Chapter 48: Clown in a Bottle
The green energy vortex hummed ominously, mercilessly devouring Art's twisted body.
His limbs stretched like taffy, his painted grin became a ridiculous smear, shrinking smaller and smaller at the spiral's center, eventually sucked entirely into the small opening of the glass Coke bottle.
"WHOOOM—"
When the last trace of black and white vanished into the bottle, the green energy vortex disappeared abruptly, as if it had never existed. The entire warehouse instantly returned to its original dead silence, leaving only the heavy, ragged gasps of the two girls at the doorway.
Edward didn't hesitate; he knew sealing was only the first step.
Telekinesis activated, and a palm-sized piece of metal tore from the dented corrugated wall of a nearby container, hovering in midair.
Under his will, the metal rapidly twisted and folded, forming a perfectly tight bottle cap. With a sharp 'click,' it sealed the Coke bottle's opening.
This wasn't enough.
To ensure absolute security, Edward extended his index finger, a faint Purification light glowing at its tip. Using the cap as canvas and air as medium, he swiftly traced a complex sigil glowing with golden light.
As soon as the sigil formed, it automatically imprinted onto the metal cap, then flashed and vanished from sight.
After finishing all this, Edward bent down and picked up the glass bottle.
The bottle felt ice-cold in his hand, as if it didn't contain a clown but a chunk of dry ice.
He shook the bottle and saw a palm-sized, chibi-style Art the Clown inside.
This miniature version retained all his details, but his characteristic grin was gone, replaced by silent rage.
He frantically pounded the transparent glass wall with his disproportionately tiny fists, but each impact was like hitting rubber, soundless and unable to budge the bottle in the slightest.
He seemed to realize physical attacks were futile. His body suddenly went poof and transformed into a swirling cloud of black and white vapor, frantically circling and colliding within the bottle's small confines, trying to find any tiny gap. However, when the vapor hit the bottle cap, an invisible layer of golden runes instantly flared, forcefully repelling the black and white mist.
The vapor re-coalesced into the mini-clown's form. He collapsed to the bottle's bottom, looking up in confusion at the power on the cap that filled him with extreme revulsion and dread.
Then he looked up again, through the glass, and stared fixedly at Edward with his hollow eyes.
Edward held the bottle up to eye level, meeting mini-Art's gaze, a sardonic smile on his lips.
"Think about what you've done, little guy."
He flicked the bottle with his finger, producing a sharp 'tink.'
Mini-Art inside staggered from the impact, his face showing an almost human-like expression of fury.
After confirming the seal was secure, Edward's thoughts stirred, and the glass bottle in his hand vanished into thin air, stored in his system inventory.
Having dealt with the biggest problem, Edward finally turned around and looked toward the warehouse entrance.
Tara and Dawn, having survived their ordeal, were now looking at him like he was some kind of angel.
Their bodies still trembled uncontrollably from fear, but their eyes were filled with inexpressible gratitude and awe.
Seeing Edward approaching, Tara struggled to her feet, pulling Dawn, and stumbled toward Edward, so emotional she was barely coherent.
"Thank you! Seriously, thank you for saving us! I... we don't know how to repay you!" Tara's voice was thick with tears. She'd never experienced anything so terrifying in her life, and she'd never imagined being rescued in such an impossible way.
Dawn also clutched Tara's arm tightly, nodding frantically at Edward, tears streaming down her face.
She'd been seconds from death just moments ago; the despair of hanging upside down, watching that bone saw slowly approach, would haunt her nightmares forever.
Edward looked at them, waved dismissively, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather: "Don't mention it. I told you, I was just curious about this clown."
His gaze inadvertently swept over Dawn.
Since her clothes had been removed when she was strung up, she was now huddled behind Tara, barely covering herself, looking particularly vulnerable and disheveled in the dim warehouse light.
Edward turned to Tara and said flatly, "Also, you might want to get your friend some clothes. Public indecency's still technically illegal."
"Huh?" Tara froze for a moment, then her face flushed as she finally noticed her friend's situation.
She quickly stripped off her own jacket and draped it over Dawn, then awkwardly thanked Edward again.
Edward shrugged indifferently. He'd saved them partly out of convenience, and partly because Art's unique nature intrigued him.
He wasn't some Boy Scout, and he wasn't interested in comforting these two traumatized girls.
"The cops will be here soon. You can explain everything to them." Edward finished speaking, then ignored them and walked straight out of the warehouse.
"Wait!" Tara called out desperately, "We don't even know your name!"
Edward's steps didn't falter. He just waved without looking back, and a faint voice drifted over.
"Nobody important."
Stepping out of the blood-stench warehouse, the night air outside was exceptionally crisp.
In the silence, Edward snapped his fingers.
"VWOOM—"
Accompanied by a subtle spatial distortion, a menacing, all-black, futuristic Fenrir motorcycle materialized out of thin air in the open space before him.
Its sleek, aggressive lines and the cold metallic gleam radiating from its frame made Tara and Dawn, who'd just followed him out of the warehouse, gape in shock once again.
What the hell was this now? More magic?
Edward swung his leg over, settling firmly into the Fenrir's seat. He pulled on his helmet, gripped the handlebars, and twisted them gently.
"VROOOOM—!!"
The engine let out a deep roar, perfectly matching its appearance, like a beast waking, the sound echoing through the empty abandoned industrial area.
Edward didn't spare another glance for the two girls. He shifted gears and released the clutch.
The Fenrir shot forward like a bullet, its rear tire leaving a shallow skid mark on the asphalt.
Under the stunned gaze of the two girls, the black lightning streaked through the night, its taillight drawing a brilliant red streak in the darkness, and soon, along with the violent engine roar, vanished into the depths of the night.
After a long moment, Tara finally swallowed hard, looking in the direction Edward had disappeared, and whispered, "Did... did we just meet Batman or something?"
Dawn clutched her jacket tighter, looking at the ravaged warehouse, then at the empty night. Deep terror still lingered in her eyes, but more than that, there was an inexpressible, dreamlike sense of unreality.
[System Notification]
Edward's interface flickered briefly as he rode.
New Item Acquired: Sealed Clown (Art) - [Immortal Entity - Contained]
Warning: Do not open. Ever. Seriously.
Edward smirked beneath his helmet.
"Yeah, no kidding."
The Fenrir roared through the empty streets, carrying him home toward whatever fresh chaos his three "sisters" had undoubtedly created in his absence.
Just another night in his weird-ass life.