The call ended.
Hazel lowered her phone slowly, her sharp eyes narrowing as countless thoughts raced through her mind.
A hand suddenly rested on her shoulder.
Hazel turned around.
"Jack? It's you."
Jack nodded.
"Yeah. The police agreed to let me meet Darven, but only me. Since I'm his lawyer."
Hazel crossed her arms.
"Okay. But honestly, I don't think he'll be getting out of prison."
Jack raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"The police found solid evidence."
Jack's expression darkened.
"What evidence?"
Hazel hesitated for a moment before answering.
"They found Grace's body."
Silence.
Then a faint smile appeared on Jack's face.
"Well... things just got interesting."
Hazel glared at him.
"You think this is interesting?"
Jack immediately shook his head.
"No, no. That's not what I meant."
Hazel sighed.
"Just go talk to Darven. Maybe he knows some way to help himself. I'm heading to the hospital."
Jack nodded.
"Alright. I'll tell you everything after I meet him."
Without another word, Jack turned and left.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
His footsteps echoed through the prison corridors.
Minutes later, he arrived at the security checkpoint.
Prisoners could be seen behind iron bars, some staring blankly into space while others shouted from their cells.
Jack approached a police officer.
"I'd like to meet Darven."
The officer looked up.
"You're his lawyer, right?"
"Yes."
The officer nodded.
"Follow me."
The heavy prison gates opened with a metallic screech.
CLANG!
Jack was escorted through several corridors before stopping in front of an isolated cell.
Inside, Darven sat alone against the wall.
After the fight he had gotten into earlier, the prison had separated him from the other inmates.
Jack studied him for a moment.
"Are you Darven?"
Darven slowly lifted his head.
His tired eyes landed on Jack.
Without speaking, he stood up and walked toward the bars.
Clink... Clink...
The chains around his wrists rattled softly.
Stopping in front of Jack, he gripped the cold iron bars.
"Who are you?"
"I'm your lawyer."
Darven frowned.
"My lawyer? Who hired you?"
"Hazel."
A faint look of understanding crossed Darven's face.
"Oh. I see."
Jack stared at him.
"Do you know any way to get yourself out of this situation?"
Darven gave a bitter laugh.
"No."
He looked down at his hands.
"I broke the law. I violated government regulations. I knew the consequences."
"You won't be free if you keep admitting that."
"I know."
Darven's voice was calm.
"And honestly... I don't deserve to be free."
Jack remained silent for a moment before speaking again.
"Grace's body was found."
The moment those words left his mouth, Darven froze.
His face turned pale.
For a brief second, genuine pain flashed across his eyes.
But just as quickly, it disappeared.
"Hmm."
That was all he said.
Jack felt uneasy.
Something about Darven's reaction felt strange.
Too controlled.
Too restrained.
"Are you okay?"
Darven ignored the question.
Instead, he looked directly into Jack's eyes.
"Can you do something for me?"
"What is it?"
"Go to my house."
Jack listened carefully.
"In my room, there's a wardrobe. Inside it is a locker."
He paused.
"The password is 5876."
"And?"
"There's a black envelope inside."
Darven's voice became quieter.
"Please give it to Eyrx."
Jack frowned.
"What's in it?"
Darven looked away.
"Grace asked me to give it to him after her death was confirmed."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Eventually, Darven continued.
"I've accepted my mistakes."
Jack stared at him.
"You'll probably spend the rest of your life in prison."
He paused.
"Or worse."
Darven remained silent.
Jack continued.
"And it's not just because of Grace."
Darven's fingers tightened around the bars.
"I didn't kill Grace."
Jack sighed.
"I know."
Darven looked up.
"But in a way... she died because of you."
The words struck like a knife.
Darven said nothing.
The guilt in his eyes deepened, yet he refused to let it show openly.
Silence settled between them.
Cold.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Finally, Jack stepped back.
"Is that all you wanted to tell me?"
Darven nodded.
"Hmm."
Jack turned and began walking away.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
His footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Darven remained standing by the bars.
Alone.
The prison cell suddenly felt colder than before.
A single tear escaped the corner of his eye and rolled slowly down his cheek.
He quickly wiped it away before anyone could see.
Then he lowered his head.
In the silence of his heart, he whispered words no one else could hear.
Forgive me, Grace.
Please... forgive me.
The only answer was silence.
The steady beep... beep... beep... of the heart monitor filled the hospital room.
Hazel sat beside Eyrx's bed, her eyes fixed on his sleeping face. The pale hospital lights cast soft shadows across the room, making everything feel strangely quiet.
Her grandmother sighed from a nearby chair.
Hazel turned toward her.
"Grandma, you should go home. You're exhausted."
Her grandmother shook her head.
"I'm fine. Look at him. How could I leave when he's like this?"
Hazel glanced at Eyrx before looking back at her.
"I'm here for him. You need some rest. You've been sitting here since morning."
Her grandmother frowned.
"You can barely take care of yourself. How are you supposed to take care of him?"
Hazel made a face.
"I can handle myself just fine."
Then her expression softened.
"And I can take care of him too."
She gently took her grandmother's hand.
"Please go home before you end up getting admitted here as well."
For a moment, her grandmother remained silent.
Then a small smile appeared on her face.
"Alright."
Slowly, she rose from her chair.
Hazel immediately picked up her phone and dialed a number.
"Bring the car to the hospital and take Grandma home."
After a brief confirmation, she ended the call.
A few minutes later, her grandmother left.
The room fell silent once again.
Hazel paced back and forth across the room, her footsteps soft against the polished floor.
