Chapter 64: Chapter 62: I Need Your Soul
Jon had lost track of time in the white-walled detention room. The only indication of the passing hours was the subtle shift in the artificial lighting, mimicking the natural progression of day into night. He estimated it was now evening, but the exact hour was anyone's guess.
In the solitude of his confinement, Jon had taken to a unique form of meditation. He sat cross-legged on the cold, hard floor, eyes closed, mind focused. He was not seeking inner peace or enlightenment, but rather, he was mentally reviewing the plot of the entire Men in Black series.
Without the aid of the Memory Potion, which was both time-consuming to refine and required specific preparations, Jon had to rely on his own mental prowess. He meticulously combed through the intricate details of the trilogy, each scene playing out in his mind like a private screening.
After what felt like hours, Jon exhaled a long, slow breath, his eyes fluttering open. He rose to his feet, his gaze drawn to a small surveillance camera nestled in the corner of the room. He knew he was being watched, that his every move was being scrutinized by unseen eyes.
In the monitoring room, a group of staff members huddled around dozens of screens, their attention riveted on Jon. His unusual behavior, the hours of silent meditation, had piqued their curiosity.
"What do you intend to do?" one of them murmured, his eyes never leaving the screen.
In response, Jon offered a casual wave to the camera before his body vanished from the screen. It was as if he had been swallowed by the air itself, leaving no trace of his existence.
"Where…?!"
The staff member's eyes widened in shock, his hand instinctively slamming down on the red alarm button. The detention area was immediately bathed in a pulsating red light, the shrill sound of the alarm echoing off the walls.
Within moments, heavily armed guards flooded the corridors, their laser guns at the ready. They moved with a practiced efficiency, their eyes scanning every corner, every shadow, in search of the escaped prisoner.
Unbeknownst to them, Jon was strolling past them, hidden by the Disillusionment Charm. He moved with an air of nonchalance, a ghost in the midst of chaos. His decision to remain was driven by a singular purpose - to find the Cake Girl.
As he navigated the labyrinth of corridors, Jon was acutely aware of the undercurrent of malevolence that permeated the air. He used this sense to guide him, hoping it would lead him to the Cake Girl.
The majority of the aliens in the detention room were not hardened criminals. They were petty thieves, con artists, and smugglers, their crimes not severe enough to warrant a sentence in the lunar prison. The Cake Girl was the exception. Her aura was heavy with sins, a stark contrast to the others. Yet, she had somehow managed to deceive the MiB, convincing them that her crimes were minor.
Jon paused outside a nondescript cell, a sense of familiarity washing over him. He turned to face the door, a slow smile spreading across his face.
"Found you!" he murmured, his hand reaching out to the door.
Boom!
A fireball erupted from Jon's hand, blasting the door into a thousand splintered fragments. The Cake Girl, startled by the sudden explosion, pressed herself against the cold, metallic wall of her cell.
"Who...who are you?!" she stammered, her eyes wide with fear as she stared at the figure silhouetted in the doorway.
As the smoke cleared, Jon's face came into view. His eyes were ablaze, a fierce fire that seemed to consume his entire being. The sight of him was enough to send a shiver of dread down the Cake Girl's spine.
"Don't be afraid," Jon said, his voice soft, almost soothing. He stepped into the cell, his boots crunching on the debris. "I just need a lock of your hair."
Without waiting for a response, he reached out and yanked a handful of hair from her head. The sudden pain elicited a sharp scream from the Cake Girl. Jon, unfazed, pressed her against the wall, his hands firm on her shoulders.
"And...your soul," he added, his eyes burning brighter.
In the blink of an eye, Jon's face was enveloped in a cloud of smoke. His skin and flesh seemed to melt away, revealing the skeletal figure of the Ghost Rider beneath.
"Look into my eyes..." Ghost Rider whispered, his voice echoing in the small cell. He reached out, his flaming hand passing through the Cake Girl's chest, burning her soul away.
[Ding! You have eliminated an additional interstellar criminal. You have been awarded 50 penalty points.]
[Ding! Your legendary mission has been updated: Judge a thousand sinful souls across all worlds. Current progress: 60/1000.]
With the Cake Girl's soul extinguished, Jon reverted back to his human form. He stepped over the remnants of the door, exiting the cell with a sense of satisfaction.
Outside, a phalanx of prison guards awaited him, their laser guns trained on him. The captain, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, barked an order.
"Fire!"
Blue lasers filled the air, streaking towards Jon with deadly precision. But just as they were about to hit him, Jon vanished, his body disappearing into thin air.
One by one, Jon infiltrated the cells, his method unchanged. He sought out the criminals whose sins were grave enough to warrant his judgement, leaving a trail of extinguished souls in his wake.
***
"Z, we have a situation!"
The director's office door swung open, revealing a stern-looking blonde woman. She clutched a tablet in her hand, her eyes reflecting the urgency of the situation.
"What's the matter, O?" Z asked, his brows furrowing in concern.
Agent O was a high-ranking member of the MIB. In the original movie plot, she had succeeded Z as Director after his untimely demise at the hands of Serleena.
"It's Jon. He's escaped," O announced, her face grave.
"What?! How did he manage that?" Z demanded, his voice echoing in the room.
"He...just vanished."
"Vanished? What do you mean vanished?!"
"Just...vanished. He disappeared right where he was standing," O explained, though her words seemed to do little to alleviate Z's confusion.
With a sigh, she stepped forward, offering the tablet to Z. "See for yourself."
Z took the tablet, his eyes scanning the footage of Jon in the detention room. He watched as Jon sat cross-legged, his demeanor calm and composed. Then, without warning, Jon stood up, waved at the camera, and vanished into thin air.
"He didn't just escape. He attacked several holding cells and killed the inmates," O added, her voice steady despite the grim news.
Z's face darkened, his mind racing. "Lockdown the headquarters. I want everyone on high alert. Nothing gets in or out, not even a fly."
Before he could issue further orders, another agent burst into the room, his face pale. "Director, the tech department has been attacked. All the guards are down!"
"Damn it, what is this bastard up to?!" Z slammed his fist on the table, his anger palpable. The situation was spiraling out of control, and he had no idea what Jon's next move would be.
_____________________
(A/N: If you want to see more chapters, go to my Patreon to see +20 chapters ahead.
patreon.com/TheMightyZeus
_____________________
(A/N: The Men in Black chapters has come to a close; I have already chosen the next universe. Can you speculate which universe will be next? The victor will be acknowledged as a side character in its chapters. Share your guess along with a name you would prefer to be called in the novel. Hint: It could be an Anime also.)