Crimson Rebellion

CHAPTER 7 — THE HOLLOW

Nobody moved.

The words hung in the air.

It's a retrieval.

Ren stared at Raiden.

“What does that mean?”

Raiden didn't answer.

He kept his eyes on the masked man.

“Everyone out.”

A Crimson member stepped forward.

“But—”

“NOW.”

Raiden's voice shook the room.

The members immediately moved.

Ren remained where he was.

“I’m not leaving.”

Raiden turned toward him.

“This isn't a discussion.”

“You said they came for me.”

“They did.”

“Then I'm staying.”

Raiden walked toward him.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Raiden grabbed Ren by the shoulder.

“You don't understand what you're dealing with.”

Ren pulled away.

“Then tell me!”

The entire hall went silent.

Raiden stared at him.

The masked man smiled.

“Still the same.”

Ren looked at him.

“What?”

“You always hated being kept in the dark.”

Ren's expression changed.

“You keep saying things like you know me.”

“I do.”

The masked man removed the rest of his mask.

His face was covered in scars.

One ran from his left eyebrow down to his cheek.

Ren stared at him.

Something about him felt familiar.

A memory flashed through his mind.

A dark room.

Smoke.

A man's voice.

Run.

Ren grabbed his head.

“Ah…”

Raiden noticed immediately.

“Ren?”

Another memory.

Flames.

A red symbol painted on a wall.

Someone holding his hand.

Then—

Nothing.

Ren dropped to one knee.

The masked man watched him carefully.

“So you remember.”

Ren looked up.

“What happened to me?”

The man didn't answer.

Raiden stepped between them.

“You're not telling him anything.”

The masked man laughed.

“You still think you can protect him?”

Raiden's eyes narrowed.

“I don't need to protect him from you.”

He raised his fists.

“I need to protect you from him.”

The masked man's smile disappeared.

For the first time, he looked serious.

“You still don't know what he is.”

Raiden didn't respond.

The masked man raised his hand.

Three Hollow members immediately moved forward.

Crimson fighters charged to meet them.

The hall erupted.

Fists collided.

Bodies crashed against walls.

Metal struck concrete.

Ren backed away.

He watched Raiden fight.

Raiden moved through the attackers like a machine.

One.

Two.

Three.

Every movement was precise.

But the Hollow weren't trying to defeat Crimson.

Ren noticed something.

They were moving toward him.

“Raiden!”

Raiden turned.

Two Hollow members were already behind Ren.

Ren ducked as one swung.

The other grabbed him.

Ren drove his elbow backward.

The man released him.

Ren turned.

A blade flashed.

He barely avoided it.

The attacker lunged again.

Ren grabbed his wrist.

The blade stopped inches from his chest.

Ren struggled.

Then—

BANG!

The attacker was thrown across the room.

Raiden stood behind Ren.

“I told you to leave.”

Ren looked at him.

“I can handle myself.”

Raiden stared at him.

“That's exactly what I'm afraid of.”

Suddenly, the building shook.

Everyone stopped.

A massive explosion came from the lower floor.

The floor cracked.

Smoke rose through the hallway.

Raiden looked around.

“They planted explosives.”

The masked man smiled.

“We told you.”

Raiden's expression changed.

“This isn't about Ren.”

The man nodded.

“Now you understand.”

Another explosion.

The ceiling began collapsing.

Raiden grabbed Ren.

“RUN!”

They sprinted toward the exit.

Crimson members followed.

The entire building shook behind them.

Ren looked back.

The masked man was still standing inside the collapsing hall.

He wasn't running.

He simply watched Ren.

Then he shouted:

“Ask Raiden what happened that night!”

Ren froze.

“What night?!”

But the building collapsed between them.

Outside, Crimson members gathered in the rain.

The headquarters was burning.

Ren stood silently.

He looked at Raiden.

“What happened that night?”

Raiden said nothing.

Ren stepped closer.

“You know something.”

Raiden's face remained expressionless.

“Not now.”

“When?”

Raiden looked at the burning building.

“When you're ready to hear it.”

Ren clenched his fists.

“I am ready.”

Raiden finally looked at him.

“No.”

His voice was quiet.

“You aren't.”

Ren's eyes narrowed.

“How would you know?”

Raiden walked past him.

“Because if you remembered…”

He stopped.

“…you'd hate me.”

Ren froze.

Raiden continued walking.

Ren stared after him.

For the first time, the fear inside him wasn't about the Hollow.

It was about Raiden.

And what he might be hiding.

NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:

Crimson Rebellion has lost its headquarters.

The Hollow have disappeared.

And Raiden refuses to tell Ren the truth.

But Ren isn't willing to wait anymore.

That night, he secretly follows Raiden.

What he discovers beneath an abandoned train station will change everything.

“You shouldn't have come here.”

Ren turns around.

The voice belongs to someone he thought was dead.

END OF CHAPTER 7

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