Crimson Rebellion

CHAPTER 9 — THE TRUTH BENEATH THE ASHES

The station fell silent.

Ren stared at the masked man.

His words echoed inside his head.

“Raiden did.”

Ren slowly turned toward Raiden.

“Is that true?”

Raiden didn't answer.

Ren's expression tightened.

“You said my father was responsible.”

Raiden remained silent.

Ren stepped closer.

“That isn't what I asked.”

Raiden finally looked at him.

“Ren…”

Ren's voice rose.

“DID YOU START THE MASSACRE?”

His voice echoed through the station.

The tattooed recruit looked between them.

Even the Hollow members remained silent.

Raiden finally answered.

“No.”

Ren froze.

“No?”

Raiden shook his head.

“I didn't start it.”

Ren clenched his fists.

“Then why did he say you did?”

Raiden looked toward the masked man.

“Because that's what he wants you to believe.”

The masked man laughed.

“You're still lying, Raiden.”

Raiden's eyes narrowed.

“You haven't changed.”

The masked man tilted his head.

“Neither have you.”

He removed his jacket, revealing the black Hollow symbol across his shirt.

“The truth is simple.”

He pointed toward Ren.

“Your father discovered what the Hollow really were.”

Ren stared at him.

“What did he discover?”

The masked man smiled.

“He discovered that the Hollow weren't protecting Kurogane City.”

“They were controlling it.”

Raiden interrupted.

“And your father tried to destroy them from the inside.”

The masked man nodded.

“He did.”

Ren looked between them.

“Then what happened?”

The masked man's expression became colder.

“He failed.”

Raiden stepped forward.

“Because someone betrayed him.”

Ren's eyes widened.

“Who?”

The masked man smiled.

“That is the question you should ask Raiden.”

Raiden's expression hardened.

“Enough.”

The masked man raised his hand.

“Get him.”

The Hollow members immediately attacked.

The station exploded into chaos.

The tattooed recruit charged at the nearest attacker.

He slammed the man against a concrete pillar.

Another Hollow member rushed him from behind.

The recruit turned just in time and blocked the attack.

Ren ducked as a fist flew past his head.

He grabbed the attacker's arm and twisted it.

The man cried out.

Ren threw him to the ground.

Ren stepped backward, breathing heavily.

He looked at his hands.

He wasn't shaking anymore.

He wanted answers.

And he wasn't going to let anyone stop him.

Another Hollow member charged.

Ren raised his fists.

The attacker swung.

Ren blocked.

The impact pushed him backward.

Ren immediately countered with a punch to the man's stomach.

The attacker doubled over.

Ren grabbed his jacket and threw him onto the tracks.

The tattooed recruit glanced toward Ren.

“Not bad.”

Ren looked at him.

“Focus.”

The recruit grinned.

“Finally learning.”

Across the platform, Raiden fought the masked man.

The two exchanged blows with frightening speed.

The masked man suddenly pulled a knife.

Raiden moved aside.

The blade sliced through his jacket.

Blood appeared across his side.

Ren's eyes widened.

“Raiden!”

Ren started toward him.

Raiden immediately shouted:

“Stay back!”

The masked man smiled.

“Still protecting him.”

Raiden wiped the blood from his side.

“You're obsessed with the past.”

The masked man tightened his grip on the knife.

“And you're terrified of it.”

He attacked again.

Raiden blocked the knife with his forearm.

Then drove his knee into the man's stomach.

The masked man stumbled backward.

Raiden grabbed his collar.

“Tell him the truth.”

The masked man laughed.

“You first.”

Raiden froze.

The masked man leaned closer.

“You've never told him what happened after the fire.”

Ren heard him.

“What happened after the fire?”

Raiden looked toward Ren.

He didn't answer.

Ren stepped forward.

“Raiden, what happened?”

The masked man smiled.

“Ask him who carried you out.”

Ren stared at Raiden.

“You did.”

Raiden nodded.

“Yes.”

Ren's voice became quieter.

“Why?”

Raiden looked away.

“Because your father asked me to.”

Ren froze.

“My father knew you?”

Raiden looked back at him.

“We knew each other.”

The masked man interrupted.

“More than that.”

Raiden glared at him.

The masked man continued.

“They were brothers.”

Ren stared at Raiden.

“Brothers?”

Raiden shook his head.

“Not by blood.”

He looked toward the tracks.

“We fought together.”

Ren's expression changed.

“You were in the Hollow?”

Raiden immediately answered.

“No.”

His voice was firm.

“I was against them.”

The masked man laughed.

“You were against us until your own brother disappeared.”

Raiden's fists tightened.

“He wasn't my brother.”

The masked man's smile disappeared.

“He trusted you.”

Raiden said nothing.

The masked man stepped closer.

“And you betrayed him.”

Ren looked at Raiden.

“What did you do?”

Raiden's expression hardened.

“I made a choice.”

Ren's voice trembled.

“What choice?”

Raiden looked directly at Ren.

“A choice that saved your life.”

Ren stared at him.

“And killed my father?”

Silence.

Raiden didn't answer.

Ren stepped backward.

The memories began returning.

Fire.

Screaming.

His father's hand.

Raiden carrying him.

Then another image appeared.

A man standing in the flames.

A crimson jacket.

Ren's eyes widened.

“You…”

Raiden looked at him.

“You were there.”

Raiden slowly nodded.

“Yes.”

Ren's voice shook.

“You watched him die.”

Raiden closed his eyes.

“Yes.”

Ren clenched his fists.

“Why didn't you save him?”

Raiden opened his eyes.

“Because he told me not to.”

Ren froze.

Before he could ask another question—

BANG!

A gunshot echoed through the station.

Everyone stopped.

The masked man's shoulder jerked backward.

Blood spread across his shirt.

The Hollow members turned toward the entrance.

A stranger stood in the darkness.

He wore a long black coat.

A crimson mask covered his face.

Raiden's expression changed completely.

For the first time, Ren saw genuine shock in his eyes.

Raiden whispered:

“No…”

The tattooed recruit looked at the stranger.

“Who the hell is that?”

Raiden didn't answer.

The stranger slowly stepped into the light.

Raiden finally spoke.

“Someone who should have died five years ago.”

The stranger raised his weapon.

His eyes locked onto Ren.

Then he spoke.

“Hello, Ren.”

Ren stared at him.

He didn't recognize the voice.

But somehow...

it felt familiar.

The stranger reached up.

His fingers touched the edge of his crimson mask.

Then slowly—

he began to remove it.

NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:

A man from Ren's forgotten past has returned.

But why does Raiden believe he died five years ago?

As the stranger removes his crimson mask, Ren sees a face from the night of the massacre.

Then the stranger says four words that shake Ren to his core:

“Your father is alive.”

END OF CHAPTER 9

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