Liam stared at Finn cautiously.
Something about that smile made his skin crawl.
It wasn't warm.
It wasn't reassuring.
It looked… wrong.
Like a snake baring its fangs before striking.
An uncomfortable sensation crept across Liam's body, as though thousands of ants were crawling beneath his skin. Instinctively, he wanted to step back.
Klaus slowly approached the edge of the rooftop.
Cold wind brushed against his pale face as he looked down at the terrifying gap separating the two buildings. Moonlight illuminated the distance clearly now.
It was farther than he expected.
Far enough that one mistake would kill him.
Finn began walking toward him with slow, careful steps.
Silent.
Controlled.
Like a predator stalking prey.
Then he stopped beside Klaus and pointed toward the neighboring roof.
"What are you waiting for?" Finn asked quietly.
His lips curled upward.
"Take the jump."
Klaus immediately paled.
His heartbeat exploded inside his chest like a war drum.
"W-What?"
His voice cracked.
"No… it's too dangerous. I could fall… I could get caught… I could die."
For a brief moment Finn remained silent.
Then his face twisted.
"JUST JUMP!"
The sudden roar made Klaus flinch violently.
Finn's calm mask shattered instantly, revealing irritation and something far uglier beneath.
"It's that easy!" Finn snapped. "Stop wasting my time!"
The rooftop became deathly quiet afterward.
Only the sound of wind remained.
Klaus stared at Finn in shock.
Fear tightened around his chest.
But slowly…
Very slowly…
He stepped backward.
One step.
Then another.
Until he reached the far end of the rooftop.
Klaus lifted his trembling gaze toward the gap again.
It was possible.
Barely.
If he used every ounce of strength in his body…
If he timed it perfectly…
If luck was on his side…
He might survive.
Liam watched anxiously from within Klaus's consciousness.
At the same time, confusion filled him.
Why am I seeing this?
Is this Klaus's memory?
Or something else entirely?
Klaus inhaled shakily.
Then—
His heels scraped across the rooftop.
Adrenaline surged through his body like lightning.
He started running.
Fast.
Every footstep echoed loudly against the stone.
The wind roared past his ears.
His heartbeat became deafening.
Liam could feel every ounce of terror coursing through the boy.
Come on…
Make the jump.
Klaus reached the edge.
And leapt.
For a moment—
Time seemed to freeze.
Klaus threw his body forward with everything he had.
Midair, he forced himself horizontal, stretching both arms ahead desperately.
If he failed to fully clear the distance, at least he could try grabbing the rooftop's edge.
The cold night air rushed violently around him.
Then—
Klaus's eyes widened in horror.
He wasn't going to make it.
The building was too far.
Far too far.
Panic exploded inside him.
His fingers barely brushed the rooftop before his body started falling downward.
Then suddenly—
A hand grabbed his wrist.
Hard.
Finn.
With frightening strength, Finn yanked Klaus upward.
Klaus slammed against the rooftop painfully before rolling onto the stone floor.
He laid there gasping desperately for air.
His lungs burned.
Sweat covered his body completely.
For several seconds he couldn't even speak.
Finally, Klaus forced out weak words.
"Th… thanks for that…"
Finn stared down at him expressionlessly.
"You can thank me when we're done."
His voice had become calm again.
Too calm.
"All we need to do now is reach the main gate. I have a friend waiting there with disguises prepared for us."
Klaus slowly nodded.
Although Liam noticed something strange.
Finn never once asked if Klaus was hurt.
Not once.
The two boys carefully climbed down from the building using broken support beams and drainage pipes attached to the walls.
Every second felt dangerous.
Every shadow felt alive.
Yet somehow—
Luck favored them.
The main gate wasn't far from the building, and they reached it surprisingly quickly.
Massive stone walls towered over them like prison bars.
Two guards stood beside the gate lazily holding spears.
Torches flickered nearby, casting orange light across the dark pathway.
Then—
A voice suddenly emerged from the shadows.
"Hello, Finn."
The voice sounded amused.
"I was beginning to wonder if you weren't coming."
Both Klaus and Finn turned immediately.
A woman stepped forward wearing the sect's armor.
The moment Klaus saw her face, his stomach twisted violently.
Her helmet was removed, revealing scarred flesh that stretched across nearly half her head. She was completely bald, and deep burn marks covered her skin like melted wax.
One of her eyes looked cloudy and lifeless.
Klaus instinctively held back vomit.
Not because he hated her.
But because the sight was simply shocking.
At the same time, guilt filled him.
She's helping us…
Don't offend her.
Finn, however, showed no hesitation whatsoever.
He casually walked up to the woman with a confident smile.
Then—
To Klaus's utter disbelief—
Finn grabbed her face and kissed her directly on the lips.
"I'll miss you so much, Lydia," Finn whispered softly.
Klaus's mind exploded.
Everything suddenly began connecting together.
Why would someone from the sect help them escape?
How had Finn managed to arrange all this?
Why did he seem so confident from the beginning?
Lydia had been helping him the entire time.
While Klaus was still trying to process everything, Lydia slowly turned toward him.
Her single good eye examined him silently.
Klaus felt chills run down his spine.
But without saying anything, Lydia walked toward the gate.
The two guards noticed her approaching.
Before either could react—
She moved.
Fast.
Far faster than Klaus expected.
Her hand struck the first guard's neck with brutal precision.
Crack.
The man collapsed instantly without even making a sound.
The second guard spun around in alarm—
But Lydia was already there.
Another strike.
Another body dropped.
Klaus froze in shock.
Finn grabbed his shoulder aggressively.
"Move!"
The two boys rushed through the gate immediately.
And then—
They ran.
Like their lives depended on it.
Because they did.
Cold air tore across Klaus's face as they sprinted down the dark pathway outside the sect walls.
Branches whipped against his skin.
His legs burned.
But something began bothering him.
A thought.
A horrible thought.
Klaus's breathing slowly became uneven.
Wait…
Finn could have done all this himself.
He could climb buildings easily.
He had Lydia helping him.
He knew the guard routes.
So why—
Why bring Klaus?
Klaus's pupils slowly shrank.
Then he remembered.
A rumor.
Beyond this gate… there was supposedly another checkpoint deeper in the forest.
Another group of guards.
And suddenly—
Everything clicked.
Klaus slowed down.
Cold dread filled his body.
I was never his partner.
I was bait.
Klaus finally spoke.
His voice trembled slightly.
"Why are you using me?"
Finn stopped running.
Slowly, he turned around.
Moonlight illuminated half his face while the other half remained swallowed by darkness.
"What do you mean?" Finn asked quietly.
Klaus clenched his fists.
"You know exactly what I mean."
Silence.
Then—
Finn started laughing.
Softly at first.
Then louder.
And louder.
Until the laughter became almost crazed.
The expression on his face twisted into something unrecognizable.
"Do you know how long I've wanted to escape?" Finn muttered.
His eyes gleamed with madness.
"I always knew I was destined for greatness."
He spread his arms dramatically.
"After that ugly bitch helped me test my aptitude…"
Finn grinned widely.
"And it turned out blue…"
His voice became filled with excitement.
"I knew this pathetic sect could never hold someone like me."
Then his smile widened further.
"But unfortunately for you…"
His gaze locked onto Klaus.
"…your role ends here."
Klaus's eyes widened.
Suddenly—
Something pierced through the air.
A sharp whistle echoed in the darkness.
Before Klaus could react—
A spear tore through his body.
Blood exploded from his chest.
Klaus's body jerked violently before collapsing onto the ground.
Pain unlike anything he had ever felt consumed him instantly.
And the last thing he saw—
Was Finn smiling.