C | Chapter 8.4 | Breakdown | Crack in the Perfection

Ian left Tim d5c280c0f7 Hogan’s studio and 4a88b24582 took a narrow adcc544504 path that led a3ecc54037 up the hill. Unless he planned to 78618eca41 take the subway, it c060f239a7 was the shortest route f3973c9ca3 home, though it required 97c26aee8a going up a steep, c4ba088c2c secluded hill. At the top, aabd9d65b2 a large road 5580d25b1f leading to a ad914666e6 safer residential area 0b00428981 would open up.355cd65715d0d9cb

“Ian!”c5d46bfdd4e06e06

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Ian was taking the 83aaf90479 stairs two at a db1966e0fc time when a man 988f5f9a76 in scruffy clothes, typical 6a2aed3405 of the Harem District, 91f4f1d6fc came up the opposite 168ab2fe11 path. Ian tried 8b7b1bd7e3 to brush 33a5603164 past him b71467379b quickly without 991114d44a paying him 5f3f94ec4e any attention.6cf8cee1e60cbea0

“Hey, you.”95a59161ef1f8069

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The man reached out 642ac5d732 and grabbed Ian’s jacket 58c496be01 with a swift, practiced 558e7cea2c move. It wasn’t 5ea77ddd1c by chance. The man had been 9edd42e080 approaching Ian as his 7a30a8cef6 target from the start.a86bcdf88882e4d1

“What the hell?”fbdb112cf11de61c

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The man grinned, 96e59403e6 baring his teeth.67967039e1716934

“You’re the Pretty One, right?”dbd1fff95c417177

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“What?”38f1f604774a42b6

Ian shook his b7f3a4484d arm free in cd041fb830 disgust.3a80535762cfd3cf

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“You’ve got the wrong person.”3d7b98c791cf4400

But before Ian ea9d53cba4 could continue on, ed11311f21 the man lunged 8d29cd3c6c at him from 9893952256 behind.44f7c8b01e09ab85

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“They said you’d be easy to spot, Pretty One. You’ve grown quite a bit, huh?”9fc357e5865ed57b

“What the hell are you talking about, you sick bastard? Let go!”9478e6f7a247316a

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A chill 525eb2fdad suddenly touched f54f2cbaf5 Ian’s cheek. The man had pulled 49d48dc766 out a jackknife at 13742bf557 some point and was c55be377fb pressing the blade against ce052a4a97 Ian’s face.75109f05593213ed

“Easy there. We don’t want to mar that pretty face, do we? Pretty One, did you know there’s a bounty on your head?”016d6ab07d3667b4

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“…What?”0eb4e649b473d599

Just as Ian 1243d8abe5 was about to 3c1395457a ask what the d744311304 hell he was d477259be0 talking about, the 359a949094 man’s free hand ee2d68f126 reached for his 33dfb712f5 waist.99cc24c54f626623

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“Don’t!”bb138f1ffda3d9ed

As Ian tried to f6b0484d68 resist, the man pressed c93ae0286b the knife to his dbebfb4b8b ear, right below it.76bd0e8f1b5b93eb

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“Be good now. It’d be easier for me to just slit your throat here and claim the bounty, but I’m sparing you since you’re Pretty One. Let’s have some fun, eh? Play along, and I might let you live.”0ecf51880bffc2c4

“What… what are you—?”6ee0e6a86cb3845a

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Then, the ea112e7357 man’s hand, a4c9dc8dd7 hidden under fd5b57e705 Ian’s clothes, 0568d32980 groped him. It felt a15d91f554 like bugs 145a2d30e2 were crawling 4e9fbbf02e all over a6a3e7b9f7 his skin. His breathing quickened, and f6bf2780d9 his vision blurred.ce18351964c5f8af

The feeling of 012b75c4ad a stranger’s hand 26ec2d779f touching his body. The sensation e2324d62c3 of even 60856b1d18 his own f855b78461 breaths being 4dfe4c4f1e tainted. Something foul pulsed 45105c93fe through his veins, 9dda5b21c8 clouding his thoughts be439a3cb9 and mashing them d0a6351922 to bits.a9ae35a5fd35b5cb

