Chapter 296: The Consequences of Actions
The light of the rising sun peeking through the blinds caused Leo to slowly wake up with a stretch. He had been asleep on the bed for what appeared to be around 4 to 5 hours.
Leo stifled a yawn as he shuffled out of the bedroom, running a hand through his messy hair, his now all too familiar cat ears twitching at the touch of his hand. The hardwood floor felt cool against his bare feet, a reminder that morning had arrived far too soon. His arms stretched over his head as he walked, muscles loosening from the few hours of rest he managed to steal after winning a decisive rock paper scissors match against Adam.
Looking back, he felt just a little bad.
Adam was sprawled on the floor in an awkward, almost pitiful position. His face was scrunched up in discomfort, one arm thrown behind his head, the other clutching a blanket that had mostly abandoned him during the night.
Leo was glad that those extra bone limbs Adam had gained in the dungeon didn’t exist in the real world. He was pretty sure if they had, the guy would have spent the whole night sobbing into the floorboards.
With a tired shake of his head, Leo stepped into the living room.
He stopped dead in his tracks.
It looked like something between a junkyard and a sleepover gone horribly wrong.
Blankets were flung over furniture like makeshift tents. Empty chip bags and soda cans were stacked in precarious little towers on the coffee table. Someone had knocked over a bowl of popcorn, and the kernels crunched beneath Leo’s foot as he took a cautious step forward.
He scanned the room, lips twitching in disbelief.
"Luna’s going to snap when she sees this."
And rightfully so. This was her home after all and it had not been shown any respect last night. If she came out here and saw this mess, the entire house would be put through boot camp before breakfast.
Then he saw them.
Penny and Rachel.
Both were passed out on the same couch in a tangled, chaotic pile. Penny had drool clinging to the corner of her mouth and was hugging a stuffed animal that probably did not belong to her. Rachel, on the other hand, had one leg kicked over the backrest and an arm flopped over Penny’s head. There was marker scribbled on her cheek and something taped to her forehead.
Leo stared for a moment, utterly baffled.
How they ended up like that was anyone’s guess. He wasn’t sure if he wanted the answer or if knowing would only raise more questions.
He looked toward the television.
Maybe some noise would help drown out the madness.
Keeping the volume low, he turned it on and began flipping through the channels. A few late-night shows flickered past until the local news station caught his eye. He paused.
A serious-looking anchor sat at the desk, her tone flat but urgent. A photo appeared beside her, someone Leo actually recognized.
"Elise Samael," the anchor was saying, "has been identified as one of three individuals found dead last night under mysterious circumstances. Each of the victims was discovered with no signs of external trauma, though early reports suggest severe internal damage. Investigators are baffled by the lack of struggle and the condition of the bodies. Elise Samael, previously missing and once heiress to the Samael Corporation, was found in a motel on the edge of the city..."
Leo sat down, eyes glued to the screen.
His stomach churned.
The hair on the back of his neck rose as the screen showed images of the scene. Three names. Three deaths. All in one night. All unexplained.
And somehow, he already knew.
This was no coincidence.
There was only one possible conclusion.
Those three individuals had been the Parasitized bosses that they had slain in the dungeon. By extension. They had killed them themselves. Leo’s jaw tightened as he recalled what had happened.
Adam had killed Elise. That much was certain and Adam would not be remorseful for his actions in the slightest. Leo honestly couldn’t blame him either and perhaps Lily would find solace knowing she was well and truly dead now.
However Leo’s main concern was on something else. The first boss that had fallen was killed by Luna’s own hands. That meant if what Leo was thinking was right...Luna had become a murderer.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he stared blankly at the news broadcast still playing. The anchor’s voice continued in the background, but he wasn’t listening anymore.
His gaze drifted back to Penny and Rachel, still tangled together on the couch. Oblivious. Peaceful. He envied that.
There was no peace in his mind right now. Only dread.
If Luna had unknowingly taken a life, how would she react when she found out? Would she be able to handle that weight? Would she crumble, or would she just shut down entirely?
Leo swallowed hard.
He didn’t want to find out.
But he knew he had no choice. This wasn’t something that could be hidden no matter how hard he tried. The only thing they could do now was face whatever hell was coming and face it the same way they had faced their last few obstacles. Together.
Rachel stirred first, groaning softly as she blinked herself awake. Her hair was a mess and her face was still smudged from whatever marker mishap had occurred the night before. She sat up slowly, squinting around the room with a confused expression that only deepened as she took in the chaos.
Penny followed a moment later, stretching with a quiet yawn before noticing the stuffed animal in her arms. She blinked at it, then at Rachel, then at the disaster zone that used to be Luna’s living room. Her face scrunched in realization and mild horror.
"Oh no," she muttered, rubbing her eyes. "We’re dead."
Leo didn’t answer. He just watched the hallway.
A few seconds later, Adam stepped out from the bedroom he’d claimed for the night, scratching his head and muttering something under his breath. His shirt was wrinkled, and his expression screamed someone who had not slept well. He looked around, took in the mess, then raised an eyebrow at the sight of Leo silently sitting on the couch with the news playing.
"You’re up early," Adam said.
Leo didn’t respond.
Adam frowned. "What happened?"
Before Leo could say anything, the door to Luna’s room creaked open.
Lily came out first, her long hair tied loosely back, her expression still hazy with sleep. She glanced around, one eyebrow lifting as she saw the chaos of the living room. Behind her, Luna followed closely, her footsteps sharp and precise.
The moment Luna stepped into the living room, her eyes locked onto the wreckage.
She stopped in place.
Her nostrils flared. Her jaw tightened. Her hands curled into fists at her sides.
"What the hell happened in here?" she asked, voice low but filled with rising fury. "Are you kidding me? Is this what you guys did last night?"
Rachel shrank slightly under the glare. Penny sat upright, hugging the stuffed animal like it might protect her.
"I swear we were going to clean it," Rachel said.
"Eventually," Penny added quietly.
Luna took a step forward.
"Blankets on the ceiling fan. Popcorn in the couch cushions. Did someone tape food to the wall?"
Leo stood up.
"Luna," he said, his voice calm but serious.
She turned to him sharply, her fury still brimming.
But the look on Leo’s face stopped her in her tracks.
It wasn’t just serious. It was grim.
"We need to talk," he said.
The room fell quiet.
Everyone froze, watching him now.
Leo gestured to the television. The news was still playing, muted now, but the images on screen were unmistakable. Crime scene photos. A motel. A body bag. A familiar face.
Nobody needed Leo to elaborate. Their actions had led to unforeseen consequences.
And now the world was witnessing the result.