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- Chimera of Life -
Story One: Mutual Conquest
~*~
“He didn’t call last night,
did he?” Kelly whispered as she observed Hilde’s sad face.
Hilde sighed as she shook
her head. “No… Well… it’s okay. I’m going home today, anyway.”
From behind Kelly, Kevin
coughed. “Trouble at ten o’clock.”
Hilde groaned while Kelly
rolled her eyes. “What does he want from you? You guys already signed the
contract. Geeze!”
“Don’t worry about me… I’ll
handle him.” Hilde whispered as she schooled her face into a smile. “Go on
ahead, you guys. This won’t take a minute.”
Kelly stubbornly shook her
head, but her husband gently pushed her to the waiting room. Hilde saw her
mouth ‘Good Luck’ and wished for the same thing. When she turned, she frowned.
Morley has his bodyguards with him… Why? “Hello, Mr. Morley.”
Lawrence grimaced openly. “I
told you to call me Lawrence, Hilde.”
Her eyes followed the men in
black suit as they encircled her. Danger bells rang in her head and her hand
tightened around her purse. “I don’t want to. Was there something we forgot to
sign this morning?”
“I thought I already made it
clear, this morning while we… conferred, that you will stay here.”
Hilde’s eyes slanted. She
could remember every single, slimy detail. How he tried to kiss her again. How
he tried to push his hands up her thigh. And then how he blatantly ordered her
to stay put like an animal! “I told you that I’m married, that I’m going home,
that I’m not for sale, and that I do not like you! So will you just leave me alone!”
She took a step back but hands instantly gripped her shoulders from behind.
Hilde gasped in surprise and tried to shrug free. “Let me go!”
Lawrence walked towards
Hilde, uncaring of the stares the people around them gave. His hand reached out
and caressed her snow-white skin with that hint of fire on her cheeks. “I have
a flight back to Arche later on tonight and you will come with me.”
“In your dreams.” She’s had
enough! Her hand snaked out before any of his bodyguards could stop her and the
sound of her punch and that stunned look on Morley’s face gave her a momentary
pleasure before her hands were twisted behind her.
Lawrence’s touched his left
cheek while he glared at her. “You will learn not to do that again.”
Hilde bit back a scream when
he grabbed a fistful of her hair.
“I will deal with you
later.”
She opened her mouth to
retort but huge hands clamped itself on her face, and nearly suffocated while
she was slowly dragged back to the elevator.
“Kevin! Dammit! Let go!”
Kelly squirmed under her husband’s embrace. Hilde needed her help! Those damn
men were going to kidnap her!
“Kelly! Hush…! We can’t
anything right now!”
“What are you talking about!
Let go!” They only met a few days ago but they had found deep friendship! She
couldn’t believe her husband would just let her be taken like that!
“Kelly! Stop it! What good
could you do if you were dead?”
Kevin’s urgent whisper
against her ear made her stop. “Wh-what?”
“Those men have guns. They
are trained to kill… We wouldn’t have been able to do anything but land a few
punches on them and die on the spot.”
Her strength slowly seeped
out of her body as she stared at the elevator. Kevin’s hold on her lightened.
“But… she needs help…”
“We’ll call the police… or…
or somebody!”
“Somebody…” Kelly’s eyes
widened as she saw through her haze of anger. “Duo… We need to call Duo first!
He needs to know!”
“Who’s Duo?” Kevin let her
go and she started pulling out things from her purse.
“Hilde’s husband… or sorta
like… Just shut up! Where’s that paper!”
The next thing Kevin knew,
Kelly almost punched him when her hands snapped outward like a winner and then
ran to the telephone booth, leaving her purse and things scattered on the
floor. With a frustrated growl, Kevin picked up her stuff, grabbed their bags,
and then ran after her.
…
‘Okay… so how am I going to
do this?’ Duo turned the ring over and over again while he propped his feet on
top of the table, and slouched his body in his chair.
How should he phrase the
situation to her? “Uh… Hilde… You might find this funny, but… we’re married.
You know, husband and wife. That ‘till death do us part thing… Shit.” Duo
dropped his head on his table while he mentally screamed. Great! If he phrases
his proposal like that, he’s more likely to see her shoe on his face!