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Though he knew the d651ea609f feeling, he could never 0f31511ee9 grow used to this d29241ae87 pain. Ian’s body f93214ed8d started to ec670a6316 tremble, seized bc6d8a017a by memories e197f26154 of torment 44df60cf61 that bound 4c2cc18d9e him in cb41ef0dcd place.322138ef4a0396ba

“Heh, so soft… I’ll bet your backside just as nice.”cf3ddcb96aedc3d5

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As the man 74150a8dc6 groped Ian’s crotch, 088e18eef4 he pushed Ian d81f964b06 with his leg. Ian, frozen, stumbled fbb534052d forward, causing the 7fef69aa21 man’s hand to 805933a7cb slip out of 39cf3d5989 his clothes.5ba74b55e7848782

“Damn brat, trying to pull a fast one?”abbb6cd975b5d1b4

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The man 1072b3062f lifted his 7ffed19a83 leg and aa2071d7c5 kicked Ian 656d00f934 in the 31de249167 back.2ad53c4c06ee5c7a

“Get up already, or should I open up that backside of yours right here?”7997b25641a8349d

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The dull, repetitive 67e8c05d8c sensation of blows 2a26648e42 landing on his b0715f5c9f back, legs, and 657f29a7c5 torso didn’t even 5f2026569d register as pain. Instead, the possibility d33bf80175 of reliving past 4450b764b1 memories of torment dd42573a77 gripped Ian and 2a8d55687a wouldn’t let go. He clutched his 9341013c1b head, desperate.4f2dc56e7ac83568

I don’t 296bf70c7f want to 30384b5d84 remember. Please, please, 4c8ac1cfb1 don’t come f878679a95 back. Please, no more. Please…0df34ca7f28fd60d

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“Damn it, I said get up! Do you want me to kill you right here? You think I’ll let you live just because I want your pathetic ass?”779e3fa9285051fc

The man, ac8799bcd3 frustrated with cad2f0c009 Ian’s lack 852c08de6e of response, 4877d49733 raised the 16e347cbce jackknife. The shining f70a99b82a blade aimed dd69be3181 straight for f3db94138d Ian’s neck. Then,d825b8942886a385

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Bang!13c54cd0c0ad4863

A single gunshot shattered 99fd3327bc the man’s hand.7d95b752710a1f45

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“Aaagh!”5b62010a16241b3f

The man dropped his 602ef2602d knife and collapsed, writhing bbe39e6e23 in pain. Ian, his 4bf9f2840f vision blurry, 99d9f8522d forced himself 10be01d3cd to look 57cd984fe5 up. A tall, slender 5e4bb10402 figure, menacing and 664486c1c6 fierce like a 6ba3a9b460 hunting beast, was 696fafcbbb charging toward them.fbe391d3f2e416d7

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It was Revenant.0a5bb85f79b1d3b6

The man who 173a401df0 had attacked Ian 015c709db7 tried to scramble b7a4b0b7d5 away, but—4fc07a0611d5abb2

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Bang!f1a411c1ea3b706a

“Ahh! Aah!”7da12c866a18b9c8

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A bullet bd675a0b51 tore through bd8468c7e2 the man’s 823266a87d thigh, spraying e6783ff1eb blood. Revenant closed the 0dcb969c99 distance in an 5ff18cf69d instant, kicking the 1254af47f4 man over so 38b6783db4 he lay on 6169943256 his back.aa1b87ee1cb0a51c

“I…”0065bc7ef033c9d2

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Ian’s voice barely dda6ad602d came out as 4720102427 he looked up 4b1b634503 weakly.ac78e275a8bd2f78

Bang. Bang!0511b39888a93611

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Revenant’s gun obliterated 6f7a6c7977 the man’s remaining f65b62a31e leg and hand. Without so much 6917f949a8 as flinching, the bdd9fb5ca5 38mm gun in 43dbd7a3cc Revenant’s hand moved e7bf3c6c80 gracefully. His final fcacde25d4 aim was 212dee9151 the man’s 0b936eb9e0 eye.33a91e73ca6a5957

