Crimson Rebellion

CHAPTER 6 — THE CRIMSON MARK

The rain had stopped.

But the streets of Kurogane City were still wet.

Ren stood behind the window of Crimson Rebellion HQ, staring at the body covered by a black sheet.

Police lights flashed in the distance.

Nobody from Crimson Rebellion had called them.

They didn't need to.

The body wasn't the real message.

The wall was.

Five words had been carved into the concrete.

SEND US THE NEW RECRUIT.

Ren stared at them.

His stomach tightened.

Behind him, footsteps approached.

Raiden.

“Come with me.”

Ren turned.

“Where?”

“The main hall.”

Ren followed.

The entire gang had gathered.

Nobody was talking.

The atmosphere felt different.

Usually, Crimson Rebellion was loud.

Tonight, it felt like everyone was waiting for something.

Raiden walked to the center of the room.

“We've been attacked.”

A member stepped forward.

“By who?”

Raiden looked toward the entrance.

“We don't know.”

Another member scoffed.

“They killed someone inside our territory. You expect us to believe they don't have a name?”

Raiden's eyes hardened.

“I expect you to understand that whoever did this wants us angry.”

The room became quiet.

Ren looked around.

Everyone was tense.

Some members were checking their weapons.

Others were whispering.

The tattooed recruit stood near the back.

His eyes met Ren's.

He looked away.

Raiden continued.

“This isn't about the body.”

He pointed toward Ren.

“It's about him.”

Every eye turned toward Ren.

Again.

Ren stepped forward.

“Why me?”

Raiden didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he reached into his coat.

He pulled out a small black object.

The same symbol Ren had seen before.

The black circle.

Three lines cutting through it.

Raiden held it up.

“This symbol has been appearing across Kurogane City for months.”

Ren stared at it.

“Then why didn't you tell me?”

“Because you didn't need to know.”

Ren's expression hardened.

“I think I do now.”

Raiden looked at him.

“You really want the truth?”

“Yes.”

Raiden walked closer.

“That symbol belongs to a group called the Hollow.”

A murmur spread through the room.

Ren noticed the reaction immediately.

Several members looked nervous.

One of them whispered:

“The Hollow…”

Ren looked at him.

“You've heard of them?”

The member nodded.

“Everyone has.”

Raiden continued.

“They don't control territory.”

“They don't collect money.”

“They don't recruit.”

Ren frowned.

“Then what do they do?”

Raiden's voice dropped.

“They remove people.”

Silence.

“Gang leaders. Informants. Witnesses. Anyone who becomes inconvenient.”

Ren looked at the symbol again.

“Why would they want me?”

Raiden stared at him.

“That is what we're going to find out.”

Suddenly—

BANG!

The lights flickered.

Everyone turned toward the entrance.

Another explosion shook the building.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

Someone shouted.

“They're here!”

Raiden immediately moved.

“Everyone to your positions!”

Crimson members scattered through the building.

Ren stood frozen.

Raiden grabbed his shoulder.

“Stay behind me.”

Ren looked at him.

“I can fight.”

“I know.”

Raiden's eyes became cold.

“That isn't what I'm worried about.”

A loud crash came from the lower floor.

Then another.

Footsteps.

Dozens of them.

Ren's heartbeat accelerated.

The enemy had arrived.

The doors at the end of the hall suddenly exploded inward.

Smoke filled the room.

Dark figures walked through it.

Their faces were covered.

Each of them wore the same black symbol.

The Hollow.

One of them stepped forward.

He looked directly at Ren.

Then he smiled.

“There he is.”

Raiden stepped in front of Ren.

“You came all this way for one kid?”

The masked man tilted his head.

“You still don't understand.”

Raiden's hand tightened.

“Understand what?”

The man pointed toward Ren.

“He isn't the reason we're here.”

Ren's eyes widened.

“Then why?”

The masked man smiled beneath his mask.

“Because he doesn't remember.”

Ren froze.

“What?”

The man took another step forward.

“You really don't remember him?”

Ren's mind raced.

Who was he talking about?

The masked man suddenly pulled down his mask.

Ren's eyes widened.

He knew that face.

Not well.

Not clearly.

But somewhere in his memory...

he had seen him before.

The man's smile disappeared.

“It's been a long time, Ren.”

Raiden looked at Ren.

Ren couldn't speak.

The man's final words echoed through the hall.

“You were never supposed to survive.”

NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:

The Hollow have finally revealed themselves.

But their connection to Ren is something even Raiden didn't expect.

As the masked man prepares to reveal the truth about Ren's past...

Raiden suddenly orders everyone to leave the building.

“Nobody stays.”

Ren looks at him in confusion.

Then Raiden says something that changes everything:

“Because this isn't an attack.”

A shadow appears behind them.

“It's a retrieval.”

END OF CHAPTER 6

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