Chapter 241
Drive (2)
They finally arrived not too far from the academy gates. The soft hum of the engine faded as Thor shifted the truck into park. For a moment, neither of them moved. The silence stretched, thick with unsaid things.
Thor finally broke it. "We're here. Go ahead and get back in there."
IAM nodded, he was already reaching for the door handle. "Thanks for the drive back… and everything else. See you later."
Thor opened his mouth like he wanted to say something more—then shook his head, the moment passing. "See you… later."
IAM stepped out into the night, the cold brushing lightly against his face as the door shut behind him with a quiet thud. He adjusted his tracksuit and began to walk, one hand in his pocket, the other rubbing faintly at his neck.
Thor watched him the whole way, his expression unreadable beneath the dim dashboard light. When IAM finally disappeared beyond the gate, he let out a long, quiet breath. His fingers tightened briefly around the steering wheel.
Then, without a word, he put the truck into gear and drove away.
...
Thor was on his way home when his phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the screen, let out a small sigh, then picked up, keeping one hand on the steering wheel.
"Hello?"
"Hello... it's me."
"Kai? What's up? Why are you calling so late?"
Kai ignored the question and got straight to the point. "How's IAM? Did you get him back safe?"
Thor's expression tensed slightly. He hesitated before answering. "Yeah... I did. He's okay. A little sweaty and scruffy, but he's fine."
"Mmm... that's nice. That's really nice." Her voice softened slightly before picking up again. "So I heard about the situation with La Blanca and the Chloros. Is that sorted?"
"Oh no... no. This is looking like a long-term headache." Thor pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm gonna have to add it to the list. Can you get the guys on it? I'll send over the report—and hopefully some lab results—later."
There was a pause before he added, more quietly, "Thanks."
"K... k... so what are you doing right now...?"
Thor glanced down at his phone, puzzled. His grip shifted on the steering wheel. "Uhhh... I'm going home... Why?"
There was a pause on the other end. Then Kai's voice came through again, soft but laced with something dangerous. "Well now... isn't that something. Because I don't think so, buddy. I think me and you are going to have a loooong conversation about what happened today... Isn't that right?"
Thor's eyes widened slightly. He stuttered, "Ri... right now? I'm kind of tired and... I was hoping to get some res—"
"I can't wait to see you," Kai cut in sweetly—too sweetly. "And if you value your life, I suggest you speed up and make sure you get here... as fast as possible."
The line went dead.
Thor sat still in the truck, the phone still pressed to his ear. Slowly, he lowered it to his lap, blinking as if his brain needed a second to catch up.
He suddenly shivered—an involuntary jolt running through his whole body.
Then he swallowed hard.
He had a bad feeling.
A very bad feeling.
He felt... Like he was in danger.
This was going to be a long night... a really long night.
...
IAM got into a parked mini car, the door clicking shut with a dull thud. He sank into the seat, letting out a small breath as the quiet wrapped around him like a blanket. For a while, he didn't move.
He simply sat there, letting his thoughts drift back through the day… and the difficult conversation he'd shared with Thor on the drive back.
His eyes wandered to the window.
From his angle, he could see three of the moons tonight. The others had vanished behind the clouds or perhaps slipped beyond the world's curve—but the three that remained lingered high above, hanging like ancient sentinels in the dark sky. They were pale, unmoving, almost too perfect in their stillness. Like watchers from an older time who had seen far more than they would ever speak of.
IAM stared at them.
The silence deepened.
The streets of the academy stretched out before him like a painting—dimly lit, eerily quiet, and painted in the muted colors of night. Pale lamps gave off pools of soft yellow light, puddled on the ground below. In the distance, the shapes of buildings stood solemn, the outlines against beneath the sky. A couple of birds fluttered across one corner, startled by something unseen.
It all felt... suspended. As though the world itself was taking a breath.
IAM leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes for a moment.
Just to exist in that silence.
Even if only for a little while.
...
The shadows clung tightly to the corners of buildings and the undersides of balconies, as if refusing to let go of the day. They stretched and twisted in strange angles, unmoving and heavy beneath the soft glow of the academy's lights. The wind stirred the air with a gentleness brushing lightly against the windows and rooftops as if to lull the night into stillness.
And IAM finally started the mini car. The soft hum of the engine rose, breaking the silence only slightly as he pulled away from the curb and began the slow drive back to his dorm.
His shoulders sagged a little as he drove.
He exhaled, long and slow. His breath fogged faintly against the glass before fading into nothing. He felt deeply exhausted—his body ached, his thoughts were heavy, and his eyes burned faintly from strain. It wasn't just the physical toll of the day, it was everything else, too.
The conversation with Thor had left him hollow in a different way.
And more than anything else, he felt the need for rest.
...
IAM parked the mini car with a quiet sigh, the engine fading into silence as he stepped out into the cool night air. The sky above was dimmer now, clouds beginning to gather, swallowing the moons one by one. He shut the door softly and began the short walk toward dorm number 9.
The gravel crunched gently beneath his feet.
The campus was nearly silent, save for the distant hum of lights and the occasional whisper of wind brushing past the hedges. As he approached the building, its windows glowed faintly with warm yellow light, casting blurred reflections across the path.
He entered through the front entrance into the otherwise still lounge. No one was around—just the low hum of the heating system and the distant buzz of fluorescent lighting.
His steps were slow as he crossed the lounge and made his way toward the stairs. He ascended quietly, one hand trailing lightly along the banister. The hallway greeted him with dim light.
Then, finally, he came to a stop in front of Door 13.