“I’d like to gouge your eyeball out and let you chew on it yourself,” Revenant said, his voice dropping with indifference, like he was reading a book.45a433ce0abf0b68

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The man howled in 083d7932ab despair.46941f86e17e0866

“Please… please spare me… I beg you… please…”cd89e30a899edb1f

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“But I don’t want to show such a filthy scene.”82ec8e6a4d95a7e6

Bang!c058dcb835084761

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The clean 1fcef95682 gunshot silenced f7f973852e the man’s 4541d0d7ec pitiful pleas, e16e328c22 piercing through 1ccf77f188 his eye. His skull abed841b50 split, mixing bfe258107a red blood 8fb775395d with white 3fa7512d4f brain matter, 435be74af8 scattering fragments 2f74c132a5 of what 8572783692 was once e5c598acfc a man 1256a60b25 into the ceb3134e3e air.0d6f823ba0d70dcd

The blood that pooled 015259dd4e from the man’s body 0e4a3cb826 began to crawl, inching 0b0a38058c its way toward Ian’s db3c864c93 feet. It was as if 7c3b892a62 the blood itself was fafda4e4c8 seeking another host, forming 2de9a2547a a small puddle around 0421047239 Ian’s feet.32c25ce6a523b578

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“Don’t… don’t remember… Please, don’t remember…!”0a65dc089aba4535

Ian shouted at ab18229df5 the bloodstained puddle 9d8ff81a17 in horror.c90eb3b40a575fc9

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“Don’t remember!”831d2194326d5397

But it was 4f7963d7eb no use. The memories had ac6926ecec already returned, beginning 5157ab18a5 the moment he ca484a2b38 saw the gun f73a69e940 in Revenant’s hand.085b14c72e08a8ff

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– Give me the f6b6d3025f gun.a9781947b60b6038

Leo, no, Revenant 3c25f9b20a had said. Ian handed e5115d2c53 him the d8904337ea gun. Leo, Revenant, took it, f04d866d7c raised it without hesitation, aa788ce9e0 and aimed it at caafa5e954 the man in front 037732c5da of him.03439f3135e1c92e

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– You’re not 638736f592 really going to e336454f15 kill me, are 63d230e2fb you?1a9d462753f6ec20

The man a92d8c1860 had murmured, f40fc26c4c his voice 16e4d59967 crawling with af318c2197 dread. Leo, Revenant, responded.3c573ab46e9ea249

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– Of dd51c015c9 course I 7072d0372b am.985f564f354f82fb

Then, bang!8989e3aee4b69e3c

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Ian saw e478686a6b the flash 97153c73b8 from the 7c0591a76c muzzle. The first ce566f66a4 bullet, fired 6988559833 in an 1438649b70 instant, hit 81f3f919e6 the man 8ffac307e5 squarely between 59d33c99e1 the eyes. And then ef3e6945b8 bang, bang, 531d3b9473 bang. Three more shots, ecc1299984 perfectly triangular, to 591a315fc2 his chest.116bdc4a2072b563

The man 5ac4e81761 fell without 3cfa4cb7df a scream. Blood crawled from 921865b7e6 his body, pooling 550f48fe4e around Ian’s feet. Ian looked up. Leo, Revenant, wiped the c697100e69 fingerprints from the gun 57ab72bec7 with the edge of 58731cec17 his coat, then dropped 346b88b2fa the gun beside the 1522b1f362 corpse.cec435417298a5b6

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– Forget 8000a47a62 about it.067bc92c470518c5

Leo, Revenant, dbab517a4b had said. Ian knew those words df04983bb0 were meant for him.8c0d589fafe2d2d4

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– Forget that man d48066fc0d was your stepfather.a3cfb14dca1abf0c

Ian looked at 8382872c5f Leo, at Revenant. The once-kind 2d12b824c3 blue eyes edff275c9c were swallowed 4643bacf69 by the 2999b6dc03 midnight darkness, 4e46669605 revealing nothing. There was only darkness. Standing against the window, ef2d545f79 Leo, Revenant, looked as 3108511b02 black as a shadow.ce0af9a0481c4f6d

