Chapter 329 Hostage Game

Lilith reached the door first. She twisted the handle hard, but it didn’t even budge. Her jaw tightened, and she slammed her shoulder into it, then kicked the lower part with all her weight. Nothing. The sound that came back wasn’t hollow—it was heavy, deep, like steel and reinforced wood mixed together.

She stepped back, breathing harder than she wanted to admit, then kicked it again with even more force. Still nothing.

"It’s too thick," she muttered, frustration in her voice.

Kelly jogged up beside her without a word and joined in. They started kicking together, over and over. The door shook slightly but didn’t give in. Each impact sent a dull, stubborn vibration up their legs instead of breaking it down.

Behind them, Vanessa appeared, dusting her hands casually as if she had just finished something. Her eyes immediately caught on the mess on the floor—a man sprawled unconscious, missing an arm. His stump was clean-cut with no blood pouring out, only frostbite burns sealing it over. Scattered around him were jagged ice shards, some with bits of flesh and frozen blood still stuck to them.

Vanessa paused, raised an eyebrow, and decided she didn’t want to know the full story. She just walked toward them.

"Vanessa, come over quick!" Lilith called, still kicking the door. Her voice was sharp and urgent over the low rumble of noise from inside the building.

Vanessa stepped up, her gaze shifting from Lilith to Kelly. Kelly turned toward her.

"We’ve been trying to kick this thing open, but it’s locked from behind. It’s too thick to break through," Kelly said, catching her breath.

Lilith stopped kicking, facing Vanessa directly. "Do you have any of your little devices that could blow this open?"

Vanessa shook her head instantly. "No. Those aren’t things I can just pull out endlessly."

Lilith’s eyebrow arched slowly. "That still doesn’t answer the question."

Vanessa let out a short sigh. "No, I don’t have any with me. But you can try freezing the whole thing—focus on the metal hinges. Weakening those might be faster."

Lilith nodded once and moved in close to the door. She placed both hands flat against it. Frost spread instantly from her palms, crawling out like living veins. It ran over every corner, every joint, covering the surface in seconds. The sound of ice crackling filled the air as the frost grew thicker and sharper, sealing over the door entirely.

She stayed like that until her arms trembled slightly from the effort. Her breath became visible in the cold mist around her. The ice reached all the way to the hinges, coating them until they were hidden under a dense sheet of white.

Finally, she stepped back, wiping the cold sweat from her brow. "It’s done," she said, voice low but firm.

Vanessa gave her a quick nod. "Alright. We kick together. On three."

Kelly adjusted her stance beside them.

"Three... two... one!"

All three of them slammed their boots into the door at the exact same time. The frozen hinges shattered instantly with a sharp crack, and the entire door tore free from the frame, flying forward and slamming down hard on the other side.

The three girls stood still at the doorway, eyes narrowing at the sight ahead. Just a few meters in front of them hung a thick, heavy black curtain. It stretched from the ceiling to the floor, blocking their view completely. The room beyond was silent, but the air felt heavier, like they had stepped into a trap.

They exchanged glances—each reading the other’s hesitation—and without a word, stepped forward at the same time. Boots scraping softly against the cold floor, they closed the distance.

Lilith was the first to reach out. She gripped the edge of the curtain and slowly pulled it aside. Vanessa and Kelly moved with her, all three revealing what lay beyond.

What they saw made their eyes widen.

Ann was on her knees in the middle of the room. Her wrists were bound tightly behind her back, ropes digging into her skin. A dirty cloth gag muffled any sound she tried to make. Her hair was a mess, and there was a small cut on her cheek. But what drew their eyes wasn’t her state—it was the man standing behind her.

One arm was locked firmly around Ann’s shoulders. The other held a black handgun pressed directly to the side of her head.

Stormzy.

The bastard himself stood there with a cold smirk, looking at them like a predator watching cornered prey.

Lilith’s face turned to ice instantly. Her steps were slow, calculated, as she started to move toward him.

Stormzy’s finger tensed on the trigger. "Uh-uh," he warned, his voice low and sharp. "One more step from you... and I’ll blow her pretty little head clean off."