The urgent ringing of his
phone jarred him from his musings and with his heart still pounding against his
chest, Duo reached for his private line and turned on his monitor, only to
stare at an unfamiliar, panicked face. “Er… Hello…”
“Hi. May I speak to Duo
Maxwell please? It’s urgent.”
‘That voice sounds…
familiar…’ Duo frowned as he tried to remember- “Kelly!”
“Duo? Are you him?” No
wonder Hilde fell in love with this wide, violet-eyed boy!
Duo’s alarm bells started
going off once again. “Yeah, it’s me. What is it? Did something happen to
Hilde?”
Kelly nodded. “I just saw
her being dragged away by that Morley’s men. I think he’s going to kidnap her!”
Duo’s blood ran cold then it
started to boil. “Over my dead body!”
Kelly nearly flinched at the
sudden anger in Duo’s eyes. She could tell that this was one man you never
should mess with.
Plans started rolling into
his head. He could still think! Even with the million other things that were
going through his mind! Duo checked his watch then glanced back at Kelly. “Don’t
call the police. Don’t do anything- but try to know where she’s being held at.”
“Got it. My husband and I
will wait for you at the lounge.”
“I’ll get there in… three
hours.”
“Three? The usual flight is
five!” How could he get here in three?!
“I’ve got connections.” Damn
him if he’s not gonna get there by fastest route! “See you there.” He’s gonna
beat Morley to a pulp! He’s gonna wish he’s never been born! He’s gonna murder
him! ‘Hilde… hang on…’ Nobody’s gonna kidnap Hilde while he’s around.
Duo walked out of his
office, shouted orders to his secretary then he was gone, a single thought
still raging in his mind. ‘And I mean nobody.’
Kelly wasn’t even able to
say good-bye when the monitor suddenly turned black. Well… he asked her to do
something… She quickly slipped out of the booth, caught her husband’s
attention, and motioned him to the counter.
…
She had screamed until her
throat burned and her voice cracked. Kicked and pushed furniture around and
now, she sat on the upturned sofa. She had broken the clock a little while ago,
so… she couldn’t tell what time it was. All she knew was that, she was suddenly
unusually calm…
‘I have to get out of here…’
Her eyes traveled around the room for any possible way out. ‘And I’m going to
get that contract back…’
Hilde stood up and started
to pace. “You messed with the wrong girl, pal…” She stopped just in front of
the glass door entrance to the balcony… There wasn’t any way out. She’s on the
top floor. The fiftieth… unless she jumps and meet death…
Her eyes widened and a smile
lifted the corner of her lips. ‘That isn’t a bad idea…’ She started picking up
some of the hotel decorations, pushed the table near the door then set down the
things she picked. When everything was ready, she took off one shoe and started
banging it on the door.
“Let me out!!! Let me out or
I’m going to jump!!!”
From the other side of the
door, the two guards only looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
“I mean it!!!” Hilde’s
hoarse voice shouted from inside.
“Sure you do.” One of them
shouted back while the other snickered. A few minutes later, a shattering sound
came from inside the room. The two looked at each other with wide eyes.
“Tak!”
They quickly opened the door
and walked inside then… their vision blackened…
“Serves you right.” Hilde
smirked while she patted her hands on her jeans then grimaced and started to
massage her right hand. “Ohhhh… Darnit! That hurt!” One of the men didn’t fall
unconscious when she slammed him with the plant box so she had to karate chop
him. “Ergh…” She looked down at her
handiwork, flexed her muscles, and then grabbed hold of one of the men to pull
him into the restroom. Good thing that he was just about her size…
…
Duo scanned the lounge to
look for the woman whose features his quick mind retained. He didn’t pack
anything at all… Not a single thing except for a handful of bantam grenades and
gas bombs, three fully loaded automatics and a bunch of thin wires for
precaution. His friend Voltaire, Quatre’s twenty fifth sister’s husband,
interstellar racing champion was- thankfully!- in town and lent him a shuttle-
“Kelly!!!”
The woman who was wringing a
handkerchief on a settee beside a man, suddenly looked up. “Duo!” She nearly
pushed her husband to the floor as she stood up and met Duo halfway in the main
hall.
“Where is she?” Duo demanded
as he forced his hands not to grip Kelly’s shoulders and jog the answers out of
her.
Kelly shook her head just as
her husband reached them. “I don’t know.”