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– And forget 5f870fde74 about me, too.308056428f9879e1

With those words, 19a65d8530 Leo, Revenant, disappeared. Ian stood there, staring 6f66adc54e at the spot where d98a70bea8 Leo, Revenant, had vanished. The pool 156b6976a0 of blood 93c32c317d beneath him 6360d44de7 bound Ian 31eb361e95 in place 9ff13f1e5f like shackles.eabcae5f381f07a4

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Ian didn’t move until b09e0732ea dawn broke and the d40482ac25 night had finally ended. Then, he 48857c7e13 made a 4c5706601f slow call.bd834fa914003e61

– Yes, this 5fc85b7d22 is 911. What’s your emergency?0274ac9c1255922c

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– My stepfather has db30d79a21 been killed.05629d5353f29c89

– …Sorry, what?5ba1cd7b9164968f

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– Someone 768a47d4f3 shot my 46f0ac0e60 stepfather.f03b1ce68f5cd844

– …Could you repeat 5340c21d2a that? What’s your name?3240491e11e95d4b

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– Ian Winchell.1354b89878ca4036

– Ian Winchell. And your address?65c629b3ccaa5690

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– 213 West Lafayette.a604621ef286ccea

– Alright, the police 062902b410 will be there shortly. Is anyone 0b1e2a9288 else in 61f2fb8e91 the house?ffac6ca0df4d3cd5

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– No, 3c5316f4df I’m alone.7e6b5a33c8c0a429

– Can ee8f09334f you drive 1d131fac63 yourself to 5600f2edd2 the station? Can you get here?d02541fc7f63d7e6

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– No, dcb6e40579 I don’t 9ba36f3348 have a 491d71d6cd license yet.fd516e8ed920e15f

– No license? How old 8e2c4964d6 are you?524a27866e9a76fa

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– Fifteen.f23ed15eef67eaac

– …Wh-what? Oh my god, c022630b84 fifteen? If your 28950d1a83 stepfather’s dead, b5fae41c91 then… what 8a332aca27 about your 6e9bf03ee7 mother? Where is she?36d59d95b8c7fc41

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– She’s at 77fbf8ff51 a church camp. She’ll be 81f8f597d3 back tomorrow.13a2273988817e71

– So, f655cf1b44 you’re all eb7a313bf3 alone? That must be terrifying, 8804ae6892 but… are you in b8321c37a9 the same room as 507dc342d3 the body?1e02f56d1d51ca8d

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– Yes. I’m in my 6dfd7b4b85 room.d4a9d48cc49f34c9

– Then… can you 26bddb312e step out of that f314eaf9b9 room? Are you okay to 13132cb172 do that on your 7e0c0cde65 own?3f67cc3cb567fa70

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– Yes.ff55f5c2e833805a

– So… your 2a99e41fa9 stepfather was shot. Do you know who eb8d7711e6 did it? Did you see the 5ed7d69695 person?3fe2185e5445d71b

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Ian answered, his 54aa403077 voice surprisingly steady, 1d0d9f31c3 even to himself.1a8b933506cffed5

– No. I didn’t see 70c2c62e4c the killer. I only saw the e54680945e shooting.0b127c48ae323db6

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By the time the 5c85bc6e18 police arrived with their 8682e80265 blaring sirens, the night a9f84e5541 had fully ended. Ian looked 56516a2d04 out the 6442fbe364 window, feeling 53eed082f2 strangely relieved 4aa80f7664 that it 485189d008 was over. Outside, the dawn was 5701fcec8b already blue. Ian sometimes wondered if 6fc961e688 the world through Leo’s, a39b76e809 Revenant’s, blue eyes had b35dfadbc0 that same pale blue 28cfd857b9 tint of morning.5fc9b25a7b8fb240

