RE:volt! Chapter 27

  Now within the halls of the overseer’s building, Ark took a breath as his eyes augmented with positive mana scanned the surroundings.

  The door connected to the main foyer, a spacious area filled with amenities such as barrels of booze, furniture, and a fireplace for the helpers to relax.

  No one was around, meaning most were sequestered in their rooms.

  Good so far. Ark said to himself, tip-toeing his way across the room laden with furs.

  He had one objective, the Head Overseer's office, the one place he knew that held a collection of books and other resources. Items that would provide him more insight on this world.

  All that stood in his way was a hallway lined with doors leading to bedrooms where his enemies lay.

  Walking through the dark corridor Ark clenched his teeth, his eyes darting left and right as he hugged the nearest wall. It was a short hallway, only a few yards at best, yet as Ark walked through the cramped hallway it felt like the longest trek he'd ever undertaken in his life.

  He stood outside the Overseer's office, pressing his ear on the door and waited.

  One second. Two, three, four….

  Satisfied that no one was inside, Ark reached up and turned the bronze door knob, slowly creeping the door open.

  Ark let out a sigh at the empty office.

  My life would be so much easier if buildings had windows. Ark grimaced as he stepped into the office.

  Immediately Ark made his way to the bookshelves, his eyes moving right and left in rapid succession as he read each book's spine.

  Arachnamorphs: Fact and Myth, Folk Magic and Superstitions of Our Time, Religion and Life, Before the Ages of Man- Ark frowned as he read the names in his head. None of these were useful. He turned away, looking at another shelf until he found a book labeled Rise of Emperor Roland: Formation of the Holy Nation.

  Finally! Ark reached for the book yet as he did so, the sound of the door knob turning snapped his entire focus to the door.

  He dove to the left, embracing the full shadow of the room and the desk as light flooded the office from a lantern.

  Shitshitshit!

  Ark crawled beneath the desk, hiding underneath the cubby for the person's legs. It wasn't the best place, but it was the only area in the office that could contain his body.

  “Fuck…” a voice moaned out.

  Ark recognized it as Knight Bruno. He hadn't seen the man in days yet here he was, his boots visible to Ark as he stumbled about.

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  “Fucking bitch…” Bruno slurred. "Roland above... that bitch..."

  What the hell are you doing in here? Ark narrowed his eyes, tracking the man. From his erratic movements it was clear he was drunk, the man falling to the ground with a loud thud before he pulled himself onto a nearby sofa.

  Damn oaf.

  Ark sat perfectly still, not moving an inch as he counted down from a hundred to steel his nerves.

  Suddenly a snort could be heard followed by snoring, indicating Bruno was out like a light.

  Without missing a beat, Ark climbed out from his hiding spot and grabbed the book, immediately heading to exit when-

  “You.”

  Ark froze, his body involuntarily locking up as his eyes turned to Bruno staring at him.

  “Are you another ghost?” Bruno whispered, his eyes nearly closed with an expression of grief. “HERE TO HAUNT ME!”

  Suddenly the bottle of alcohol in Bruno's hand flew at Ark's head, the latter ducking just in time to avoid the shattering glass.

  “Go! GO! Leave me alone!” Bruno cried. "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!"

  “Well isn't that convenient.”

  Bruno began to cry, the man full on weeping as he started to apologize. He reached out, falling out of the couch and crawling his way to Ark who could only stare at the man. Bruno grabbed Ark’s ankle, looking up at the boy.

  “Please. Please forgive me...I’m sorry, these kids… I can’t… I can’t do it anymore!” Bruno eked out before his head drooped and his face planted itself into the floor.

  Stupid drunk. Ark hissed to himself, shaking his leg free as Bruno continued to sob. Seeing an opportunity, Ark brought his foot up. With the man unaware and sobbing, one strike to the back of the neck and he was sure he could kill him.

  Yet for some reason… he couldn’t. Bruno kept muttering “Sorry” over and over again, the man in a fit of drunken delirium that left a bad taste in Ark’s mouth.

  Plus it would arouse too much suspicion…

  Ark gently placed his foot back on the ground and quickly left with his prize, exiting the way he came but freezing at the entrance of the office as voices could be heard. Ark hugged the wall, his head peeking the corner of the doorframe to eye two familiar faces walking down the hall.

  Manfry and Nine who was now known as Thirteen.

  Thirteen was dressed in a maid’s outfit, the garb of female house slaves, with her blonde hair cleaned and styled in a manner that gave her a certain country girl charm. To anyone else, she could have been some baker’s daughter or a pretty servant.

  Her eyes were downcast, her body being guided down the hall and into a room by Manfry whose face was the epitome of lust.

  The duo entered into a nearby room, closing it and finally allowing Ark to pass.

  With the coast clear, Ark pressed forward, his jaw clenching and unclenching from what he’d just seen. However his feet kept marching forward, one foot after another, his breath quickening and becoming ragged with every step. He was nearly home free, just a few more feet and the open outdoors awaited him.

  He knew what was happening, something that had probably been happening. It was no secret that Manfry and many helpers indulge themselves on the bodies of those who couldn’t resist. That was the everyday life of a slave. They weren’t people, just things, nobodies.

  Ark reached for the door handle, every ounce of willpower fighting the urge to turn around. He couldn’t be caught, not now when he had his prize.

  “AH!” A scream, Thirteen’s.

  Ark turned around.

  “Don’t do it monkey.” Irelix said, materializing in front of Ark, attempting to reason with him. He ignored her, walking straight through the apparition to stand in front of the room Manfry and Thirteen had entered.

  Ark opened the door, entering the room where a crying Thirteen was lying on the bed with her dress disheveled and Manfry climbing atop her with his pants down, ready to commit a heinous act.

  “Huh?” Manfry turned, the sound of the door opening halting his ravishing of Thirteen where instead his jaw dropped in confusion at the slave glaring at him with shining eyes.