Alex staggered back onto his feet, his chest rising and falling in uneven gasps. He wiped the thin trail of blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, the metallic tang still thick on his tongue. His eyes, sharp and defiant, flicked briefly to the shadow lingering at the edge of his consciousness.
"Arthur," he whispered hoarsely, his voice low enough so only the presence within him could hear. "Help me get out of here."
The reply came, cool and taunting, echoing in his mind like a hiss curling around his ear.
"If you had said you wanted to kill," Arthur drawled, his tone carrying an almost amused malice, "then I wouldn't hesitate to lend you some of my power. But since you only want to run, to escape like a frightened rat? That isn't something I'm interested in."
Alex clenched his jaw, his teeth grinding together in frustration. His body still ached from the previous clashes, and the Dean stood in front of him, an immovable wall of authority and strength. Without Arthur's aid, the odds were grim. He drew in a sharp breath, forcing himself to think.
The Dean's voice boomed across the courtyard, steady and commanding, loud enough for every watching student and teacher to hear.
"Surrender yourself, boy. You are no match for me."
Alex's lips curled into a defiant sneer. His eyes, narrowed with determination, glimmered with something dangerous—an unwillingness to bow.
"Not going to happen," he spat, and then suddenly rushed forward.
Every eye fixed on him. The Dean braced himself for an attack, gathering energy for a counterstrike. To the crowd, it seemed as though Alex was about to fling himself into a suicidal assault. But inside Alex's mind, his strategy was already clear.
'I'm no match for him… not yet,' he thought, his legs pumping harder. 'The only chance I have is to make him believe I'm attacking and then break away. Escape is the only path.'
The Dean's stance tightened, waiting for the inevitable clash—but at the last possible moment, Alex twisted his momentum. Instead of striking, he darted to the side, his body a blur of motion. His sudden turn caught the Dean off guard, and before anyone realized what had happened, Alex had surged past him.
Gasps erupted among the students as Alex tore through the crowd like a shadow slipping through cracks in the light. The Dean's outstretched arm caught nothing but air. His counterattack had been wasted.
"Kelvin! Raphael!" Alex's voice rang out as he spotted them near the edge of the courtyard. He didn't slow. His hand shot out, grabbing Raphael's wrist as he charged past. "Let's leave!"
Kelvin, surprised by Alex's sudden maneuver but quick to react, fell in beside them. Together, the three bolted down the steps of the academy, leaving behind a wave of shocked murmurs and the Dean's furious glare.
By the time they cleared the academy gates and burst into the outer streets, their lungs burned with exhaustion. Only then did Alex allow himself to stop, his hands braced on his knees as he struggled to catch his breath.
"That… was close," he muttered, every word dragged out with the weight of adrenaline still coursing through his veins.
Kelvin straightened his coat, looking around with exaggerated nonchalance even as sweat beaded on his brow. "I can't be seen running like this," he grumbled, half to himself. "People will think I'm a thief."
Alex shot him a tired but sharp look. "Is it not better to be a thief than to be branded the accomplice of a murderer?"
Kelvin's lips tightened. He had no argument for that. He only sighed, his eyes flicking away, accepting the ugly truth of Alex's words.
"Where do we go from here?" Alex asked, his voice lower now, tinged with concern.
Kelvin's gaze sharpened with decision. "I have one place in mind." Without another word, he stepped to the edge of the street and flagged down a cab. When the car screeched to a halt, he motioned for the boys to enter. "Come on. Let's go."
The ride was silent, heavy with the unspoken weight of what they had just escaped. The cityscape shifted outside the cab window, the academy's looming silhouette eventually giving way to the hum of the next town. By the time the cab slowed before a gated house, night had begun to creep across the sky.
"Where is this place?" Alex asked, narrowing his eyes at the quiet, imposing building.
"My friend's," Kelvin replied simply. His tone was steady, but Alex detected a faint edge in it, like he wasn't entirely sure how the encounter would go.
They followed Kelvin up to the gate, and after he pressed the button, the heavy doors swung open. Inside, the garden was dimly lit, neat yet cold, and a young man was already waiting at the house's entrance.
"What are you doing here, Kelvin?" the man asked, his expression guarded.
The boys glanced at each other, uneasy, but Kelvin's face didn't flinch. His calmness suggested this wasn't the first time he'd been met with such hostility.
"Can you let us stay for a few days?" Kelvin asked, his tone indifferent, almost businesslike. "Once I find a place for us, we'll leave."
The man's eyes lingered on Alex and Raphael, his gaze sharp and calculating. After a pause, he spoke. "If I must let you stay here, you'll pay for the accommodation. And meals? You handle those yourselves." Without another word, he turned and walked back inside.
"Kelvin… isn't that too much?" Alex whispered, frowning.
Kelvin only smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I have enough to cover it. Remember—it was my choice to get involved in your case. Don't trouble yourself with the costs." He gave Alex's shoulder a reassuring pat and motioned them forward. "Come on. Let's go in."
Inside, the young man led them to a spacious room. Before leaving, he spoke coldly: "You know your way around the house. Make yourselves comfortable. Just make sure these kids don't touch anything they shouldn't. I hate children. You know that, Kelvin."
Alex blinked, caught off guard. "Why? Why do you hate kids?"
The man glanced back, a scoff curling from his lips. "Because they cause trouble for adults. Just like what you did." He disappeared down the hallway before Alex could reply.
Startled, Alex turned to Kelvin. "How did he know?"
"He has the ability to see the recent memories of anyone," Kelvin explained quietly.
"Oh." Alex frowned, his gaze trailing toward the corridor. A chill ran down his spine at the thought of his memories being exposed so easily.
"I'm going out to look for apartments," Kelvin announced. "Stay here, both of you. Don't wander. I'll be back by noon."
"Okay," Alex answered, though worry tugged at his expression. As soon as Kelvin left, silence pressed down on the room. He slumped against the bedframe, the weight of everything finally crashing down.
He hadn't planned any of this. All he had wanted was to protect Raphael. But now, because of that single choice, not only was Raphael in danger—but Kelvin too. His stomach twisted with guilt.
Raphael, noticing the storm on Alex's face, approached quietly and patted his shoulder. His eerie little smile—half unsettling, half reassuring—curved at his lips. His eyes burned with determination.
"I know, I know," Alex muttered, rubbing his forehead. "I just can't help worrying about him. He's caught up in my mess because of me. I only hope he gets tired of helping someday, before it drags him deeper."
Unbeknownst to Alex, Kelvin and the young man were watching from the doorway, silent witnesses to his words. When Alex finally grew quiet, they withdrew.
"Do you regret it?" the young man asked Kelvin as they stepped into the night air.
"Regret? No," Kelvin said firmly.
"Then why the sighs? Why the frown?"
"I'm incompetent," Kelvin admitted. "I can't protect him the way I want to."
The man chuckled softly, clapping Kelvin on the shoulder. "It's too early to say that. There's plenty of time ahead. Stop torturing yourself. Besides, I have something for you."
Kelvin's brows furrowed. "What?"
"Nightfall Academy is hiring new teachers," the man explained. "You could apply. Enroll the boys too. It would keep them safe."
Kelvin hesitated. "Are you sure?"
"Don't worry. I'll take care of the rest."
Relief flickered across Kelvin's face, and he gave a small, grateful smile. "Thank you."
The man's lips twisted into a grin as he walked away. "But of course… you'll pay me back."
Kelvin exhaled a weary laugh. "When I become rich, I'll pay you. Don't worry."
Yet inwardly, he felt lighter than he had in days. For the first time since Alex's fall from grace, hope sparked faintly in his chest.