Before Duo could say
anything, Kevin interrupted. “All we got out of those damn clerks is that
Morley has a helicopter waiting on the roof and his room is in 514. He reserved
the whole floor for the convention-”
“But he’s the only one left
up there, and his men.” Kelly added.
Duo’s eyes glinted
dangerously. “That’s enough. I’m gonna slit his throat.” Nobody kidnaps Hilde.
“Duo, do you want us to call
the police?” Kelly grabbed at his sleeve before he could walk away.
“No. If you don’t see me by
midnight,” Duo looked at Kevin. He’s pretty sure this man would know. According
to Hilde, he was a pilot before. Government. “Call a woman named Lady Une of
the Code Black Department. Give her my name and tell her I’m in deep shit.”
The moment the secret code
came out of Duo’s lips, Kevin straightened. He’s been in service long enough to
know what that department does! And if this guy knew the head… “Yes sir!”
Duo nodded then turned.
Kelly frowned as she stared
from her husband to Duo’s retreating back. “Kevin!!! You’re not just going to
let him do everything by himself, are you?!”
“Kelly, do me a favor…” He
kept an eye on Duo until he entered the elevator. He didn’t hear his wife
answer but he knew that she heard. “Just shut up and pray.”
…
‘If the whole floor was only
for him, then everyone I’m gonna see would be his men…’ His hand went to the
nearest gun plastered on his body as if the cold, iron steel would bring
comfort to him when well in fact, what he craved for was his Hilde’s warm
touch.
The elevator door swished
open and the hallway’s fluorescent lights spilled onto the green-carpeted
floor. His hand automatically fished out the gun he touched a while ago and
kept it in check. Une would definitely get mad at him, but to hell with it.
No one was around.
Duo checked the numbers on
the doors as he passed by-
A man suddenly emerged out
of the door just beside him. Their eyes locked. Brown eyes widened while violet
ones slanted.
“Enem-”
A fist flew in the air and
shattered against his jaw, dislocating it and instantly knocking him out. The
unconscious body fell against the door and opened it wide to show six other
men, playing cards. They stared at Duo in surprise while he quickly assessed
the guns on the table and on their bodies. Instinctively, he grabbed a small,
cylindrical object that hung by his belt, at the same time that he kicked the
man on the floor out of the way.
They scrambled out of their
seats. Half grabbed their guns while the other half ran towards him.
Duo threw the object inside
the room then quickly closed the door and held on to the knob. He could feel
someone trying to open it from the inside, but he only propped his knee against
the wall and pulled some more. White clouds of gas slowly leaked from the small
opening between the door and the carpet. The struggle for the knob weakened
then, it stopped moving.
Duo smirked triumphantly.
That was too easy. “Sweet dreams.” Without another thought to the men inside
the room, he went in search of 514 while different methods of torture ran in
his mind. He passed two more doors before he reached it. With years of training
still etched in his actions, Duo plastered his body against the wall then
slowly opened the door, his gun trained for any moving target.
He found none. Duo silently
walked inside to investigate. There was just an open designer luggage full of
neatly folded clothing. His eyebrow shot up. Morley- from what he heard and
read in newspapers and magazines- was not the type who would lift a finger for
chores.
“Eh, Gardo. You got it?” The
heavily accented voice from inside the bathroom made Duo turn just as a man
emerged. He was dressed just like the other seven Duo had knocked out minutes
ago.
The man looked up from
checking the contents in his arms and found a braided man with a look of murder
and a gun aimed for his head. The contents in his arms fell just as his jaw
slackened.
“Move and you die.”
The threat didn’t need to be
voiced. One look into those lethal violet eyes was enough for the message to
come in clear and strong.
Duo calmly walked to the man
while his left hand brought out one of the thin, snap wires around his belt.
“Where’s Hilde?” Duo reached the man. His quick eyes located the guns hidden
under his body then he hastily took them away, throwing it to the farthest
wall.
The man didn’t answer.
Duo walked behind him,
grabbed one of the man’s hands with his left while he clicked the safety off
his gun and pressed the barrel against the man’s neck. “Better talk fast. I’m
getting impatient.” He could see a trail of sweat slowly make its way down his
face and knew he was nervous. The telltale pulse at the base of his neck,
beating as if he just ran, was also a good sign.
