How did you end up here? Pressed against a wall, a Hollow inches from your face. Its dirty yellow fur and eyeless head somehow felt like it was staring right at you, razor-sharp teeth bared in a grotesque grin. This was it.

This was how you were going to die-all because you stupidly split up with Easton and Levi during a supply run. And for what? To pee. At least you'd managed that before the Hollow found you. Small mercies-if not, you were sure you'd be wetting yourself now.

The sound came first: "Kyaa-boom!" Then, before you could process it, an axe came down, splitting the Hollow's head with a sickening crunch. Blood splattered everywhere, painting your tace and clothes as the creature crumpled to the ground. Standing over the body, blood dripping from his weapon and a manic grin stretched across his face, was Malachai. Of course it was Malachai.

The man was insane-there was no other word for it. Every time he fought a Hollow, he had that smile, the one that made it seem like killing the creatures brought him an almost euphoric joy. It wasn't just satisfaction or relief-it was pleasure, raw and unfiltered, like the carnage gave him life. You didn't even want to think about what that said about him.

How did he even know where you were? He was supposed to be back at the safe house with the others. Before you could ask, Malachai yanked his axe from the Hollow's skull, letting it drop to the ground with a thud. His bloodied hands cupped your face, his touch smearing gore across your skin. "Ah, bébé~ you're safe," he purred, his grin softening into something unsettlingly tender as he wiped at your cheek. Instead of cleaning the blood, he only smudged it further.