Eliott stood there, his hands still gripping the railing, while Kai's options spun in his mind. The adrenaline that had been coursing through him for several minutes began to fade, gradually giving way to clarity. His heart still pounded, but his thoughts were starting to organize themselves.
He fixed his gaze on Kai, trying to decipher the hidden meaning behind this proposal. Why was this strange guy, who always seemed so calm and carefree, so interested in his fate? And most importantly, what did he want in return?
Eliott took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain control. He finally decided to ask the question that had been haunting him.
"Alright... let's say I choose your third option," he murmured, almost whispering. "What do you want in return?"
Kai, still sitting on the edge of the roof, swung his legs as if he were just sitting on a park bench. He didn't even turn his head at the question. His gaze remained fixed on the horizon, as if the vastness before him mattered more than the answer he was about to give.
"Nothing," he replied calmly, almost too simply. "Nothing at all."
Eliott frowned. "Nothing? That's impossible. No one does something for nothing."
Kai shrugged slightly, indifferent. "True, you're not wrong. But I don't want anything material. I don't need money or favors. All I ask is that you follow my instructions to the letter."
He finally turned his head toward Eliott, locking eyes with him. "You and your family need to disappear for a while. Shut down the restaurant, cut off communication with everyone. Vanish, long enough for me to take care of this."
Eliott shook his head, confused. "Disappear? Shut down the shop? But... how will my parents react to that? We're barely surviving as it is, and now you're asking us to stop everything?"
Kai stood up smoothly, still as relaxed as if he'd just woken up from a nap. He walked slowly toward Eliott, close enough that his voice dropped to a whisper.
"You've seen what Marc and his friends are capable of, haven't you? They're not going to stop. They'll go even further, until you're broken—until your parents are, too. If you keep going like this, you'll be trapped in a vicious cycle. I'm offering you a way out. A chance to rebuild... and to make them pay."
Eliott swallowed hard, his mind torn between doubt and fear. The idea of disappearing, of hiding like a fugitive, terrified him. But at the same time, Kai's proposal seemed like the only viable option—a chance to escape this nightmare.
"And... how long?" Eliott asked. "How long would we have to hide?"
Kai smirked faintly, as if amused by the question. "Not long. Just enough time for me to deal with Marc and the others. A few weeks, maybe. But you have to trust me."
Eliott felt the weight of Kai's words. The trust he was asking for was immense, disproportionate. But at this point, what did he have to lose?
After a few moments of hesitation, Eliott nodded. "Alright... I'll trust you."
Kai nodded back, saying nothing more, as if it was all perfectly natural.
Eliott couldn't believe it. Kai had just laid out a plan that would upend his life, asking him to hide and leave everything behind for a while. He'd already agreed to the idea, but one question still gnawed at him.
Before Kai could leave the rooftop, Eliott summoned his courage and called out to him.
"Wait!" he shouted, his voice slightly trembling. "What do I do now?"
Kai stopped in his tracks, just a few steps from the door, then turned around with the same nonchalant air. He crossed his arms, a faintly amused smile tugging at the corner of his lips, as if he'd expected this question all along.
"You jump," Kai replied, his tone light, almost flippant.