I’m Not a Villain, I Just Absorb Women’s Powers

The warehouse loomed ahead, its corrugated metal walls streaked with rust and graffiti.

Half the windows were busted out, jagged glass clinging to the frames.

Inside, faint light spilled through the cracks, not steady like bulbs but flickering, fires, maybe lanterns.

Jace killed the car's lights and rolled it a safe distance away, Hannah's body slumped in the passenger seat, bound and lifeless but propped upright. From far enough, she'd pass for breathing.

He crouched low, moving across the gravel until he pressed his back against the wall. The night air smelled like damp concrete and oil.

[Take it slow,] Zin's voice whispered in his mind. [Don't rush in blind. Get eyes on them first.]

Jace crept along the side of the building. A broken panel gave him a view inside. He lowered himself, peering through the gap.

The interior was wide open, an old loading floor littered with crates and broken pallets. And in the middle of it, Eva.

She was tied to a chair, ropes tight around her wrists, ankles, and chest.

Her head was down, but she moved, breathing, alive. Relief hit Jace like a wave, but it was quicksand too. He couldn't just run in.

Around her stood three figures.

The first was the sister, broad-shouldered, her arms crossed. Even standing still, there was a weight to her presence, her posture taut like a coiled spring.

The second was a tall guy, leaner, his hand twitching absentmindedly.

The third leaned against a pillar, casually flicking a lighter open and shut.

Jace scanned their positions, noting distance, line of sight, blind spots. He traced a mental map, crates to the left for cover, scaffolding above that could be climbed, a set of steel beams near Eva's chair.

[They're relaxed,] Zin noted. [Not expecting trouble. Good for you. Bad for them if you do this right.]

Jace's jaw tightened. "Three metas. No way I can brawl all of them."

[Which is why you don't.] Zin's voice sharpened. [We use the corpse as bait. You walk her to the door, make them believe she's alive. That should draw at least one away, probably the sister. She'll want to confirm.]

"And then I make my move."

[Exactly. Prioritize speed. Get to Eva, cut her loose. She may not have her powers, but two pairs of hands are better than one. Then you retreat. Don't stay for round two. Don't try to win. You survive, she survives. That's the victory.]

Jace kept his eyes on Eva. Her chin shifted faintly, like she was trying to look up. He forced himself back down against the wall before she noticed.

His pulse hammered in his chest, but his mind stayed clear. Zin was right, this wasn't about pride. It was about getting Eva out before the whole place burned down around them.

He pulled back from the gap, heading for the car. "Alright. Let's bluff with the corpse."

Inside the warehouse, the mood was souring.

One of the men shifted impatiently, his boot tapping against the concrete. "Where's Hannah? She's the one who asked us to do this."

The woman with crossed arms narrowed her eyes. "Maybe the guy got her?"

The sister scoffed, shaking her head. "Hannah isn't easily defeated. Plus…" She glanced at the others, her tone tight. "Let's prep up. If she doesn't show soon, we'll need to head to the hotel."

Eva lifted her head slowly, her hair falling over her face, lips twisting into a smirk. "Maybe she's dead. That bitch has had it coming for years."

The crack of a slap echoed through the hall. Eva's head snapped to the side, blood running from her split lip.

"Shut up, you slut," the sister hissed, her eyes blazing.

Eva laughed bitterly through the sting, her voice low but cutting. "That's rich… calling me a slut. When your sister uses her body to rob men blind? I don't regret getting her boyfriend locked up. If anything, I saved more lives."

The sister's face went red, rage spilling over. Her voice shook. "Always wanted to be a hero, Eva. But this time? You won't get saved."

Eva spat blood onto the floor and glared up at her. "I wouldn't be so sure about that."

Her captors stiffened, sensing something in her tone.

From the shadows by the doorway, a calm voice cut through. "How about you untie her, step away, and maybe your sister gets to keep her life."

All three heads snapped toward the sound.

There, framed in the dim light, stood Jace. His hand gripped Hannah by the arm. A bag covered her head, ropes tight around her wrists. The sight of her bound figure stopped them cold.

"Hannah!" the sister's voice cracked, half in shock, half in fury. Her fists clenched at her sides. "What did you do to my sister?"

Jace didn't move, didn't flinch. His shadow stretched long across the floor, the weight of his words settling heavy over the room.

The group froze, eyes snapping toward the entrance.