Tap... Tap... Tap...
Just then, her phone began to vibrate.
Buzz.
Buzz.
Hazel quickly answered the call.
Before speaking, she turned toward Eyrx.
He was still asleep, his breathing calm and steady.
Satisfied, she looked away and lowered her voice.
"Why are you calling me?"
"There's new information," the voice on the phone said. "We forgot to tell you during our last call."
Hazel immediately stopped pacing.
"Is this about Grace?"
Across the room, Eyrx's eyelids slowly fluttered open.
"Yes," the caller replied. "The body has finally arrived at the hospital."
Hazel's grip on the phone tightened.
"What about Grace?" she asked quickly.
"We still can't officially confirm it's her, but the body has been transferred to the same hospital you're currently in."
"What?"
Hazel's voice rose involuntarily.
"Grace's body is here?"
The words echoed through the room.
Eyrx heard every single one.
Grace.
His heart skipped.
Ignoring the pain coursing through his body, he ripped the IV needle from his arm and forced himself out of bed.
Blood dripped from the back of his hand, but he didn't care.
He staggered toward the door.
The sound of it opening caught Hazel's attention.
She turned around.
The bed was empty.
Her eyes widened.
"Eyrx!"
She immediately ended the call and rushed out of the room.
Down the hallway, Eyrx was slowly making his way toward the staircase.
His legs trembled with every step.
The fight from the previous night had drained him completely, and the news about Grace had shattered whatever strength remained.
Yet he kept moving.
Hazel finally caught up and grabbed his arm.
"Where are you going?"
Eyrx looked at her.
"You said Grace was brought to this hospital."
His voice shook.
"I want to see her."
For a brief moment, Hazel stared at him.
Only one day.
Grace had been missing for only one day, yet Eyrx already looked like a man falling apart.
"I know," Hazel said softly. "But we'll see her later. Right now, you need to recover."
"No."
Eyrx pulled away.
"I need to see her now."
People passing through the hallway began staring at them.
Hazel clenched her jaw and forcefully guided him back toward his room.
Once inside, she shut the door.
"What are you doing?" she snapped. "Are you trying to go insane?"
Eyrx laughed bitterly.
"Maybe I already am."
"Sit down."
"How can I sit down?"
His voice cracked.
Hazel took a deep breath.
"Please."
After several moments, Eyrx finally lowered himself onto the floor.
Hazel crouched beside him.
"I know you loved her."
The words came quietly.
"But don't lose control."
Eyrx looked at her.
Something about her tone felt strange.
"We're not the ones who lose control," Hazel muttered under her breath. "We're the ones who play with minds..."
The moment the words left her mouth, she froze.
Eyrx narrowed his eyes.
Hazel immediately changed the subject.
"Forget it."
She stood up.
"Just lie down. You still haven't recovered."
Eyrx ignored her.
"Tell me where she is."
Hazel remained silent.
"Eyrx..."
"What?"
Before answering, Hazel looked directly into his eyes.
"You need to control yourself."
The seriousness in her voice instantly made him nervous.
"What do you mean?"
His breathing became uneven.
Hazel stepped closer.
"Control yourself first."
Eyrx clenched his fists.
"Fine."
His voice trembled.
"Tell me."
Hazel looked away.
Then she finally spoke.
"She's dead."
Silence.
Cold.
Heavy silence.
"Her body was brought here."
Eyrx lowered his head.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then he whispered,
"You're lying."
Hazel closed her eyes.
"I wish I was."
"How did she die?"
"I don't know."
Hazel's voice softened.
"But it's true."
Eyrx's hands shook.
"I want to see her."
Hazel nodded slowly.
"Promise me you won't lose control."
"I won't."
His voice sounded broken.
Almost like he was holding back tears.
"I promise."
Hazel helped him stand.
Together, they walked through the hospital corridors toward the investigation wing.
When they finally arrived, a police officer stepped in front of them.
"Stop."
Hazel looked up.
"We're related to Grace. Please let us see her."
The officer shook his head.
"The body is part of an ongoing investigation."
"Please," Hazel insisted. "Just one look."
"I'm sorry. That's not possible."
Eyrx stared at the closed doors.
"I want to see her."
Hazel gently pulled him away.
"We'll come back later."
They turned to leave.
"Wait."
A sharp voice stopped them.
Both Hazel and Eyrx looked back.
A tall man stood near the investigation room.
he wore a long dark coat, and his piercing eyes missed nothing.
An investigator.
he approached them holding a transparent evidence bag.
"We found these on the victim."
Inside the bag was an ID card.
And a bracelet.
Eyrx froze.
His hands trembled.
The ID card belonged to Grace.
There was no mistake.
Then his eyes moved to the bracelet.
The bracelet he had given her.
The world around him blurred.
And suddenly—
A memory surfaced.
Warm sunlight.
Fresh mountain air.
A clear blue sky.
Grace sat beside him on a grassy hill overlooking the valley below.
Golden sunlight painted her face.
Eyrx smiled and held out a small gift box.
"I bought something for you."
Grace's eyes sparkled.
"What is it?"
"Guess."
She crossed her arms.
"Just show me."
"You have to guess first."
"I'll guess wrong."
"Try."
Grace pouted.
"Do you want to give it to me or not?"
Eyrx laughed.
"Fine. Don't get angry."
He handed her the box.
Curious, Grace opened it.
The moment she saw the bracelet inside, her eyes widened.
"It's beautiful."
A smile brighter than the sunlight appeared on her face.
And at that moment, Eyrx had thought he would remember that smile forever.