Slowly, Abe's consciousness returned. The first thing he felt was the searing pain coursing through his entire body. His muscles were stiff, as if he hadn't moved for a long time. Something heavy weighed on his eyelids, making it difficult to open his eyes completely.
When he tried to move, a sharp pain shot through his shoulder. He groaned softly. The air around him was cold and damp, indicating that he was in an enclosed space.
"Finally awake, Abe."
That voice—familiar.
Abe forced his eyes open, and though his vision was still blurry, he recognized the figure sitting nearby.
Takahashi.
The young man leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. His face looked exhausted, but his sharp gaze remained unchanged.
"Where... am I?" Abe struggled to speak, his voice hoarse. His throat felt as dry as a desert.
"A temporary hideout," Takahashi replied. "I found you lying on the basement floor, still gripping the gun in your hand, with Murase's body sprawled beside you."
Abe tried to recall. The images of Murase, his mother, and the grinding machine flashed in his mind like violent waves crashing onto the shore. His hand clenched into a fist, remembering how he had pulled the trigger—how Murase's blood had splattered across the floor.
"He's dead... right?" Abe's voice was barely a whisper.
Takahashi nodded. "Yeah. You made sure of that yourself. Some of the shots were too brutal for him to survive. He's not coming back."
Abe took a deep breath. But for some reason, he didn't feel satisfaction or relief. Only emptiness, growing deeper within him.
The hatred should have been enough to satisfy me. Then why…?
Takahashi seemed to read Abe's expression. He sighed before speaking again. "You might have thought killing Murase would give you answers or justice. But you already know—this isn't over. The people behind this system are still out there."
Abe shifted his gaze to the ceiling. "Then what's next?"
Takahashi remained silent for a moment before saying, "That depends on you, Abe. I've seen what this system has done to you. I know you hate all of this, but… you still have a choice. I won't force you to keep fighting if you want to stop."
Abe froze. Those words felt foreign to him. All his life, he had always believed he had no choice. But now, someone was truly offering him one.
Yet… did he even have anything worth fighting for?
Silence filled the room. Only the ticking of a clock could be heard.
Finally, Takahashi stood up and grabbed a water bottle, tossing it toward Abe. "Drink. You need the energy to think clearly."
Abe caught the bottle with some difficulty, then twisted the cap open and took a sip. The cold sensation refreshed his parched throat.
After a few moments, Abe finally spoke.
"...If I stop now, then all of this would have been for nothing."
Takahashi watched him, waiting for him to continue.
"Murase is dead, but this system still exists. And if they know I'm still alive, I doubt they'll leave me alone."
Despite the lingering pain in his joints, Abe straightened his posture. The emptiness in his eyes now showed a flicker of renewed determination.
"I can't stop here."
Takahashi smirked slightly. "That's what I expected."
He then tossed something toward Abe. A brown envelope.
"What's this?" Abe asked.
"Data I managed to steal from Murase before I pulled you out of there," Takahashi answered. "There might be clues about who's really controlling all of this."
Abe stared at the envelope for a moment before finally taking it.
Even though his hatred for this system hadn't faded, he knew there was something bigger at play than just Murase.
And he would find out.
(To be continued…)