Jace stood there in the frame, Hannah slumped beside him with a bag over her head, her arms bound tight.

The sister's face twisted. "Hannah! What did you do to my sister?"

Jace didn't blink. His voice dropped lower, steady. "That depends on you. Untie her"—he nodded toward Eva—"and step away."

The two men tensed, one already starting to raise his hand. The lighter clicked open and shut from the second.

[Don't let them control the pace,] Zin whispered sharply in his head. [Walk her forward. Keep the bag on. They'll want to check if she's alive, but hold that line. Make them think you're willing to hurt her if they rush.]

Jace gripped Hannah tighter, shoving her a step into the warehouse. The scrape of her boots against the floor filled the silence.

"You want her back alive?" Jace growled. "Do as I say. Untie Eva. Now."

The sister's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering. "Take the bag off first."

[Don't,] Zin cut in fast. [If they see she's dead, you're finished. Stall. Push them. They're already nervous.]

Jace tilted his head, forcing a rough laugh. "Cute. You think you're calling shots? Bag stays on. Eva first, or I let your sister bleed out right here."

The room went tense, every stare locked on him. The guy with the twitching fingers stepped forward, but the sister flung an arm out, stopping him.

The sister's smile didn't falter. "Really? You expect me to believe that?"

Zin's voice cut in sharp. [Jace, she's calling your bluff. Healing power makes bleeding out sound ridiculous. You need science. Give her something technical, something that sounds like you know what you're doing.]

Jace tilted his head, keeping his grip tight on Hannah. He forced a calm smirk. "You don't think I know how her ability works? I'm not some idiot swinging a knife. I'm a man of science."

[Good. Drop names. Elements. Make it sound airtight.] Zin prompted quickly. [Say you laced the blade with a compound that interferes with cellular regeneration. Something rare. Something toxic.]

Jace nodded faintly. "This blade? It's coated with a mix of silver nitrate and cesium chloride. Both disrupt cellular cohesion. Normally harmless to humans, burns a little, that's it. But to someone with a healing factor? It turns their regeneration off like a switch."

He dragged the knife lightly across Hannah's forearm. A thin line of blood welled up instantly. Unlike before, it didn't close.

"See?" Jace lifted the arm slightly for them to see the red drip down. "While she's unconscious, I can just kill her clean… or i can make her bleed out slow. So do us all a favor. Untie Eva and step away, or your sister keeps losing blood until she doesn't get back up."

The sister's eyes narrowed, her jaw tight. For the first time, hesitation flickered in her stance.

[Hold steady,] Zin urged. [Don't oversell it. The more confident you sound, the more they'll believe you. Keep pressure on her, force the choice.]

Jace locked eyes with her, his tone cutting sharp. "Your move. Eva walks free, or Hannah dies in your arms."

The sister's eyes narrowed at the sight of Hannah with a bag over her head. Her fists clenched, but she didn't move. The two men shifted uncomfortably, waiting for an order.

[She's trying to stall,] Zin murmured in Jace's head. [Keep the pressure on. Make her believe time is running out for her sister.]

Jace adjusted his grip on Hannah's arm, tilting her forward so a trickle of blood seeped down her neck, staining the bag. "Take too long, and she might bleed out before you decide. Don't think you can stall your way into her waking up. It'll take hours, not minutes."

The sister's jaw tightened. She tried to keep her composure, but her eyes flicked nervously toward Hannah's slumped body.

"Maybe you're bluffing," one of the men said, but his voice lacked conviction.

[Push harder,] Zin advised. [Force her to weigh Eva's life against her sister's. Make it clear she can't have both.]

Jace's voice dropped low, steady, deliberate. "Untie Eva and step away from her, or your sister dies here. Right now. You've got five seconds before I stop holding back this bleeding."

The silence stretched. The sister's nostrils flared, her breath uneven. She looked at Eva, then back at Hannah's motionless figure.

Finally, her composure cracked. She snapped at the two men, her voice sharp and panicked. "Untie her!"

The men hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances.

"Do it!" she barked, louder this time, and they moved quickly, untying Eva's wrists and ankles.

Eva slumped forward, rubbing her wrists where the rope had burned into her skin. She looked up at Jace, her eyes flicking from Hannah's covered head to the sister's shaking fists.

[Good,] Zin whispered. [You've got her. Keep control of the room now.]