“Alright. If you don’t want
to talk, then I don’t have any use for you.” Duo turned the man around and
slammed him against the wall while his knee instantly pressed against the hand
he just twisted a little while ago. Gun still held in check, he reached for the
other hand and twisted it the same way he did the other then he grabbed the
snap on wire held by his teeth, and in one fluid motion, used it to tightly
wrap the man’s hands.
“Das vidania, old man.” Cold
steel met trembling human skin and Duo slowly pulled at the trigger while his
own heart pounded against his chest.
“No! I’ll talk!”
He swallowed a sigh of
relief. He doesn’t have to kill him then… He doesn’t want to kill anymore.
Actually, he was just planning to leave the man unconscious and not pull the
trigger. It’s been too long since he last took a person’s life, and he wanted
to live without any more blood to scar his soul. “Good.” Good for the both of
us.
“De time. What?”
Duo checked his watch. “Six
thirty.”
“D-de girl. She going to be
transferred to the conference room. Then they leave in the helicopter.”
Duo gripped the handle of
his gun harder. “Lead me to the conference room.”
The man nodded, though for
the life of him, how he was able to do that while his head was pressed against
the wall was a surprise to him. “Yes. Yes.”
…
Hilde entered the room that
was converted into an office. The machines that decorated the whole place were
gone except for the telephone, a black rectangular box and-
“Morley’s briefcase.” Hilde
grinned triumphantly. How stupid of the man to leave his suitcase open like
that. Now, it’s time for her to find
that contract and destroy it. She grabbed the papers inside, pushed the chair
away then laid them onto the floor.
…
“Who’s there?” The man in front of a large table full of
mechanisms with a headset didn’t turn around. The thought that no one was
allowed on this floor except for their boss’s men, secure in his mind.
Duo tightened the string around
the man’s hands when he didn’t answer, nearly making him cry.
“H-hullo. Just Abner.”
The moment those words left
his lips, Duo delivered Abner a blow that rendered him unconscious. He opened
the door, gun ready to be fired, and peeked inside.
The man in front of the
control panel was too occupied with his work to notice the intruder. “I’m
nearly finished with these tapes.”
Duo walked behind him.
“Well… that’s good.”
The unfamiliar voice made
the man turn but Duo was quicker as he landed another one of his signature
knuckle punch on the man’s face and then pushed the man’s head against the
control panel for a satisfying thud.
Unconsciously, Duo noticed a
small red button turn from red to green and absently wondered what it meant
when a voice called from the other side of the room.
“Jules! We are off schedule!
Tell Gar and Kralen to bring Hilde to me, now!”
Duo looked up from the green
button and glared at the direction of the voice. From behind the glass wall,
Duo saw a man who had his back to him. The mere attitude in his tone of voice,
and the way he was ordering to have Hilde be bought to him…
“Lawrence Morley…” The
hissed words were like that of a snake, ready to strike. Anger burned in him
and nearly made him forget his personal goal to not kill another human being.
Like a panther about to strike, Duo silently walked out of the built-in glass
room and into the large hall while his finger itched to pull the trigger.
Lawrence faced the fireplace
with one sword in hand, twirled it around and then he did a couple of steps,
unaware of the gun trained for his head.
Duo felt his irritation
heighten as no attention was paid to him. He was holding a damn gun and this
guy was doing some three step whatnot! He wants to finish this. Now. “Morley!”
At the unfamiliar,
commanding voice, Lawrence slowly turned around. He didn’t flinch at the sight
of the gun, so used to it. Instead, annoyance showed on his face as he took in
Duo’s appearance. “Who the hell are you?”
Duo brushed the question
aside. “I want Hilde. Where is she?” His low voice shook with barely controlled
anger that nearly broke as he saw a proud smirk on Lawrence’s face.
“And you think that I’m just
going to hand her over to you?” Lawrence leaned against the brick fireplace and
met Duo’s glare with an indifferent one.
“You better, or else.” Damn!
This guy wasn’t afraid of a gun pointed at him?
“Or else what?” Lawrence
looked down at the sword in his hand, and caressed it. He finished evaluating
the braided man. “You are going to pull that trigger? You don’t strike me as a
murderer. Even if you are one, why didn’t I hear any gunshots from your gun? It
doesn’t have a silencer. That could only mean that you haven’t used your gun…
that you do not wish to kill… Isn’t that so?” He looked up and met the braided
man’s stony glare.
