The people around froze and then began to scream and claw their way in any direction but that one This wasn’t helpful for the traffic flow but it did give Alana space she tore those shocked goblins to pieces so fast that their faces hadn’t even registered her presence
Frowning Alana considered what to do It didn’t appear that there were all that many enemies that had come in here but they were sending people into a panic and
But her train of thought was interrupted by a strange clicking noise and then a voice a soft voice sounded out throughout the town done through loudspeakers
People of Franksburg Don’t panic We can fight our way through this The voice said and Alana saw the people around her stop and look up at the speakers in wonder If you have the will to fight come to the stadium If we stand as one we will push through this challenge
Even Alana felt the draw of that charismatic voice and knew there could only be one source Raina the Siren of Franksburg
Chapter 82
Raina peaked out around the curtain looking at the swiftly filling concert venue That was a good sign for their ability to survive
Much more chilling were the intermittent pops of gunfire and shouts of anger from around the doors to the stadium Her security detail was manning the doors keeping monsters away but it was difficult as more and more people pressed in desperate for a port in this bloody storm
Her main bodyguard and friend Matilda and her manager and costume designer Cassie stood next to her
What do you plan on doing Matilda asked in a low voice turning and looking at the frantically scrambling men backstage Normally they got their power from the small power plant the government of Franksburg still ran However that had become quite fickle in the last few hours so her production team were scavenging the nearby area for generators
Raina had even brought the one that powered her home when she came
I Don’t really know But And truly Raina didn’t These past few weeks she had become increasingly reliant on the Senator He essentially told her what she would be doing every day It was nice in a way Her life was simple and filled with music
And yet she couldn’t get the voice of that strange stoic man out of her head Should could still picture his face as he told her that he couldn’t tell what was the skill and what was not Sighing inwardly Raina plastered a bright smile on her face and continued to speak But we couldn’t do nothing Once word gets to the military they will send
No they won’t A cold female voice interrupted Raina and she was shocked to find a bloodsoaked woman holding a spear standing near their group Snorting the woman pulled a towel out of nowhere and began to wipe her face The perimeter is full of holes already there is no one they dare spare to come assist you
Then the woman hesitated her face scrunching up Except perhaps me I have come to investigate the state of the city I am Alana
You Matilda tilted her head to the side You are from that other village to the north The people who came down with classes DId you know this would happen when they found a village
Alana grimaced I did warn them they simply didn’t
Enough it’s fine Raina said coolly giving the woman Alana a short glance before turning back to the stage For now let’s focus on surviving My song can help calm people
A scream distracted her and Raina twisted to see that several large toads were hopping in from a side hallway They spat poison around the walls and floor that got covered in it were slowly warping and melting
Alana blurred racing towards the toads and several turned and spat towards the approaching threat Spinning her spear she knocked the strange liquid to the side except for one fat glob It arced slowly through the air and Raina watched it with wide eyes
It was inevitable she thought My body won’t even move
Matilda seemed to realize what was happening right after it was too late Her face flickered between expressions from calm to shock of the frogs appearance to relief as Alana moved finally settling on mounting horror
The acid took her in the face She barely managed to close her mouth and eyes in time
First there was nothing
Then there was pain
Her entire world was on fire focused on her face Every concentrated nerve ending lit up like a candle
Collapsing Raina heard people swearing and rushing around her dumping water on her face But the pain persisted ripping deeper Her mind stuttered and began to slow
Fuck open your mouth
Raina drifted off into darkness her only regret being
Someone punched her in the gut and she reflexively opened her mouth gasping A strange warm liquid was poured down her throat
Mixed by The Ghosthound himself not that you will appreciate it The woman Alana said waspishly
Raina shivered as her once weakening body was once more filled with vitality More water was poured on her face and the pain had dropped a lot as well down to manageable levels even as she felt tears forming in the corners of her eyes
Slightly woozy she managed to stand gripping tightly onto Matilda Slowly at first but then committing Raina opened her eyes
It appeared that Alana had swiftly killed the frogs and no one else other than her had been harmed Which was a blessing but Matilda and Cassie were looking at her like someone had died
Is something wrong Raina asked wincing as she moved her face Her skin still felt tight and raw
Cassie winced Oh it’s it’s nothing Just a little scarring
Alana snorted Girl that acid sorta fucked your face up It’s not something makeup can fix
After fumbling for a second Alana produced a small mirror For several long seconds Raina looked at herself Then she began to laugh
It was a low chuckle at first but then it twisted and grew dark
Plain he said I was She muttered to herself which set off another fit of giggles What she wouldn’t do to be plain right now
Cassie do you still have that embroidered mask that he made Raina asked
Cassie nodded quickly then ran grabbing it and bringing it back
So now Alana said her eyes narrowed
Now we fight Raina said a small smouldering coal of hatred burning in her heart Although that man had hated thinking that a skill had affected him drawing him to her he was very clear on one fact
When she had smiled at him he had liked it And now that was gone Raina wondered whether he would accept her now but set that aside First she needed to survive And she only had one path for that her music
She took the mic offered to her by a trembling crew member his gaze on the ground Ignoring the looks and the not looks by the crew who had seen her disfigurement Raina put the mask on and walked out onto the stage The crowd cheered raggedly and filled with desperation She could see from the stage quite a few couples having sex right there in public driven by their fear and panic
She pitied them
But she pitied them more for what was about to happen
Raina raised the mic and spoke a single word singing it softly crooning it to fill it with as much of her skill as she could
Fight
She did not bother with lyrics or any of her songs or any tune She didn’t wait for the band to come out She just felt the hot rage inside of her and used her persuasive skill to give it a vicious and desperate voice
She sang for every friend or acquaintance that was probably now dead killed by monsters For every hollow eyed fan who now crowded her concerts starving themselves in this city in order to afford the ticket For her dream of being a successful singer finally coming true but everything about it all feeling so wrong
She raised her voice stressing the word now dragging it out adding more musical flair to her imperative
People in the crowd were stilling as she sang a glassy look appearing in some of their eyes They breathed and moved as one slowly aligning with her
She heard them mouth the word but knew it was not enough Stepping forward she moved to the edge of the stage standing right above them her arms raised to the sky