The message didn't come from The Null.
It came from someone else.
Ethan: "Meet me. Please."
Aeris stared at the screen.
For a moment—
she almost ignored it.
But something told her—
this mattered.
"…Fine."
The place was quiet.
Too quiet.
An empty rooftop.
Ethan stood there.
Waiting.
Relieved when he saw her.
"Aeris…"
She didn't smile.
"…Say what you called me for."
A pause.
Then—
"You shouldn't be with him."
Straight to it.
Her eyes didn't change.
"…That's not your decision."
"I'm trying to protect you!" he snapped.
Silence.
"…From what?" she asked.
A beat.
Then—
"From him."
Wrong answer.
Because something in her gaze—
closed.
"…You don't understand anything."
"I understand enough," he said sharply.
A step closer.
"That world—whatever he's dragging you into—"
"It's going to destroy you."
A pause.
"…Then let it," she said quietly.
That—
broke him.
"…You've changed."
Silence.
Then—
"…No."
Her voice dropped.
"…I stopped pretending."
A long pause.
And then—
Ethan made his choice.
"…I'm sorry."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…For what?"
Too late.
Because suddenly—
Hands grabbed her from behind.
Fast.
Precise.
Not Ethan.
Others.
The Null.
Her body reacted instantly—
struggling—
fighting—
But this wasn't random.
This was planned.
And Ethan—
stood there.
Not stopping it.
"…You did this," she said quietly.
His expression broke.
"I'm saving you."
Silence.
And that—
hurt more than anything.
🩸 THE BREAKING POINT
A blade pressed lightly to her throat.
Not deep.
Not yet.
"…Call him," one of them said.
Ethan froze.
"…What?"
"Call Kael."
Silence.
Because now—
he understood.
Too late.
This wasn't about saving her.
This was about using her.
😈 KAEL LOSES CONTROL
He didn't walk in.
He appeared.
Fast.
Silent.
Deadly.
And the moment he saw—
Her.
Held.
Hurt.
Used.
Something snapped.
Completely.
No calm.
No control.
Just—
violence.
The first man didn't even react.
Before—
he was down.
The second—
barely moved—
Before—
he followed.
Too fast.
Too brutal.
Too final.
Silence dropped.
Only one remained.
The one holding her.
His grip tightened—
panic rising—
"…Stay back—!"
Wrong move.
Because Kael stepped closer anyway.
Slow.
Unstoppable.
"Draeven thal'kor…"
Literal meaning:
"You've stepped into death itself."
Real meaning:
"There's nothing left that can save you now."
The man froze.
And in the next second—
He was gone.
Just like that.
💔 AFTER THE DAMAGE
Silence.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
Aeris stood still.
Not shaking.
Not breaking.
But her eyes—
moved.
To Ethan.
He stepped back.
"…Aeris, I—"
"Don't."
One word.
Enough.
"…I trusted you."
Silence.
"…That was my mistake."
He tried to speak—
failed—
Because there was nothing left to say.