“You don’t know anything
about me.” Duo muttered under his breath, a bit surprised at how close this guy
had come to knowing…!
“Except that you want
Hilde.” His hand went up to brush his hair. “She is quite a woman.”
“Shut up.” He does not want
to hear her name mentioned by this man.
“I want her, too.”
“Shut up.”
Lawrence grinned. An angry
man makes hasty decisions. “Fight me for her.”
“I’ve got the gun.” One
pull, that’s all it’s gonna take.
“Do you think she will
appreciate that? A single motion and it’s over, sure… But you also have your
honor… and I need to practice.”
With lightning speed,
Lawrence brought his sword up and unhooked the other one above the fireplace to
send it flying towards Duo. Without taking his eyes off Lawrence, Duo caught it
in mid-air.
“A duel.” Lawrence brought
his sword in front of him, the thin, sharp steel in direct line to the center
of his body.
Duo gripped the sword in his
left hand, and then… he brought his gun down and pushed it back into its
holster. “You’re still gonna be sorry.” With the sword parallel to the ground,
Duo pulled it out of its sheath.
Lawrence nodded his
approval. “We’ll see.”
The two met in the middle of
the large room, swords outstretched… touched-
Duo saw the calculating look
in Morley’s eyes.
“No rules.” Lawrence
whispered dangerously.
Before he knew what
happened, blood dripped from the tip of Morley’s sword. Pain rushed up Duo’s
left arm and he looked down to find a deep cut. Duo’s glare could sever a man
in half as he looked back at Morley. Then… a dangerous smirk appeared on his
face. “All right… No rules.”
…
“My God! He’s got all
financial records and historical data!” The gasp escaped Hilde as she poured
her attention over the papers on the floor. Every strategically made decision
of a company, synopsis from all news articles… everything! “Well… one thing’s
for certain… he does his homework.”
She pushed the sleeves of
the black suit that she had taken from one of the guys up her elbows once again
as she forced herself to look for that contract.
…
“Shuttle flight 076 of New
Genesis, now boarding.”
The announcement was clear
above the noisy airport. A pair of aquamarine eyes peeked from behind blonde
locks of bangs as he observed the noisy street, waiting for his ride.
“It’s here.” A gruff voice
from behind stated as a black limousine came to view.
“Yes. Of course.” The soft
voice answered with a nod. He couldn’t wait to drop into a bed and sleep, but
of course, that wouldn’t happen today. Another packed schedule. With a sigh, he
looked at the projected blue skies but his attention was diverted by a wide
monitor, on top of a tall hotel- more to the point, what was being shown on the
monitor!
“Rashid! Please tell me that
I’m hallucinating.” Quatre motioned toward the screen. “Tell me that I am
seeing an action movie with actors that looks exactly like Duo and Lawrence
Morley.”
From behind Quatre, Rashid
could only stare. There’s no doubt that everyone on this plane of the colony
could see that huge screen… “Master Quatre, this I will tell you… That’s
supposed to be our hotel.”
The limousine pulled up
beside them and Rashid motioned the attendees to load the bag. Quatre continued
to stare at the screen… That swinging braid… How could he doubt it anybody else
but his friend?! “Duo… what the hell are you trying to do?!” If Lawrence
Morley’s brother gets a hold of this… Quatre quickly entered the limousine and
pulled down the screen between his compartment and the driver.
“Serad?”
Rashid closed the door
behind him and Quatre motioned for him to be quiet.
“Yes,
Master Quatre?”
“When we reach our
destination, I want you and Rashid to check for anyone who’s taping the event
on the screen. I don’t care if it’s for the news. Use the Preventer’s name.
Destroy all tapes. Understood?”
Rashid and Serad nodded.
“What will you be doing,
Master Quatre?” Rashid asked as he passed a glass of water to the blonde.
Quatre looked outside and
grimaced at the mob that started to form outside the hotel. “I’m going to see
what this is all about. Park at the back.”
He looked up and saw the image more clearly. The two were fighting with
swords! Knowing Duo… he could hold his end of the sword, but fencing wasn’t
really his forte.
Just as that thought left
his mind, he saw Lawrence give Duo another cut on his right arm. He flinched.
If he could only get there in time…
“Park this car, now. I’m
getting out now.”
