Deviant: No Longer Human

[Wang Xiao, what do we do with her?]

Outside his room, Wang Xiao pondered in silence. 'Let's try enslaving her. The poison should work on her as well, right?'

Yin Yue responded, [It should work. How about feeding her a different poison each month, and giving her a different antidote each month, to make sure about her intentions first?]

"That would do," Wang Xiao agreed, his mind already strategizing the next steps.

__________

Meanwhile, inside the room, Luna sat on the bed, methodically unwrapping the bandage around her legs. Her face was a mask of concentration as she used a knife to extract bullets, one by one, from her flesh.

Each time she pulled a bullet out, blood flowed freely, but her expression remained stoic. The knife pierced her skin, yet she showed no sign of pain, her movements rough but precise.

Her fingers suddenly paused as the door swung open. Her fierce gaze shot up to meet the newcomer's. 'It's him!' Her mind echoed with recognition, her eyes locking onto Wang Xiao with an intense stare.

Wang Xiao, upon entering, took in the scene before him. Luna, sitting there, extracting bullets from her own body, was a sight that would unnerve most.

He frowned, a mix of concern and curiosity in his expression. "Are you taking out bullets by yourself?" he asked, his voice carrying a blend of surprise and a subtle hint of respect for her resilience.

??

Luna, slightly unnerved by Wang Xiao's composed demeanor, could only offer a nod in response, her heart thumping nervously.

A myriad of thoughts whirled through her mind, 'Why isn't he attacking me? Does he think I'm merely an ordinary, injured soldier?' A grin slowly curled within her mind, almost whispering in cunning.

Meanwhile, Wang Xiao, completely unaware of her clandestine thoughts, advanced with a tranquility that seemed almost out of place. "Let me help you," he suggested gently, the door clicking softly as he eased it shut behind him.

He moved towards the bed, settling on its edge with an air of ease, the mattress creaking under his weight. Carefully, he extracted the knife from Luna's grasp with a whisper of metal.

With the precision akin to that of a skilled surgeon, he set about extracting the remaining bullets, the clink of metal against metal resounding in the quiet room.

Luna's reaction was delayed, her eyes fixed on his face in disbelief.

It wasn't until she felt a prickling sensation that she snapped back to the moment. 'I should pretend this is painful!' she thought hastily and shut her eyes, letting out a sharp scream.

"Arg—!" Her voice was piercing, prompting a frown from Wang Xiao. "Shut up, why are you screaming like a child!?" he scolded.

"Huh?" Luna was taken aback by his rebuke, her eyes wide as she met his gaze.

"Why did you even play with bullets if you're so afraid of taking them out?" he continued, silencing her with his stern tone.

"..." Luna found herself momentarily speechless, unaccustomed to such direct reprimand.

Her heart thumped, skipping a beat, as she grappled with a blend of confusion and an inexplicable fascination.

She studied his features intently – the stern set of his jaw, the intense focus in his eyes.

"Take this and bite on it," Wang Xiao directed, offering her a pillow. Automatically, Luna accepted it, placing it between her teeth.

Her eyes remained steadfastly fixed on him, now tinged with awe and curiosity.

'Why does he look so fascinating... so fierce unlike the others...?' she wondered silently, her throat emitting a soft gulp as her fascination deepened.

Clad in a simple white shirt, with the top two buttons casually undone, Luna's appearance starkly contrasted her usual concealed demeanor. Her ample features, often hidden, were now subtly highlighted by her attire.

Entranced by Wang Xiao's presence, she observed him silently until his voice snapped her out of her reverie. "What's your name?"

"Luna..." she replied, her voice emerging softer, more feminine than usual, unveiling a rarely seen aspect of her character.

A flicker of intrigue passed through Wang Xiao's eyes. "Oh?" He let out a small nod, his thoughts churning, 'Is she trying to seem like a regular person? Interesting...' He nodded inwardly, a hint of amusement coloring his thoughts.

"So, Luna, what were you doing alone in the woods?" he inquired, smoothly playing along with her act.

Luna's eyes fluttered, captivated and unable to drift away from his gaze. "I was trying to find you," she confessed impulsively, the realization of her words dawning on her a moment too late.

!!

Wang Xiao's movements came to an abrupt halt, visibly taken aback. He turned to her, his expression a blend of confusion and intrigue. "Find me?" he echoed, his eyes searching hers, which shimmered like exquisite crystals.

"I..." Luna faltered, grappling for words. "I'm a mercenary. I saw a posting offering one million dollars for your capture... But..."

"But what?" Wang Xiao prodded, his amusement apparent in how she clumsily attempted to mask her true identity.

"But I was ambushed... There was a fight, and I..." She trailed off, her voice quivering slightly.

"So, you got injured in that fight, and I ended up finding you? Were you caught in the crossfire?" Wang Xiao pieced together, his tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Maybe..." Luna murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, her mind seemingly adrift.

"How did you manage to find me?" Wang Xiao pressed, momentarily setting aside the fact that her face was inching closer to his with every passing second.

"We... Spotted you in some store CCTV footage..." Luna disclosed, her openness taking Wang Xiao by surprise.

His eyebrows arched in curiosity. "How?" he questioned, just as he deftly removed the last bullet.

Clink!

The bullet hit the ground, reminding Wang Xiao that his appearance in photos should appear much younger. How, then, had they identified him?

"..."

Lifting his head, Wang Xiao found himself gazing directly into Luna's eyes, now perilously close to his own. Her warm breath tickled his skin. "Your eyes..." she murmured absentmindedly, her fingers hovering near his eyes, as if compelled to touch them.

!!

Wang Xiao flinched, instinctively stepping back. "What are you doing?"

"I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to," Luna stammered, her curiosity piqued. Fighting to steady her racing heart, she managed to explain, "It's your eyes. We filtered through individuals worldwide born with red eyes."

"Oh... So that's how it is..." Wang Xiao murmured, a new understanding dawning on him.

'Hehe... So interesting... Did I scare him?' Luna couldn't help the growing smile forming inside her, observing him lost in deep thought.