"I'll do it."
"Move those hips like a fucking whore!"
"...You said it was going to be once."
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Theodore."
"I like you, brother. Don't you like me?"
"You're a disgrace, Theodore!"
"After everything we've done for you, this is how you repay us?"
"He's your brother, Theodore! ...Theodore!!!"
Silence... darkness... then his eyes, those deep grays that made sinking peaceful, that made dying pure.
Jordan.
"Just think of me, Doc. I'll be your world. Think only about me..."
But there was no happily ever after, just sadness and pain—the kind that clawed, that left scars. And when there was no one to cling to...
Your descent from the sky...
CRASH!
"Theodore... open those eyes. Theodore!"
---
I whipped up straight, body drenched, chest heaving. Slowly, the room registered—so did the ache digging into my skull.
"Urggh," I groaned, falling back against the bed. Then I turned to look at the curtains. It was still dark.
When did Vidar leave? Did I pass out in the bathtub?
He'd put me in gray pajama pants and no shirt. It was good I passed out—Vidar seeing me in my bare state wasn't a memory I hoped to relish.
So pathetic. I swallowed, dragging my fingers down my face. Even to this day, I couldn't stand my ground. Maybe because I knew it was my fault... If I had just... If I hadn't...
One thing was certain—I had failed everyone. Even though I had almost ended up dead, I still hadn't atoned. Vidar... it was all my fault.
I needed to leave, to run far away so no one else could find me. But I knew there was no way Vidar and Alexei were letting me leave the Pack gates.
"I missed you, Theodore."
I sighed, climbing down from the bed and moving to the window. Shoving the curtains aside, I stared out at the vast expanse of land, covered by forests of trees.
I remembered strolling through them once with Vidar. Remembered the last time I did—the day I left for the Academy. I had thought of doing it again last night... but with the news of the merge...
Vampires.
A painful ripple ran down my spine.
So, after an abrupt decision, I picked up my phone from the bedside table, dialed the number, and placed it against my ear.
At the second ring, she picked up. "Hey, baebi..."
I sighed. "Ari, I need your help."
---
Standing in the middle of the safe room, Fenrir felt the fire flow through his veins, the screaming in his head growing louder with every passing second.
He knew he needed to stay quiet—not punch the walls like last time. Not because of the people whose daily mantra:
Kill all Espers.
Not because he could feel another gate about to burst open, his excess mana thick in the air, bound to attract them.
But because...
"Be patient, Fenrir. Trust me to keep my promise."
He trusted Alexei, but if things got any slower, then he was getting out there and finding Princey himself.
Because last night, he'd felt it.
Princey was scared. And cold. And maybe even alone.
"I NEED TO FIND HIM!" He whispered, hurling that damn beeping machine against the wall. "HE IS IN TROUBLE! I NEED TO GO TO HIM!"
The researchers—over ten of them—cowered behind Alexei, who looked as exhausted as he was disappointed. And that made him even angrier.
Hadn't he tried?!
He just wanted...
He just wanted him...
Why wouldn't he come? It was almost noon. Was he hurt?
Who hurt him?
Who. Fucking. Hurt. Him?
Alexei stepped closer. Only he could. His fear was faint compared to the others.
He glared at him. "Just look at yourself, Fenrir. What do you think you're doing?"
He did.
On one side of the wall, covered by mirrors, he still looked the same—if you ignored the deep red pupils glowing through full lashes like a torch.
And the faint, dark smoke curling around him like a presence, disappearing into the air—more prominent against his white uniform.
An Esper was getting corrupted. An Esper was on the verge of a rampage.
Not just anyone.
One who couldn't even be tagged an S-level.
The scientists had a special name for him—Case Number Z.
If he finally lost his mind, there would be no bringing him back.
Even the heavens had no clue what destruction he could inflict.
That was why he had been brought down here—into this new cage the scientists hoped was stronger than the last. A cage meant to keep him contained.
Because right now, this Esper needed guidance...
He ignored his reflection staring back at him and turned to Alexei.
"He's not okay. Can you feel it?" His whispers were chilling—more chilling than a roar. "Is that why he isn't here...?"
"I told you he was asleep..."
"Then why is he in pain, Alexei? Do humans feel pain when they sleep?"
He searched Alexei's eyes.
Something was wrong.
"Did someone hurt Theodore?"
Alexei massaged the side of his temple. Information like this was best kept away from him. To avoid escalation.
"Why are you not answering?! Where's Princey?!"
The scientists scrambled even further back.
But Alexei, with an exasperated sigh, moved closer, ignoring the doctors' pleas that he was unstable, until he was standing in front of him.
"You told me not to force him into anything. And that's what I'm doing." Alexei held his gaze. "What do you want me to do? I could send soldiers to drag him down here so he sees you like this. How about that?"
His heartbeat slackened.
Princey... dragged here.
Seeing him like this.
Like a monster.
The blood drained from his face.
The smoke cleared in an instant.
Alexei sighed in relief. Then he looked behind him at the scientists. "Come strap him down."
They hesitated.
Luckily for them, Fenrir was already turning back to the mirror.
"No straps." His cold voice filled the room as he moved to the bed, sitting on it with his arms wrapped around his knees. "That makes me even more angry."
Before him, the mirror shattered.
He rested his face against his knees. "I'll be good. Until Princey comes. I... I don't want to scare him."
It was noon now.
And it was getting harder to keep his promise.
The beeping machines were deafening.
The wires stuck to every inch of him, grazing his skin made him uncomfortable.
Suppressants and whatever else they pumped into him weren't working.
Theodore was no longer in pain. But the damage was already done.
His absence was just the kickstarter.
But he'd wait...
Fenrir sighed, shutting his eyes.
He couldn't bear to see Theodore scared of him.
He'd stay still... calm... and like he was taught, he began to count down.
But then...
He caught that familiar scent.
Grazing his nostrils.
Princey.
His brows knit, eyes still closed.
Except... once again... it wasn't pure.
Faintly mixed with someone else's.
Flaming red pupils flashed open.
He turned—found Vidar at the entrance.
The all-black uniform of a soldier clung to him, the three bright golden stars on his chest setting him apart. General. Gamma.
The further Vidar walked in, the stronger the scent became.
Princey.
"The biggest gate we've ever seen is threatening to burst open at the east side of the Pack..."
But Fenrir wasn't listening.
Last night's pain...
Was it Vidar?
The smoke ghosted over his frame again.
This time, as red as his pupils.
Vidar stopped.
"Kill him!" His wolf screamed. "He touched him... again."
A screen beside his bed blared like an emergency alarm, its piercing beeps slicing through the air.
On it, the numbers plummeted—Stability: 20, 15, 13...
With every decrease, the pain faded. Euphoria remained.
Vidar noticed. Vidar was smart.
Smoothly, he slid out his weapon, raising it level with the Esper's forehead. He had a killer shot—precise, lethal—but he also knew what those glowing red pupils meant.
Yet there wasn't an inch of fear in him. Not even a flicker.
Vidar could never be scared of him.
His pride wouldn't allow it.
A smirk brushed across Vidar's lips.
"Jealous?" Vidar arched a brow, finger resting on the trigger. "Really?"
Fenrir grinned, wide. Pupils glinting."Yeah."