Rashid nodded just as Serad
stopped the car. Quatre opened the door-
“I am obviously more
superior. Why don’t you just give up and save yourself the pain?”
Quatre felt his anger rise
at that statement.
“Heh! That’s what you think,
you asshole.”
The people around Quatre
pushed him around, and cheered Duo on. He didn’t mind. He just wants to get
into that hotel! He reached the entrance to the hotel and found a dozen
policemen trying to stop the crowd from going inside. Without thinking, Quatre
fished out his ID…
…
“Where is it?! Dammit!”
Hilde pushed the papers aside in frustration, stopping the urge to crumple and
tear them apart. She stood up and decided to check the briefcase again.
She didn’t find anything.
Nearing the end of her control, Hilde punched the inside of the suitcase then
her eyes widened in surprise.
There was a dent.
She leaned down and checked
the width outside the case then inside… Her anger slowly faded.
“Smart…” A secret
compartment. Her hands impatiently took off the camouflage bottom and she
smiled… the contract.
“Finally.” Her knees nearly
buckled under her weight and stress. God! She found it! Her pounding heart
started to slow down and she accidentally glanced at the small, rectangular
box…
Hilde’s eyes widened.
“Duo…!?” Fighting Morley?! “He’s here?” Her jaw slackened as she tried to
understand what was happening. At that moment, she saw Morley’s sword make a
cut on Duo’s arm.
“HEY! You-” A stream of
curses flowed from her and anger towards Morley erupted in her once again and
when she saw him fall to the floor because Duo kicked his legs from under him,
she cheered. “I’m coming Duo.” With one last look at the small screen, she
started for the door.
…
Lawrence quickly shook his
head while he tried to get his bearings back. He opened his eyes and found Duo,
ready to strike him from above. With wide eyes, he pushed himself to his side
and rolled away from danger. Then, with as much grace as he could muster, he
stood up. He hadn’t expected this uncouth man to hold out this long…
“No rules, remember?” Duo
grunted as he reached Morley with an aggressive frontal attack.
Morley instinctively pushed
his sword up and stopped Duo just in time. Their swords gave its metallic
groan.
Duo grinned. “X marks the
spot.” He’s got him right where he wants him.
“Huh?” It was the only thing
Lawrence could say before he saw Duo’s incoming fist then… darkness encompassed his vision.
Duo watched as Lawrence fell
backwards, cross-eyed and with blood gushing from his nose. The rewarding thud,
as Morley’s body hit the carpeted floor, made him smirk. “Next time, don’t mess
around with me, or my girl.”
At that moment, the door
behind him opened.
“Duo!”
Hilde’s angelic voice rushed
over him like warm water on a frozen body. Relief clashed with pleasure as he
turned around and met her anxious eyes. “Hilde…” God he missed her!
For a moment, she broke
their connection as she looked down at Morley’s unconscious body. Duo tensed.
He really didn’t know how Hilde felt about that man… Actually… now that he
thinks about it… Hilde had seemed annoyed but was it not that when women were
annoyed, it usually also meant that they were covering who had caught their
heart… right?
He watched her face for any
hint… when her beautiful midnight blue eyes looked up and met his inquiring
ones, a seemingly decade passed before they softened and a wide smile lighted
her face.
That was all he needed as he
relaxed. He didn’t know who took the first step forward, but they suddenly met
in the middle, and then they were in each other’s arms. They couldn’t let go.
He took pleasure as he held her in his arms just as she took delight to hold
him in hers.
Their faces moved. His jaw
scraped against her cheek. Sweat was wiped against her hair. Lips touched and
locked. Tongues clashed, enticed and tasted. And then reality seeped through
incredible feelings and Hilde pulled away.
Her even upper teeth bit
into her lower lip as she stared at Duo’s neck and slowly placed weight back
onto tiptoed feet. “I… uh… I’m… I’m sorry…” She wasn’t but… God! This was Duo
and what could he be thinking-
Duo groaned. He’s gonna
regret this later, but right now- “I’m not.” He leaned down and caught her lips
once again to tease and relish until she opened up for him like a flower to a
bird.
Too lost in their own
delightful world, they never saw the shadow that moved sluggishly inside the
glass room… never heard the deathly
click of a gun-
Then a sound akin to thunder
erupted inside the room…