The tension in the room was unbearable, a heavy blanket of fear that pressed down on everything and everyone. Kaius's heartbeat thundered in his ears, drowning out the subtle hum of the Gravewalkers' cybernetics. His muscles were stiff, his body on high alert, though he couldn't have moved even if he wanted to. His father, Gareth, stood rigid in front of him, a wall of protection, while Sura lay quietly on the couch, watching with a kind of detached calm that Kaius felt.
And then it happened—the door creaked open, but not with a violent crash like before. This time, it groaned under some unseen pressure, as if even the door knew who—or what—was about to enter. Every breath felt heavier, every beat of Kaius's heart seemed louder.
A figure stepped into the room, the shadows bending around him as though they were reluctant to let go of his presence. He wasn't like the Gravewalkers.
No hulking cybernetic limbs, no monstrous enhancements. This man was something else entirely.
Kaius felt his stomach knot, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. This wasn't fear from the sight of the man; it was fear of his aura, of the way the room seemed to contract as he entered, like it could no longer hold all the space his presence demanded.
The man's footsteps were deliberate, each one carrying a weight that made the floor creak beneath him, despite his slim figure.
His eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the room with practiced precision, lingering only briefly on Gareth before settling on Kaius. And then, almost dismissively, his gaze flicked to the couch, where Sura lay with her eyes narrowed, assessing.
The man finally spoke, his voice smooth but carrying an edge that sent a shiver down Kaius's spine.
"My name is Kane Salvator," he said, his tone calm, too calm.
"Leader of the Gravewalker Squadron, and I'm here for my companion sitting right over there."
He nodded toward Sura, his eyes not leaving Kaius for a moment.
Kaius tried to swallow, but his throat was too dry. There was something unnerving about the way Kane looked at him, as if he could see more than just the surface—more than Kaius himself even knew.
Kane's presence was suffocating, and Kaius's hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. He felt the same tingling sensation that had plagued him earlier, the strange pull of something deeper. He knew what it was—the red string that had connected them moments before. It was still there, though faint now, like a tether that refused to break.
Sura shifted slightly on the couch, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife.
"They saved my life, Kane. Without them, I wouldn't be here."
There was no emotion in her words, only fact, but the way she looked at him spoke of something more—something urgent.
Kane's gaze flicked to Sura, and for a moment, Kaius thought he saw something shift in the man's expression. A flicker of relief, perhaps, or maybe just acknowledgment.
"So it seems," he said, his voice steady, not betraying any real emotion.
"I appreciate their efforts." He turned back to Kaius, his smile thin, cold.
"But saving one of us comes with consequences."
Gareth tensed at Kane's words, his body shifting slightly as if he was ready for a fight, but he stayed quiet, watching. Kaius could feel his father's energy—the protective, almost desperate urge to keep him safe. But in this moment, it felt futile. What could anyone do against a presence like Kane?
Kane took a step forward, and Kaius fought the urge to back away. The air between them crackled with tension, and the red string pulsed faintly in Kaius's mind. It was there, hovering just out of reach, but he dared not touch it again—not after what had happened before. The pull was dangerous, intoxicating, and he wasn't ready to face it.
"You felt it, didn't you?" Kane said softly, his voice barely louder than a whisper, yet it filled the room.
"That connection."
Kaius's breath caught in his throat. He couldn't speak. Couldn't move. All he could do was stare at the man in front of him, feeling the weight of his words sink into his skin. How did he know? How could he possibly understand what Kaius had felt?
Kane's smile widened slightly, as if he could read Kaius's thoughts.
"There are things in this world, boy, that you can't begin to understand. Power… control… money... they come at a cost. You've touched something dangerous, and now it's a part of you."
Kaius wanted to deny it, to push back against the overwhelming certainty in Kane's words, but the truth was, he had felt it. The strings, the connection—it was real, and it terrified him.
Kane turned away from Kaius, his attention shifting to Sura once more.
"You look well, considering the state I found you in," he remarked, his tone casual, as though they were discussing the weather and not the life-or-death situation that had played out just hours before.
"Though I'm disappointed I wasn't able to arrive sooner. I see our enemies were... though"
Sura's face hardened, her jaw tightening.
"Thougher enough to take my leg, arm and comm device " she said, her voice flat.
Kane's eyes flicked to her missing limb, then back to her face.
"We'll have that remedied soon enough." He gestured toward the doorway, and as if on cue, another figure entered—a man in a long, dark coat, his arms sleek and polished metal. A cybernetic doctor, equipped with the tools of his trade.
The doctor approached Sura without a word, his hands moving swiftly as he retrieved a sleek, prosthetic leg from his bag. It was a marvel of engineering, its surface gleaming under the dim lights. Within minutes, the leg was attached, and the doctor stepped back, allowing Sura to flex her new limb.
Sura's gaze remained on Kane, even as she tested the new prosthetic.
"I didn't need you to come, Kane," she said, her voice laced with something between frustration and gratitude.
"But I'm glad you did."
Kane smirked, the smile not quite reaching his eyes. "Of course you are."
There was a moment of tense silence as the room settled, the threat still hanging in the air like a dark cloud. Gareth hadn't moved, though Kaius could feel the tension in his father's posture—like a spring coiled too tightly, ready to snap. Kaius himself remained frozen, the red string still pulsing faintly in his mind, though Kane seemed uninterested in addressing it further.
For now.
Kane turned back to Gareth, his expression unreadable.
"I'll be blunt," he said, his voice losing the casual lilt it had held moments ago.
"You saved one of our own. For that, I owe you. We'll pay you for caused troubles, and if you wish, you'll never see us again." Gareth's brow furrowed, but he remained silent, listening.
Kane took a step toward the door, the movement slow, deliberate.
"But," he continued, his voice sharp now, "if you choose to align yourselves with us, if you choose to help us in the fight against the Sky District, understand this: there is no turning back. Once you step into our world, you'll be on the radar. And you'll have to fight—until the very end."
The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Kaius felt the gravity of the decision before them. This wasn't just about saving Sura anymore. It was about something far bigger than that—something that would change everything.
The room remained still as Kane made his way to the door, the Gravewalkers following silently behind him. He paused for just a moment, his gaze landing on Kaius once more, that unsettling smile returning to his lips.
"I'll be in touch," he said quietly, before stepping out into the night, leaving behind an offer that felt more like a warning.