CHAPTER 50: GREW A SPINE

"That’s the spirit." Silas praised as he followed Ether past the disintegrated gates with a shaken Velma, and an observant Matilda behind them, "Didn’t they arrange a party for us?"

"You wish. It’s a different case in any one of the buildings," Ether said as she walked to a halt in front of a massive white house, staring at the huge grey doors as she wore a smile.

"Each of these buildings are carrying out their own various tasks. Working around the clock and stuff, so they don’t have the workforce to spare." Peter explained in a calm tone.

"Oh, that makes sense." Silas nodded his head.

"This one’s a Pandora Clone, much like most of the buildings in here, its a copy of some original in another resistance hideout." Velma shrugged, "It’s were Ether was trained by us."

"So, you guys didn’t make her?" Silas frowned, then he raised a brow. He guessed that it was easier believing that Ether was cooked up in some lab than not, "This will be very fun."

"You have a very twisted perception on what ’fun’ is." Peter made a snarky comment as soon as he got the chance, frowning as Silas turned to glare at him, "What? It is the truth."

Silas raised a brow, then squeezed his left hand. Peter’s eyes widened, like they wanted to pop right out of their sockets, and he vomited blood from his mouth. His skin grew pale.

"Uh, Silas. You shouldn’t kill him now." Matilda advised.

"Why—" Silas was about to give her a mouthful, only for him to see that Ether took the opportunity to kick down the door to the building. His jaw dropped, "Have you gone mad?"

"Take a look at who you’re talking to." Ether twirled around to flash Silas a bright grin, revealing her rows of jagged teeth. Silas face palmed, and Matilda shook her head in silence.

Ether shrugged, turning around to observe the place. There was a space with some huge trucks parked, and a lot of boxes stacked with some guns placed on the racks by her far left.

There wasn’t anyone in sight, just some stairs leading up to more doors. Seeing that the place was completely empty, Ether cast one glance at Peter, then she approached the stairs.

Just as her feet crossed the first step, Ether paused. She spun around, crossing her arms in front of her face. At that instant, bullets appeared out of nowhere, spraying in her hands.

"Fuck." Ether cursed as she made a misstep, nearly tumbling over the railings, but after a mere second to gather her thoughts, she was able to balance herself, "What did I expect?"

"Nothing less of an automated trap, I’d suppose." Silas rolled his eyes, then snapped his fingers. All the guns were shredded to metal pieces which scattered into the air and rained.

Ether heaved, then he continued walking up the stairs. After she reached the first door, she reached out a hand then paused, lifting a brow, "Hmm. I guess they’re hiding behind it."

"Good thinking." Silas, who’d been casting telekinesis all over the place, wiped the cold sweat off his brows. He narrowed his eyes as he walked closer to the stairs, then he paused.

Ether, who had arrived at the door, gave the others one glance before reaching for the knob and twisting it. Ether leaned in, moving slowly as they watched her till she’d entered.

"Welcome." A young man in a black coat said as Ether stepped into the room, then the lights of the dimly lit area were all powered on, revealing his long green hair and ink eyes.

He sat in the rotating chair with his fingers crossed under his jaw, while he wore a big grin on his chiselled face. He blinked, turning to the side, "You have come a long way, huh."

"Where is he?" Ether frowned, looking from left to right. As she recalled, it was never this empty here, and always brimmed with busy men in dull lab coats. They were all gone.

"Sigmund... is..." The man’s grin faded immediately she said that name, then he began sputtering, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. After some time, he added, "...always here."

Ether raised a brow. Except for the two of them, this area— from her standing point to the back —was completely empty, "Where exactly would Sigmund be hiding in this place?"

Then, a hand rested on her shoulder. She frowned, watching the man turn into a shaky mess all of a sudden, then feeling her heart rate climb as the temperature of the room grew.

"You grew quite a spine." Sigmund spoke in a soft voice as he kept his hand on her loose shoulder, grasping tight as it tensed up. He kept the door open with his hand, "Is that him?"

Silas glared at him from halfway across the stairs, then Sigmund scoffed. He swung his hand to the side, tossing Ether to the side like a piece of dirt, "This is bad for my business."

"You don’t have the leash anymore, Sigmund." Ether groaned, struggling to stand from the floor. As she straightened her stance, Ether glared into Sigmund’s eyes, "Goodbye man."

Sigmund nodded his head in understanding, stepping away from the door and taking a long deep breath. After some time, he opened his eyes, then he turned towards the others.

Sigmund’s aura began to leak out as Silas climbed the stairs, his hands balling into two tight fists. The second Silas’ feet left the staircase, Sigmund vanished from everyone’s gaze.

When he appeared again, he was right in front of Silas, his fist crashing into Silas’ face in an horizontal swing. Silas blinked, staring at the fist on his face, "This scene is familiar."

Before Silas could react, Sigmund raised his other hand with a poker face and delivered a punch straight into Silas’ nose. The blows sent Silas spiralling into the air like ragged doll.

It was not until Silas skid across the ground and crashed into a wall did he realise their enemy’s strength. Sigmund shook his head, "If this is your master, then I’ll put an end to it."

The ’walls’ glitched, revealing various men holding their guns in a formations with their aim directly on Ether. Sigmund smirked at her confusion, "Okay boys. Let’s start the party."