Morning. Still, heavy, like the air forgot how to move.
Silas lay there tangled in sheets, eyes half-open but pretending hard like he was asleep. Corvin was already outta bed. Sitting on the edge, shirtless, back turned, cigarette between his fingers like it was his last thread of sanity. He didn't say a damn word. Just stared at the floor, smoke curling around him like it had somewhere better to be.
Silas's throat was dry. His heart louder than it needed to be.
He mumbled, voice cracking—
"You didn't mean that, right? What you said last night."
Corvin didn't look back. Just lit his cigarette again like the first puff wasn't enough. Took a drag. Let the silence beat down.
Then: "If I didn't mean it, I wouldn't've said it."
That was it.
Silas blinked fast. His chest hurt. Like his ribs were fighting to keep his heart inside.
No one said anything for a long time.
---
They left the hotel. Sun way too bright. Air way too loud.
Silas hadn't eaten since yesterday and his stomach was threatening to file a lawsuit. They stopped at some diner — greasy windows, smells of burnt toast and regret. Silas slid into a booth. Corvin followed, eyes hidden under sunglasses.
Silas ordered pancakes. Corvin got black coffee, but didn't even touch it.
It was weird. Too quiet. The kind of quiet that makes your brain scream.
Silas kept fidgeting. Fork. Napkin. Water glass.
And then, boom—
"You loved her… and now you love me? That's not messed up to you?"
He didn't mean to say it that loud. But it was out there now, hanging like a curse.
Corvin's jaw clenched. Didn't even blink.
"You wanna call it messed up? Fine. But don't pretend like you ain't feeling it too."
Silas stared. Felt something burn behind his eyes.
"Why is all of these happening to me!"
He stood up his chair, and walked off to the bathroom. Slapped the door open. Locked himself in.
Mirror. Pale face. Bloodshot eyes.
He punched the sink. Not hard enough to break anything. Just enough to feel something.
He whispered, "What the hell am I doing…"
He didn't cry. Not really. But his eyes wouldn't stop leaking.
---
Outside. They paid. Walked toward Corvin's car. Wind picking up.
Just as they got near the passenger side — a sharp click.
Camera.
Silas turned.
A guy in dark clothes, black hoodie, face half-covered. Holding a phone, snapping pics. Fast.
Then — the guy ran.
Jumped into a beat-up silver car. Peeled off down the street.
Corvin's whole face turned to stone. Eyes flashing like a storm.
"Get in the car," he said.
"Why? Who was that?"
"Just get in NOW."
Silas froze.
Corvin's voice didn't shake. But it was low. Dangerous.
He got in.
His hands were shaking.
______
In the car, the air was thicker than the smoke Corvin kept dragging from another cigarette. He didn't talk. Not a word. Eyes straight ahead, knuckles white on the wheel.
Silas fidgeted. Then snapped.
"What the fuck was that back there? Some random dude just took our picture and you go full Terminator mode. What's going on, or I'm still a kid that doesn't deserve to know?"
Nothing.
"Corvin. Talk to me."
Still nothing.
"You said you loved me last night. Doesn't that mean anything to you? Or was it just another game for you to control me? Like always."
Corvin slammed the brakes. Tires screeched as he pulled off to the side of the road so fast Silas hit the dashboard. He slammed the gear into park. Head dropped forward, hands shaking on the wheel.
Then he exploded.
"You think I planned this? You think I wanted this? Every fuckin' day I wake up wondering when it's all gonna go to shit. You were never supposed to mean anything to me. But you did. You do. And now everything's falling apart."
Silas stared. Shaken. Voice small.
"Why? Why's it falling apart? What the hell is going on?"
Corvin looked at him, eyes wild. But he didn't answer. He threw the car into drive and peeled off, tires burning.
Back at the mansion, silence followed them in like a shadow. Corvin threw the keys on the counter. Looked at Silas like he was looking through him, sharp eyed like a predator on it's prey.
"You know the rules, but now you must follow them totally if you want to be at peace with me" he barked.
"You don't leave the house without me. No more late-night runs. No more bars. No more bullshit. I would drive you to school or have a driver too. Don't talk to anyone you don't know. You hear me?"
Silas opened his mouth but Corvin cut him off.
"Don't argue. Not this time, just don't."
Then he walked off. Fast. Disappeared into his private study.
Silas stood there. Just... stood there. Numb, and confused.
Behind the study door, Corvin grabbed the burner phone from the drawer. Dialed fast. No hesitation.
When the line picked up, his voice dropped.
"They know."
Silence on the other end.
Corvin's voice cracked a little.
"They know he's alive now. They're gonna try to take him away from me."
Click.