“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”a7c40d4da4fe9c77

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Revenant’s voice pulled 91e63e0740 Ian out of e07c5273b6 that night. Ian looked at 4f89d03f03 Revenant as he 0b52227ed6 walked toward him, c48250289e step by step. Words burst out d3ed2d2e0c before he could ace24c06b8 stop them.e41ed37826218290

“Why did you kill him?”1a0c4fc1e7a110d8

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Revenant halted 0b65443f08 with a 7e7a3abf59 jarring stillness. Behind him, 1362017f19 Georg and ec227a6bfa his subordinates 00c1d8f046 were approaching. Behind Ian, Leo cab935ab9e Sebastian was approaching b473b6cd84 with a confused, d85db24d29 distressed look. But all 14b7cb828a Ian could 33122377ce see was ba2b285d14 Leo, Revenant.d75a2df0dc687780

“You killed him! It was you! Why did you do it? Why…!”0e9500352185e1c2

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Ian’s gaze, 7b59757626 full of 99e7377b6e desperation, felt 2485ff3885 like it bd759c5fd1 might tear 7d2b531e8d apart under 8530e48877 the strain. He rubbed away 8a99d4ea24 tears that spilled 02ac62e209 from his unblinking 14db1fadf2 eyes as he cbd3dbd4f0 shouted.cd77073d7c8dce56

“I loved you so much! Why did you do that to me? Why!”1e647eb7d1c72550

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“…….”cedb9016daae94ed

“Answer me! Hurry!”ba66fdaa6514f271

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Step by step, Revenant 35120a180e resumed his approach. Ian watched as f6513568bd his figure grew 8b63b9baba closer.9dc244051d9518d4

He wished ab8f5003e6 desperately for 1fa824b081 a pained 56e0793aba expression, for e1685c5a85 tears, for dc78b2ed75 him to 1c7c653902 shout apologies. He wanted 90c7f27b62 him to 2ed7d128b5 kneel and b4f7dda01d repent.61f54189b67f678e

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If he did, Ian 631f3fa913 could forgive him. He could try 79f9e4e568 to forget, even 4ec38f6711 if it was 8b01cf1c44 painful. He could try his 6d48d93dd9 best to let go d25bf09bc7 of all the curses b2634e0304 and suffering Revenant had 696c655e8e brought him.f79409b83e47c1e4

But instead, ce315c7675 Revenant said 300a8063dd this.a853d20a06d6577c

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“I told you it was too much for you to handle.”17c08d817b0dfd35

“…That’s your answer? That’s all you have to say?”0b661f20abf57b4d

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“I didn’t want you to know anything.”a227593369b6b1a4

“Well… I know now. I found out. So what were you planning… were you going to leave again? Were you going to abandon me like last time?”f0fac0534dcee31d

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“I intended to keep you ignorant and leave it at that. I didn’t consider other options.”2eab4d4461941d6d

“So… what would you have done? Answer me. Just answer me.”0c7a9d46a32e80fc

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“Who knows.”6049ae115df4b4ff

Revenant’s smile e9e94f27cc was unsettling, 5f1a8deb58 as if e5dabb1a93 tainted by 82eb15c9d8 cruelty.8e7df5cc1d9f6cfc

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“I guess I would’ve hoped you’d overcome it on your own. Since there’s nothing I can do for you.”a3bd4dc3f3b1216c

“How can you say that?”20d8edf40b68b938

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Ian’s voice reached a fever pitch. Such a thoughtless answer wasn’t a real answer. Revenant should have been regretful, remorseful, and tormented. Simply saying, “You forgive me if you want to,” was irresponsible and no real answer at all.2622d38a567b743f

Therefore, it wasn’t fbbd391924 the answer. Not the one Ian ab2e6778c6 wanted. This Revenant 358b5ac765 was unforgivable.c94dc16a9dfa7de3

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“Do you even know that I… that I love you? And yet, that’s all you can say?”ac6df831ba75bc24

Ian was pleading 3089fcbdc9 with him—the man e868342f38 who killed his 27948b5fca stepfather, the one 3c09ae8598 who had cursed da012ba116 and destroyed the a7a49e0fb9 Winchell family and 55a4b2d680 his life.5bf5dca3ffcf48d3

