Chapter 43: League of Shadows

As the three men recounted their story, Reese's eyes widened in disbelief. "League of Shadows?" he repeated incredulously. "So you're saying that this Serpenthia was actually part of this organization, and some of these creatures are stationed at every major mall?"

The men nodded grimly. "Yes, that's exactly it," one of them confirmed. "They're like guardians, ensuring that the sacrifices are carried out according to the organization's twisted plans."

Reese's fists clenched at his sides, his mind reeling at the sheer audacity of it all. "And the children... They're taken to be sacrificed for the sake of profit?" he asked, his voice barely concealing his anger. The men exchanged uneasy glances before nodding solemnly.

"It's a barbaric practice, but they believe it brings them wealth and success," another man explained.

Reese's mind raced as he tried to process the magnitude of what he was hearing. "And the Serpentara I killed," he began, his voice trailing off as the gravity of the situation sank in. "She was one of the 13 lieutenants of the organization," another man interjected, his tone heavy with remorse. "Each one is tasked with overseeing a different aspect of their operations."

Reese paced around the hall for a moment before he asked another question. "How many more innocent lives have been taken because of these monsters?" his voice laced with anger.

The three men exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions mirroring Reese's distress.

"We... we don't know," one of them admitted, his voice trembling. "We were just following orders. We never knew who was really pulling the strings."

Reese's fists clenched at his sides as frustration surged within him. "So, you're telling me we have no idea who's behind all of this?"

He demanded, his tone edged with frustration.The men nodded solemnly, their faces etched with guilt. "That's right," another man confirmed. "We were just pawns in their twisted organization."

Reese looked at the three security guards in front of him with fury in his eyes. Reese could tell that the security guards were telling the truth; with his spiritual sense, Reese could easily detect any lies.

Reese's gaze hardened as he pressed for more information. "Who were the other major malls involved in this organization's scheme?"

The men were hesitant for a moment, afraid to say anything, until one of them spoke up. "We only know about the Robinsons Malls," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret. "But there could be more. We were only assigned to this mall."

Reese nodded thoughtfully, absorbing the information. If the League of Shadows had operations in one major mall, there was a high likelihood that they were operating in others as well.

Reese nodded, his mind already formulating a plan. "Alright," he said, his voice steady. "Now, tell me, who else within the mall is aware of this operation?"

The men shifted uncomfortably. "The general manager," one of the men confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "And there are seven guards stationed outside who are in on it as well."

Reese's jaw tightened at the revelation. "I see," he murmured, his gaze hardening with resolve.

Reese stood before the three men, his expression hardening and his eyes piercing as he prepared to render them unconscious.

But before he could make his move, the door burst open, and seven men stormed into the chamber, their footsteps echoing ominously against the walls.

The three men's eyes widened in surprise as they saw their reinforcements arrive, but their relief was short-lived as the gazes of the seven men fell upon the lifeless form of their mistress lying on the ground.

Panic seized them as they realized the gravity of the situation, and they turned to Reese with newfound hostility.

However, Reese was already in motion, his movements swift and decisive. In a blur of motion, he dodged their advancing attacks, his reflexes honed to perfection.

With expert precision, he delivered precise blows, incapacitating each assailant in quick succession.

As the seven men crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain, Reese stood victorious amidst the chaos. His breath came in steady intervals, his gaze unwavering as he surveyed the scene before him.

With a swift and calculated movement, Reese dashed out of the hall, his senses on high alert as he made his escape.

He knew that the area was likely teeming with surveillance cameras, leaving him with no choice but to rely on his Shadow Dash to evade detection.

As he sprinted through the corridors, Reese could feel the weight of exhaustion settling in, his energy reserves dwindling with each passing moment. Yet he pushed himself forward, determined to reach safety before it was too late.

With a final burst of speed, Reese vanished into the shadows, his form blending seamlessly with the darkness as he moved with silent grace.

The cameras would be none the wiser as he slipped away, leaving no trace of his passage behind.

Finally, when he was far enough from the scene and confident that there wasn't any surveillance camera around, Reese slowed his pace, allowing himself a moment to catch his breath.

With a sense of relief, he materialized in an abandoned alley near USC Main, the familiar surroundings offering a comforting sense of security.

After noticing his tattered leather armor, Reese quickly changed into a fresh set of clothes, ensuring he looked presentable before attending to the children.

With a deep breath, Reese willed the orb to release the children.

As Tim and Emily materialized before him, their faces twisted with confusion and fear, and Reese's heart sank.

"Hey, it's okay," Reese said softly, his voice soothing. "I didn't mean to scare you. You're safe now."

But Tim and Emily, overwhelmed by the sudden change in surroundings, burst into tears, their cries echoing through the alley.

'Shit! If someone saw us like this, I'd be in big trouble.' Reese was terrified of the possible outcome. At this ungodly hour and in a dark alley, no less, any sane person would think he did something bad to the kids if they saw them like this.

Reese's stomach churned with guilt, realizing his failure to explain had only added to their distress.

"Oh no," Reese murmured, his brow furrowing with worry. "I didn't mean for this to happen."

Tim hiccupped, his tear-stained cheeks reddening with frustration. "I thought we really died. At first, you were in front of us, then, poof, you were gone," he sobbed, his voice trembling with emotion. "And then we appeared at that violet place; we really thought we were dead. Good thing there was a bed there." Tim continued as he started to calm down.

Reese was even more guilty after he heard Tim. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. Remember I told you that we're going to get ice cream when we get out of that place?" Reese reminds them.

Emily suddenly perked up after hearing the words ice cream. "Yes, I want chocolate." Tim nodded.

Seeing that both Tim and Emily stopped sobbing, Reese heaved a sigh of relief, took hold of their hands, and started walking towards the nearest 7/11.

As Reese, Tim, and Emily entered the 7/11, the fluorescent lights overhead illuminated rows of colorful snacks and drinks. Reese glanced around, spotting the freezer section filled with various ice cream flavors.

"Alright, let's find that chocolate ice cream you two wanted," Reese said with a smile, leading the way down the aisle.

Tim and Emily eagerly followed, their eyes scanning the shelves in search of their favorite treats. "There it is!" Tim exclaimed, pointing to a tub of rich chocolate ice cream nestled among the other flavors. 

Reese reached out to grab the ice cream, then went to the cashier to pay, when suddenly, the cashier behind the counter froze in place, her gaze fixed on Reese's piercing purple eyes. She stood there motionless, as if hypnotized by their intense hue.

Reese raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the cashier's strange behavior. "Is everything alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

The cashier blinked rapidly, snapping out of her trance as her coworker nudged her and whispered something. Flustered, she straightened up and cleared her throat, avoiding Reese's gaze. "Ye..yes, everything's fine," she mumbled, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Tim and Emily exchanged amused glances, giggling at the cashier's reaction. Reese chuckled softly, trying to ease the tension. "It looks like my eyes are quite the sight," he remarked with a wink, earning a sheepish smile from the embarrassed cashier. 

With the ice cream in hand, Reese bid the flustered cashier a friendly farewell before leading Tim and Emily out of the store.