(Chapter starts)
A loud sound echoed in the car.
Eldric's phone slipped from his shaking hands and fell to the floor. He was breathing heavily. His fists were clenched tight.
"Eldric?" Luca asked, worried. She leaned closer. "What happened?"
Eldric didn't say anything. His mind was racing.
Luca quickly picked up the phone. Her hands were also shaking a little. She put it to her ear.
"Alya? What's going on?"
Alya's voice came through. She sounded scared and serious. "Come to the building near the dam. Fast."
Luca tried to ask more. "Wait, what happ—"
Click.
The call ended.
Luca turned to Sirius. "Drive. Now."
Sirius didn't ask anything. He just pressed the gas pedal, and the car sped off. The air inside felt heavy and tense.
Eldric let out a sharp breath. He was trying hard to stay calm. But his voice broke a little.
"...Raiven is dead. And Kairo is missing."
Luca's eyes went wide. "What are you saying?"
Sirius didn't look surprised. He was calm, like he already knew.
"So, they figured it out," he said quietly.
Eldric turned to him. His voice was angry. "You knew?"
Sirius nodded. "I didn't tell you because I knew you'd stop and try to help. We wouldn't have made it to safety."
Luca shook her head. She looked like she couldn't believe it. "This can't be happening…"
Eldric tried to think fast. He tried to guess who could have done this. "Who… who would do this…?"
Sirius stayed quiet. His eyes didn't leave the road. His hands gripped the steering wheel.
Then Eldric turned to him again. "Where were you when the attack happened? When the mansion was in chaos?"
Sirius spoke calmly. "I was in the secret basement. When the military came into the mansion, I came out. That's when I saw…"
He didn't finish the sentence. But they already knew.
Raiven was gone.
The car suddenly stopped. They had reached the building near the dam.
They all got out quickly.
Alya and Veiren were kneeling on the ground. Their eyes were red. Their bodies were shaking. Raiven's lifeless body was in front of them.
Elsa stood behind them. She didn't say anything. Her face showed no emotion.
A few steps away, Darius stood with other officials.
Luca ran to Alya and held her. Alya's body was trembling. Tears were running down her cheeks.
Eldric stepped back. Then he looked at Sirius.
"Give me a pistol."
Sirius narrowed his eyes. "I'll give it to you. But don't kill him. We need him alive… for now."
Eldric took the pistol. He hid it under his coat. "You go first. I'll come after."
Sirius nodded and walked toward the group.
As soon as he arrived, Elsa ran up to him. Her eyes were full of rage. She grabbed his collar.
"You said you'd protect Kairo!" she shouted. "You promised! But now—"
Eldric stepped in and placed his hand on her shoulder. His voice was calm and cold.
"We will save Kairo. No matter what."
Elsa slowly let go of Sirius. Her hands were still shaking.
Eldric turned to Darius. Without waiting, he pulled out the gun and pressed it to Darius's head.
"Who did you sell Kairo to?" Eldric's voice was sharp and cold. "And why did you kill Raiven?"
Alya and Veiren shouted in protest.
"Darius didn't kill Raiven!" Alya said. "He was with us the whole time!"
Eldric shook his head. "No. He planned this."
Luca, Alya, and the others looked confused.
Eldric kept going. "When the meeting started, Darius called Kairo a traitor. He knew Kairo would get angry. That was the first step."
He took a deep breath.
"Then, the maid gave Kairo a glass of water. I think there was something in it… something that made him faint."
"When the mansion gates opened, the building started to fall. That was not an accident. The assassins were already inside. They were waiting."
"Darius knew Kairo would pass out. And he knew the assassins would take him."
"When Raiven ran to save Kairo… Darius moved away. Then…" Eldric's eyes turned cold. "He used a secret device in his collar to give the order."
The whole place went silent.
Eldric stepped closer. His voice was like ice.
"You told them to kill Raiven."
But Darius didn't look scared. He smiled.
"Well done," he said. His voice was full of mockery. "You figured it out. So what now? Will you kill me?"
Alya and Luca were shaking with anger.
"I won't forgive you!" Alya cried.
Elsa's fists were tight. "I'll kill you myself!"
They all moved toward Darius.
But then—
Click.
Sirius and Eldric raised their guns.
They pointed them… at their own friends.
"Stop," Eldric said. His voice was calm but serious.
Everyone froze.
Luca looked shocked. "Why…? Why are you stopping us?"
Eldric didn't lower his weapon.
"The one who will kill Darius… is Kairo."
Darius smirked and turned around. He walked away with the other officials.
Alya, Elsa, and the rest stood still. Their anger was boiling.
But Eldric didn't move. His eyes stayed on Darius.
He was sure.
Kairo would end this.
---
Scene Change
Kairo slowly opened his eyes.
His head hurt. His vision was blurry.
He smelled damp wood and hay.
He was lying in the back of a moving bull cart.
His body felt weak. He tried to move, but his hands were tied.
A voice came from beside him.
"Oh? You're awake."
Kairo turned his head.
A man was sitting next to him. He wore black assassin clothes. His face showed no emotion.
Kairo's voice was weak. "Where… are we going?"
The assassin looked at the road ahead.
"To Eldoria," he said calmly.
Kairo narrowed his eyes. "And then?"
The man sighed. "Then? They'll torture you."
Kairo clenched his fists.
He had to escape.
He had to survive.
For Raiven.
For his team.
For himself.
(Chapter ends)
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