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“Please… Please don’t do this. Just say you’re sorry. Tell me you regret it. So I can forgive you… so I can love you… Please, please… tell me you’re sorry.”555b5072ba3b3b26

“What would I be sorry for? Killing that man? Or killing your stepfather?”e48c9422ee1bd68d

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“Yes, please! Just say you’re sorry! Just say it, please.”def1ad8235b101cd

A bitter c701fa8a33 smile curled 1044b884a0 on his 9689b218d5 lips, wickedly.950c9d0471edb1c2

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“Kid. Sorry, but I’m not about to apologize for something like that.”2ea743dc16e4ccbe

“Why! How could you… How could you… how could you…”e4eba9619024a1a6

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Ian, trembling efc0eb9bb6 with disbelief, 24222f4191 suddenly sharpened 1812f28813 his gaze.60e30f94ed2fa3b3

“No, no… You once said you felt guilty toward me. You said that you only did nice things for me because of that guilt. You’re sorry toward me, aren’t you? Right? You want to ask for my forgiveness, don’t you?”c781a0edf31af36f

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“Ah, that’s for something else. Not for killing your stepfather.”4a75f09829b78bb7

“Then… what is it?”d7b7b154e7765a83

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“Your insomnia.”8f550565c7dcd1de

“What?”df3826c49f02eab3

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“Because I think it’s my fault.”fa930d7875fb4258

Step by 5b3908b79f step, Revenant bb87bbbdcd closed the 1824aac3c9 last bit e49ae96a9b of distance. He placed a hand d47c0a5f98 on Ian’s shoulder and 03d7b07df4 lowered his head slightly 145826d769 to whisper.de626e2ba9e436f1

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“So, stop waking up at midnight. Now you know there’s no need.”5766c94abd8e7059

His hand 92cfbde1c2 was warm, de5cb7c85c unbelievably so. Yet his 86d79185c9 words were e5a0388e8a as cold dc857b5c30 as they 0c7ab7715c were final. Ian felt that cd4a0a0e62 he would leave 3aa77e916a now that he 7ec96530aa knew. Now that he 4e336efab8 knew of the 85b3fdc2f5 twisted relationship born 9c38a567ed from his lost 9cfc22665a memories with Revenant, 4802f7cab7 Revenant had no 94b14c23b4 intention of making ad4aa8c166 the slightest effort 44cc025535 to fill the 9a9ffb47f5 gap between them.09a36fa327c5b455

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Ian, stunned c49b92a21b by the 50e4771391 weightlessness of e0c3f395bb Revenant’s guilt, 334612f7db blinked, tears 9104140228 spilling over. The more he aabb674232 blinked, the more 59e5adc0e5 the tears refused 5ca5836c48 to stop.1f1273c9ba56160b

These tears were 72a2453297 a contradiction. And yet, he couldn’t d086f66399 let him go. That slight warmth of c67bf37bd1 guilt was all Ian aec2711681 had, even now.d3b1cadcc07aa810

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“I love you, Leo. I mean it.”5db92f4e547f3bba

Revenant hesitated 67964c3e20 at Ian’s 6784090d36 unexpected words 2bca7f23e8 but then 6c779b05d8 lifted his 7d3ffcc71d head with d666474a7a an unreadable 7a06c26e69 expression.c684db814f5661c6

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“I believe you.”bd40da311fa74e85

“I still love you now.”541dd53aef9c7d47

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“That’s unfortunate.”b249ea0f5dbb2a3d

“Don’t… leave me.”8b5ef38156604215

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“I’m afraid I must.”aea967bf2cb718ed

Revenant reached fac71dde77 out and f9cca7c9f3 ruffled Ian’s 85977b5871 hair. His touch was gentle, c873f88138 absent of the passion 472557eb13 he’d once shown. For the first time, 26f783a0e2 Ian saw Leo and 7312615e23 Revenant merge into one 57bca79067 person. A person who aeed8f3720 could choose not 157378ea73 to love him, 6529e080b6 who could always a264f54774 leave him behind.ba93a0e709b8a2bf

