Kane's firm, reassuring presence guided Lucas through the aftermath of the bloody encounter. The adrenaline had faded, replaced by a grim determination to erase every trace of their horrific actions. Kane knew the importance of leaving no evidence behind, and he took Lucas's trembling hand, leading him away from the gruesome scene.
"Let's clean up," Kane said softly, his voice steady and unyielding. He guided Lucas to the small, dilapidated bathroom in the corner of the house. The peeling wallpaper and the flickering bulb gave the room an eerie feeling. Kane turned on the cold tap and handed Lucas a damp cloth. "Start cleaning up. I'll take care of the rest."
Lucas nodded numbly, his eyes still wide with shock as he began wiping away the blood and grime from his hands and clothes. The task was almost mechanical, a distraction from the chaos that still swirled in his mind. The cold water stung against his cuts and abrasions, but he welcomed the pain; it was something tangible, something that grounded him amidst the horror.
Kane watched him, knowing that Lucas needed this focus to ground himself. The boy was still learning, still adapting to the brutal reality of their life. Kane understood the importance of ritual, of cleansing oneself after such an act. It wasn't just about cleaning the physical stains; it was about washing away the mental residue, the guilt that could cripple even the strongest.
Leaving Lucas to his task, Kane turned and surveyed the carnage that littered the once-quiet home. Bodies lay strewn across the floor, their blood pooling and congealing on the worn wooden planks. Kane's mind was clear, his actions precise. He moved with a practiced efficiency, knowing that time was against them.
Kane began dragging the bodies, his muscles straining as he pulled each lifeless form from the main floor down the narrow, creaky stairs to the basement. The house groaned with each step, the weight of the bodies thudding heavily against the old wooden stairs. Kane was careful, though, ensuring that no bloodstains were left behind on the walls or banister, wiping away any smears with a rag soaked in bleach. The smell was harsh, but it was a necessary tool in their arsenal.
Despite their gruesome state, Kane treated each corpse with a detached efficiency, making sure they were all piled together in the basement. Even the still-living ones, though barely clinging to life, were not spared. Kane's heart did not falter as he checked for pulses, his hand cold and clinical. Those who still drew breath were swiftly silenced, their necks snapped with a sharp, precise motion that echoed through the empty house.
Once the basement was filled with the grotesque collection of bodies, Kane went to his trunk and retrieved a large canister of gasoline. The metal can was heavy, and he hefted it with ease, a grim satisfaction in his eyes. He moved deliberately, pouring the gasoline over the pile of bodies, the liquid soaking into every crevice and pooling around the cadavers. The sickly sweet stench of death mingled with the sharp odor of gasoline, creating a nauseating cocktail that hung thick in the air.
Kane then moved through the house, methodically pouring gasoline throughout the rooms. He made sure every corner, every surface, was touched by the flammable liquid. The curtains, the furniture, even the walls themselves were doused. He was meticulous, knowing that any missed spot could leave a clue, a trace of their presence. The smell of gasoline began to mingle with the stench of blood, creating a nauseating mix that clung to the air, thick and oppressive.
As Kane worked, Lucas finished cleaning himself up. He stood in the doorway of the bathroom, watching Kane with wide, unblinking eyes. The sight of Kane covering their gruesome work in gasoline was both disturbing and oddly mesmerizing. It was a ritual of destruction, a final act to ensure that their secrets remained buried. The flames would cleanse the house, leaving nothing but ashes in their wake.
Once Kane was satisfied that the gasoline had reached every part of the house, he turned back to Lucas, who was still standing in the doorway, his hands now clean but his mind far from it. Kane approached him slowly, his eyes locking onto Lucas's with a serious intensity.
"You need to do this, Lucas," Kane said, his voice a low, commanding whisper. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a lighter, holding it out to Lucas. "You need to be the one to finish it."
Lucas's heart pounded in his chest as he looked down at the lighter in Kane's hand. His breath quickened, his mind racing with the weight of what he was about to do.
Kane stepped closer, closing the distance between them. He moved behind Lucas, wrapping his arms around him in a firm, almost protective embrace. Lucas could feel the heat of Kane's body against his back, the steady rhythm of his breathing. Kane's hand reached around, pressing the lighter into Lucas's palm, his fingers curling around Lucas's, guiding him.
"This is our work, Lucas," Kane murmured into his ear, his voice soft yet commanding. "You need to finish it. Only then will you understand what it means to truly cleanse yourself of the past. To erase everything."
Lucas nodded slowly, the fear in his chest slowly giving way to a dark, twisted sense of purpose. He could feel the heat of the fire already licking at the edges of his mind, the promise of destruction, of finality.
With Kane's arms still wrapped around him, Lucas flicked the lighter open. The small flame danced before his eyes, casting a warm, orange glow over their faces. The world seemed to narrow down to that single, flickering light, the embodiment of all their sins, all their darkness.
Kane's voice was a steady anchor in the storm of Lucas's thoughts. "Do it, Lucas."
With a deep breath, Lucas leaned forward and let the flame fall from the lighter. The moment seemed to stretch out, an eternity in the span of a heartbeat. Then, the flame touched the gasoline-soaked floor, and the world erupted in a whoosh of fire.
The blaze caught immediately, flames racing across the floor, up the walls, devouring everything in their path. The heat surged toward them, and Kane pulled Lucas back, holding him close as they watched the fire consume the house, their work, their secrets.
The roar of the fire was deafening, the heat blistering against their skin. But Lucas felt a strange sense of peace, of release. This was it. The final act, the cleansing fire that would burn away everything they had done.
Kane's grip around him tightened, a silent affirmation of their bond, their shared darkness. "We need to go," Kane said, his voice calm even as the flames raged around them.
Lucas nodded, his eyes still locked on the inferno before them. He let Kane guide him out of the house, their steps quick and purposeful. The night air was a cool relief against their heated skin as they stepped outside, leaving the burning house behind them.
As they walked away, the sounds of sirens began to wail in the distance. The authorities would arrive too late, finding nothing but ashes and charred remnants. Kane and Lucas, however, were already gone, their dark deed buried in the fire, leaving behind nothing but a ghostly reminder of what had transpired.
The fire would burn through the night, consuming everything until all that remained was a smo
ldering ruin, a blackened scar on the landscape.