Shadow Slave

As Sunny studied the bodies, Master Jet went away to talk to the police officers, and then returned with one of them. There was a disappointed expression on her face.

"No usable recordings left. Figures… places like this one only exist because they value the privacy of their clients. And the few cameras they did have show nothing but darkness."

Sunny looked at her, then sighed:

"Not much to tell from the victims, too. The murderer just used their fists."

She shrugged.

"That's how it usually goes, in situations like this. The most likely scenario is that the murderer was one of the clients, who went on a rampage because of either alcohol or stimulants, and a momentary failure to hold on to their sanity. So I doubt that this mess was premeditated."

Master Jet remained silent for a moment, and then added:

"He was lucid enough to use his Aspect to obscure the cameras, though. So dealing with him won't be too simple."

With that, she turned to the police officer and asked:

"Any survivors? Do we have witnesses?"

He hesitated for a bit, then gave her a strange look.

"That… yes, actually, there are a few. But…"

The officer didn't finish the sentence, and just stared at them with an uneasy expression.

Sunny raised an eyebrow.

"But what? Are they refusing to talk?"

The policeman shook his head slowly.

"No, they're not refusing. They just… I don't know, something is wrong with them. They just don't speak, or even react really. I've seen a lot of people in shock, and sometimes, they can seem almost catatonic. But this… this is something else. Gave us all the creeps, to be honest."

Sunny and Master Jet glanced at each other, and then, one of them said:

"Lead the way."

The officer sighed, then escorted them to the back of the club, where an inconspicuous door led to the service rooms. The witnesses were gathered in a small office, standing there motionlessly, with nervous paramedics trying to determine the reason for their condition.

on their faces. They were completely silent, motionless, and still. They

were calm

Sunny paled.

is

to recognize what was wrong with the survivors,

survivors at all. These

more precise,

mundane human be

cold shiver

she had a deep frown on her

was bad enough. But this, this just made the whole situation frightening and eerie. If

"What the hell?"

the five Hollows for a few moments, then turned to the

take a break, guys. Let these people be. They

the paramedics — a mature woman with short blond hair and gentle eyes — looked

but

let out a

you can do to help

the ground and silently walked away.

of standing

few moments,

your question, I don't

a bit,

become a Hollow? It's only supposed to happen to those

glanced at him, then silently shook her head.

is a very small chance of a powerful soul attack creating a Hollow. But beings capable of dealing direct soul

walked closer to the five empty humans and

do something

a bit,

I am really

they were Hollow. There was something else… something that almost made

feeling of subtle, but

reached out with

Jet did not miss that

you

gritted his teeth,