Kelly’s hand shot out, grabbing Lilith by the arm and yanking her back. "Don’t," Kelly hissed. "Not like this."

Vanessa didn’t move. Her eyes stayed locked on Ann, her mind already working at lightning speed. All she needed was a distraction—just one opening—and she could teleport in, get Ann out, and take Stormzy down before he even blinked.

But then Stormzy’s next words stopped her cold.

"Your teleportation..." He tilted his head, smirking wider. "My finger... let’s see which one is faster."

Vanessa’s blood ran cold. Her eyes snapped to his, her body freezing in place. He knew. Somehow, he knew exactly what she could do.

"How—" she started, but the words caught in her throat.

Stormzy laughed, the sound dark and mocking. "You’re all wondering, huh?" He nodded toward the right side of the room. "How I knew your little tricks?"

The girls’ eyes followed his motion—and froze again.

Four large screens were mounted on the wall. Each showed live footage from different angles: the fight with the thug Vanessa had just taken down, Lilith freezing that man’s arm until it shattered, Kelly laughing in the hallway. He had seen it all—every single move.

Lilith’s jaw clenched, teeth grinding audibly. Her voice was low and venomous. "What the fuck do you want, Stormzy?"

He raised an eyebrow, almost amused. "What I want? Oh no, sweetheart, you’ve got this backward." He leaned his head slightly against Ann’s, the gun still pressed to her temple. "The real question is—what the fuck do you want? Who do you work for? And why the hell are you in my place?"

Lilith’s glare never wavered. "I don’t work for anyone," she said sharply. "You’ve got our friend. We came for her. That’s all."

Stormzy chuckled under his breath, as if she’d just told the funniest joke he’d ever heard. He shifted his grip on the gun, pulling the trigger just enough for the metallic click to echo in the room.

"You take me for a fucking fool?" His voice rose slightly now, losing its earlier amusement. "You think I’m just gonna believe that? That you... all three of you... just happened to stroll in here, tear through my guys, and kick down my doors—just for your friend?"

Kelly spoke up, her tone flat. "That’s exactly what happened."

Stormzy turned his eyes on her, smirking again. "You’ve got a smart mouth, don’t you?" He pressed the barrel harder into Ann’s head, making her flinch. "The thing is... I’ve been around long enough to know people like you don’t come without a reason. And I know someone sent you."

Vanessa’s hands tightened into fists at her sides. "No one sent us," she said quietly, her voice low and dangerous. "You want answers? Let her go first."

Stormzy laughed again, shaking his head slowly. "Oh, I like you. Bold. Confident. But see... you’re not in a position to make demands."

Lilith took a step forward despite Kelly’s grip. Her eyes burned into his. "And you’re not in a position to keep breathing if you pull that trigger."

Stormzy’s smirk didn’t fade. "Big words from the ice queen. But you’ve got one problem—if she dies, I don’t give a shit what you do to me after. That’s the difference between us. I’m willing to lose. Are you?"

The room fell into tense silence.

Vanessa’s mind was racing. Every second that passed, the risk grew. Stormzy’s stance was tight—no openings yet. She couldn’t teleport without risking Ann’s life.

Stormzy broke the silence himself, his tone suddenly shifting to cold business. "I’ll ask one more time. Who sent you?"

Lilith shook her head. "I told you. No one."

"Bullshit," he snapped. "You’ve got powers, skills—and you walk right into my place like you own it? Someone’s backing you. Someone with deep pockets. Tell me who it is... or she dies right here."

Ann made a muffled sound through the gag, shaking her head desperately.

Kelly kept her eyes on Stormzy’s hands. She was watching for even the smallest twitch—anything that could give Vanessa a chance. But he was steady. Too steady.

"You’ve got five seconds," Stormzy said slowly. "Five... four..."

Lilith’s voice cut through. "You’re wasting your time."

Stormzy tilted his head. "Three..."

Vanessa’s jaw tightened, her body coiled like a spring. She was ready to move the second something—anything—shifted.

"Two..."