chickens continued to scream in their cage, their frantic cries ignored by the bustling crowd. Only Mina knew that by the time the sun went down, those cages would be empty, and the hunger inside her would finally, temporarily, be fed.