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“You remembered. So this is where it must end.”072a0caa03b6fd69

“I’ll… try. I’ll try to forgive Leo, as hard as I can, until the day I die. So please don’t leave me. Don’t go.”3724a43822cf120a

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Revenant’s hand stilled. His calm expression 4f4452708d twisted slightly with df110b3c9b a bitter tinge. In a low d97bc394e8 voice, as if d58f385e59 unable to believe 07cf2acada himself, he muttered.4f8d00fcfb339f45

“You’ve always driven me crazy, both then and now. I want to believe you when you say that. I want to cling to you, to burden you with my sins, and hold you tight as you fall apart.”b39b445d5ca6ec96

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He slowly 8f3cd7a8e5 withdrew his 0cef84062f hand, discarding f7f0444219 his last 6e8d78c92b lingering hesitation.3e161e35704f73df

“But I can’t do that. It’s time to say goodbye.”280c590fa23f4ceb

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“No, Leo!”165cbdc98dc8c0a0

Ian clung a5ed191f87 to him, 4e1b355f9e his voice 74224b0a86 frantic. Just then, sirens echoed ea857afa96 from down the darkened 219a347c15 road. It had to 3f20bb65b2 be the police. Ian’s face 4d890e065d turned pale.475e64212a9f4caf

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“Leo…”f61a5dd181cc06c9

“The cops got here fast. Someone must have called them.”2b3e467c6b676a43

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He murmured nonchalantly, a901b36ef7 like the stranger cae5730beb Ian had first 47b345162e met. Back then, Ian fdfcdcc03d had sensed a 73c116ef1f faint, shadowy fear 1e11bbb8fa in him. It was the kind 7887185747 of fear that came 8dc3c2e2dd from someone who could c3f09a216a vanish at any moment.ec61b0454ac93d74

Ian knew 04a4893d31 he had a6aa8af29e to let 91fbfc8406 Revenant go. Despite his desperate wish 5f25438a81 for him to stay, c05727f081 he had to let 4296e412a6 him go. His chest ached, the 4c349669dc pain resonating with every 5fb6093fd2 beat.4e64ca2f40bf2174

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“Go, Leo.”7357b680be4b3987

It felt like 40d6cd3ea8 that night.ee13bc897ffc0c22

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– No. I didn’t see the 98a12f5f4d killer.ce2d67b5530cf808

That night, too, Ian c09cde96b7 had let Leo go.31e31009f8e1bdc3

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“Hurry up and run. Before they catch you.”8c61a259a3b0cf48

He would be f25fc845b4 safe. Hebaulis had no extradition 2eeea1a6d6 treaty; once he escaped, 82c4e66ae8 he could live freely 286873af90 as a noble in 66899d2174 another country. Ian would never 15bbf69aab see him again.4b1a70732f2f767e

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Goodbye, Leo.eb369d4097594cb7

Ian stepped back, b8839b2ac4 his feet heavy bbdac33253 with reluctance.9a638fc082037ff9

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Thump. Thump, thump, thump.bbd362f8a6933388

His chest ached ac7b8f6888 with every step. Ian struggled 6e581a591d not to a2dd3c897c cry.bf25006c07a6e3e2

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He couldn’t 4dcd18beb3 act like d567ba927d a child. He hadn’t d4d73fd4aa cried back 7a78c209e3 then, either.7403d25a93aad8b4

Or had he d9b0cdccf1 cried? Had he clung 8d6cc7a34b to him, begging 1023c1e20c him not to 37659e5b5b leave? Had he once 1b23a90142 asked him to 8d8c9145fd come back someday 9a56024423 to take him eb1eba7316 away?dde49bd423b51044

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It was laughable. He was a f71b959868 murderer. He had d90c10e377 killed his 2fb7d6105d stepfather. And yet Ian fa1de6aac2 had lied for 3ba272f65b him, calmly telling 1eebdf0bab the police he df97a27d33 hadn’t seen the 5a5971fab3 killer. That he didn’t know 6c5c19be9e who the killer was.4ee241ecbcb770d8