PASSAGE 21: UNTOUCHED FURY

Alaric's vision swam, the world a blurry mess of smoke and shattered metal. He lay sprawled on the floor, the after-effects of the explosion making him feel like his head was stuffed with cotton. Through the haze, he saw the Vermin Claws, their menacing black and brown forms a stark contrast to the devastation around them. He'd heard whispers about these rogue Hunters, tales of their cruelty and ruthlessness. Here, in the ravaged visitor's lounge, those whispers morphed into horrifying reality.

Locust, the Vermin Claw commander, reveled in the atmosphere of fear. He cackled, a sound that scraped against Alaric's raw nerves. "Wondering why we barged in like a pack of rabid beasts?" He mimicked a high-pitched, frightened voice. "Ooooh, the scary Vermin Claws are here! What do they want?"

Locust's booming laughter filled the room, a cruel counterpoint to the whimpers of the remaining guards. He swept his gun across the room, a glint of sadistic pleasure in his eyes. "Doesn't matter what you maggots think! Just keep those yap traps shut unless you have a death wish!"

A wave of terrified gasps and whimpers rippled through the room. Alaric pushed himself up, his body protesting in a dull ache. He spotted Selena huddled in a corner, her face pale and eyes wide with terror. But something about her reaction felt… off. It was fear, certainly, but there was an underlying layer, a tremor that seemed almost… theatrical. Ignoring the throbbing in his head, he reached out a hand to comfort her.

A sudden ring shattered the tense silence. A Vermin Claw member, his face etched with surprise, fumbled for his pocket and retrieved a ringing phone. He hurried to Locust's side, whispering something urgent into his ear. The commander's demeanor shifted. The playful malice in his eyes vanished, replaced by a steely urgency.

"Well, well," he barked, his voice tight with frustration, "seems the fun's gotta be cut short." He glanced around the room, his gaze lingering on Alaric and a noticeably over-the-top sobbing Selena. "You're all lucky this time. But believe you me, this isn't over."

Locust barked orders, and two Vermin Claws roughly grabbed Selena's arms. Alaric lurched forward, dizziness making his movements slow and clumsy. Fear contorted Selena's face as she screamed and struggled, but her acting seemed a little… forced. Like a bad play on a dusty stage.

"Hey, kid! Back off!" one of the Vermin Claws barked, shoving Alaric aside with surprising ease. "This ain't your concern!"

Selena's screams intensified as they dragged her towards a waiting Vermin Claw vehicle. Alaric, fueled by a surge of anger and a healthy dose of dizziness, ignored the throbbing in his head. With a roar, he lunged at the closest Vermin Claw, landing a solid punch that sent the man sprawling. The other Vermin Claw hesitated, surprised by Alaric's defiance.

The unexpected punch sent a jolt through the room. Even Locust, his amusement momentarily fractured, stared at Alaric with a flicker of surprise. The Vermin Claw Alaric had decked, a hulking brute typically considered a D-Tier Hunter, lay sprawled on the floor, snoring softly.

"Hold on a freaking minute," Locust boomed, a mixture of amusement and annoyance creeping into his voice. "Who are you, kid? Some kind of Hunter? Spill the tier!"

Alaric, catching his breath after the surprise attack, met Locust's gaze head-on. The events of the past few hours, the explosion, the chaos, the adrenaline – it all coalesced into a newfound confidence. He straightened his back, a far cry from the timid Untouched he once was.

"Alaric Cruz," he declared, his voice ringing clear despite the chaos. "And I'm an Untouched."

Locust's eyes widened comically, then narrowed into a menacing slit. A burst of incredulous laughter escaped his lips. "An Untouched? You're yanking my chain, kid! You think I haven't seen my fair share of those scrawny newbies? An Untouched taking down a D-Tier in a single punch? Don't play me for a fool!" He emphasized his point by shoving the gun in Alaric's face.

"You just messed with the wrong guy," Locust growled, his voice dripping with threat. "This is the biggest mistake you'll ever make, kid."

Locust's finger hovered over the trigger, his gaze locked with Alaric's. It was a tense standoff, the weight of life and death hanging in the air. Just then, a new sound pierced the tense silence – the wail of approaching sirens. Police cars, their red and blue lights painting the smoke-filled sky.

The Vermin Claws, their mission apparently changed, scrambled into action. They piled into their vehicles with a frenzy, a stark contrast to their earlier swagger. Locust, the last one standing, locked eyes with Alaric one final time.

"This ain't over, kid," he snarled, his voice laced with a chilling promise. "Don't even think about kicking the bucket before we meet again. Because when we do," he chuckled, a sound devoid of humor, "I'll be the one carving your name on your tombstone."

With that final threat hanging in the air, Locust threw himself into the backseat of the lead car. The Vermin Claws roared to life, peeling away from the Tranquility Keep just as the first police car screeched to a halt in front of the ravaged building. Alaric, adrenaline fading and exhaustion setting in, could only watch them go, a newfound determination hardening his resolve. He might be an Untouched, but he wouldn't let these monsters walk all over him.