Apocalyse: Marked by Chaos
Chapter 77 - 76 The Weight of Blame

Chapter 77: Chapter 76 The Weight of Blame

He reached out and patted the monster’s head.

"Good boy," he muttered softly.

Then, without another glance, he turned and walked away.

"Verax, let’s go. The perpetrator is long gone," a smirk curved on his lips.

"But I have to clean the mess and harvest any remaining organ," Verax’s eyes darted around the room. He didn’t believe that the perpetrator was gone. But who was he to argue with Stefan?

"Let’s go, this place stinks. We should first report the incident to the leader," Stefan glared at him, daring him to refuse his request.

Verax swallowed, his hand clenching by his side. Of course, he wouldn’t dare to refuse. With hesitant steps, he dragged himself after Stefan’s step. His eyes glanced back at the mess and the table. ’Stefan didn’t check behind it. What about if they were hiding behind it?’ he thought inwardly.

"Just a moment, I forgot something," Verax said, his voice sharp and quick.

Before Stefan could say anything, he was already standing in front of the table.

Stefan turned around, a look of irritation flickered across his face. He didn’t bother to stop him, rather he leisurely walked back toward him.

"What are you looking for?"

As Verax noticed him coming closer, he quickly ran to the other side of the table. A gasp escaped from Verax’s lips, his eyes widened.

Stefan’s step came to a halt.

"Did you find it?" he asked, his voice laced with something that made Verax shudder from fear.

Verax nervously scratched the back of his head, laughing nervously. "Oh, silly me, I forgot I left it at home."

But Stefan’s gaze turned cold like a glacier ready to freeze everything. "You don’t trust me."

"No... no... I do, I wouldn’t doubt you... never," Verax quickly said, his palms turning sweaty.

Stefan gave him a cold stare before turning around toward the door. Verax quickly ran behind him, following his steps.

He couldn’t believe that he had almost gotten on Stefan Danmonwalk’s bad side. His life was only one step away from miserable.

Before they walked out of the laboratory, Stefan briefly glanced at the morgue door, a knowing smirk formed on his lips before walking out.

Meanwhile, Olivia and the stranger hid behind the morgue room. Their breath fogged in the icy air as they crouched in the dark, the faint hum of cooling units pulsing like a heartbeat beneath the walls. When Verax had neared their hiding spot, the stranger had dragged Olivia inside, sealing them in the scent of antiseptic and death.

"Are they gone?" Olivia asked, adrenaline rushing through her veins.

He gently opened the door, his eyes darting about the room, but he couldn’t find anyone, not even the prowling monster.

"It’s clear."

They hesitantly walked out, Olivia’s head peeked out first before her body followed.

"You haven’t told me your name yet?" Olivia hesitantly asked as they walked back to Abigail’s room.

The stranger scoffed, "You don’t deserve to know it."

Olivia bit back her tongue. She wanted to argue with him, but she can’t do that now—they still haven’t found the gland yet.

"Then I will call you Mr. Grumpy."

The stranger shot her daggers. "Try it, and you’ll regret it." His voice was low, but sharp enough to slice through steel.

Olivia swallowed. "Okay, fine."

Olivia stared at the sky as they walked silently. It was already dawn. ’Lucian,’ her heart cried out. She didn’t know what to do now. The system had made the gland unnoticeable, even Verax could not detect it, so who could have taken it out? Or was it thrown out?

Olivia’s thoughts vanished when she arrived at Abigail’s door. Her heart hammered in her chest; she had returned empty-handed. She shakily reached for the doorknob.

When they entered, the stranger quickly ran to Lucian’s side. His cold, stern eyes softened. Lucian’s upper body was left bare as he was laid on his stomach. The wound was bandaged, but it was still gushing with blood, which was already changing to black. His eyes hardened with hatred and malice as he glanced over his body. Then his gaze shifted to Olivia, the cause of the problem.

Abigail ran towards Olivia, who looked dispirited.

"Did you find it?" she asked, her hand tugging at Olivia’s cloak.

Olivia weakly shook her head, the words caught in her throat. Her stomach twisted into knots at the sight of Lucian, his once strong body was now fragile, even his breath was so faint, almost unnoticeable. Why does she always attract trouble? Now she has dragged him into this. Each step toward him felt like walking through quicksand.

She wanted to brush the hair from his face but was suddenly pushed by the stranger. The cold floor welcomed her as pain shot through her hips up to her brain.

"You caused all of this," his eyes turned red as he angrily accused her.

Olivia froze on the floor, completely speechless. She didn’t have anything to say. He was right. It was all her fault. A trail of tears streamed down her cheeks.

"This is not the time to argue now," Abigail stood in between them. "He is in a critical stage now. I don’t even know how he was able to survive this long. A normal human would have already died, but his body is trying to combat the poison. So we ought to find a way to help him." She glanced at both of them.

"We couldn’t find the gland. We have cut open all the shadowbeast, but we could not find the gland... If I had known, I would have taken him out of the city," the stranger gritted his teeth. His eyes closed with regret.

When he opened them again, they shone with conviction. He bent to carry Lucian...

"Stop!" Abigail’s voice echoed through the room. She quickly ran towards him, removing his hand. "Are you trying to kill my patient?" she glared at him.

The stranger returned her glare, his throat bobbed up and down. He was restraining the urge to snap both of their necks.

Olivia rose slowly to her feet, her limbs shaking, not from fear, but resolve. " Enough. He’s dying because of me... and I won’t stand here doing nothing." Her voice was hoarse, but each word carried a blade.

Abigail sighed. "The only option we have now is a crazy and dangerous one."

Olivia stared at her, waiting for her to continue. She would do anything to save him. He was the first person to fight for her—to fight with her. So she would do the same.

"We have to activate his essence," Abigail said grimly.

" You are insane. That’ll kill him in a matter of seconds," the stranger interjected.

Abigail didn’t blink. " Or save him in one."