Dylan watched as Ember finally drifted into a peaceful sleep, her breath soft, her body curled up gently beneath the covers. But even in that calm, something inside him twisted—he couldn't bear the thought of leaving her alone in this hotel room. The fear that had haunted her all day still lingered in her sleep, visible in the way her fingers clenched the sheets.
He pulled out his phone and dialled Adrien, his voice low and urgent. After what felt like forever, a soft chime broke the silence. The doorbell. Dylan's jaw tightened. He rushed to the door and flung it open, whisper-shouting, "Why the hell did you ring the bell? I told you she's sleeping, you fool!"
Adrien raised his hands in defense, slightly startled. "Okay, okay! I'm sorry! Just tell me why you called me here?"
Dylan ran a hand through his hair, eyes flicking back toward the room Ember was sleeping in. "I'm going back to that mansion," he said firmly. "I need to end this. I can't let her keep suffering like this." His voice cracked slightly. "You know, today when we were eating… Ember—she's such a foodie. Normally, she'd light up over good food. But today? Not a smile. Not even once."
He swallowed hard, recalling every detail. "After lunch—she only ate because I practically begged her—she suddenly looked so pale. She started feeling unwell within seconds. And when she finally fell asleep, I barely touched her... and she trembled. She only relaxed after realizing it was me. And then… she smiled. Just a little. God, I miss that smile. I want to see her laugh again. I want her to feel safe again."
Adrien nodded, voice gentle. "I want that too, Dylan."
"Then stay here," Dylan said, placing a firm hand on Adrien's shoulder. "Watch over her until I get back. Don't leave her side."
"Okay. I will. Take Emir with you," Adrien replied without hesitation.
Dylan nodded, his eyes burning with purpose. "I will. Just… don't worry about me. If anything happens—anything at all—call me. Immediately."
"Got it."
Without another word, Dylan turned and stepped quietly back into the bedroom. He walked over to Ember's side, watching her chest rise and fall gently. She looked so fragile, yet so beautiful, even in sleep. Leaning down, he pressed a tender kiss on her forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment.
"I'll be back... I love you," he whispered, barely audible, like a vow meant only for her. Then, with one last glance, he turned and slipped out of the room, the door closing softly behind him.
Dylan gripped the steering wheel tightly as the old mansion came into view, the towering silhouette of its crumbling structure cloaked in moonlight. He parked in the shadows, heart pounding with the weight of everything that had happened… and everything that could still go wrong. Before stepping out, he pulled out his phone and called Emir.
"Hey... I'm at the old mansion. Call the police and bring them here. Tell them I asked for backup—say I begged you for help. Just do it. Please."
On the other end, Emir's voice crackled with panic. "Are you out of your mind? Why the hell did you go there alone? This isn't what we planned, Dylan!"
Dylan's voice was calm but firm, laced with exhaustion and quiet resolve. "I don't want to drag you into this. Your career... it just started. Don't ruin it because of me. Just do what I said. I'm going in."
"Wait! Dylan, listen—"
But Dylan had already ended the call.
Emir stared at his phone in disbelief, clenching his jaw. "He really is insane… Damn it!" He shot up from his chair. "I need to get to the police station—now!"
Meanwhile, inside the mansion, shadows danced along the cold walls as Dylan moved swiftly through the familiar halls, his flashlight guiding him toward the rooftop storage room—the very place they had last seen the guards. His boots echoed against the floor, tension thick in the air.
The room was silent... too silent.
As he stepped in, a chill ran down his spine. It was empty. No signs of struggle. No bodies. No trace. He scanned the room, eyes narrowing, when suddenly—a sharp crack of leaves crunching echoed from outside. His instincts kicked in. He turned quickly toward the sound.
But he was too late.
The moment he stepped outside the threshold, a heavy wooden stick struck the back of his head with brutal force. His knees buckled, and his body hit the floor with a sickening thud. Vision blurred, stars swimming in his eyes, Dylan groaned and tried to lift himself.
He could just barely make out the figures looming over him... familiar, bitter silhouettes.
"You came back to kill us, didn't you?" one of the guards hissed, gripping the bloodied stick.
"It doesn't matter anymore," another voice sneered. "You're not leaving here alive. You're the one who dies tonight."
The first man hesitated, voice trembling slightly. "Are you really sure about this? Maybe we should just run. We don't have to kill him..."
"Run?" the other spat. "You think he'd let us escape? He's here to either kill us... or hand us to the police. We have no choice now."
Dylan lay sprawled on the cold floor, blood slowly trickling down his temple, but his mind remained razor-sharp. He knew he just needed to buy time—ten minutes. That's how long the police would take to arrive, thanks to the call he had made earlier. Ten minutes… he just had to keep them here until then.
"Let's just kill him already," one of the guards growled.
One stepped forward, gripping Dylan's hair roughly and yanking his head up, forcing Dylan to meet his eyes. He thought Dylan was done—weak and fading from the head wound—but Dylan was only pretending. Behind his dazed gaze burned quiet fury.
The guard smirked cruelly. "Too bad you're going to die here. And your little girl? Don't worry, she won't be lonely for long. We'll find her. She's... soft, pretty. Maybe it's better she has two men instead of one, huh?"
He let out a filthy laugh, unaware of the storm he had just unleashed.
In that moment, Dylan's blood turned to fire. His heart screamed Ember's name. The memory of her trembling in his arms, her lips brushing his in the dark, her quiet whisper of "don't leave me"—it all exploded inside him.
"You bastard," Dylan growled.
Without a second thought, he slammed his forehead into the guard's face with brutal force. Bone crunched. The man let out a howl and collapsed to his knees, blood gushing from his nose and mouth.
Dylan staggered to his feet, rage surging through his veins like lightning. His eyes locked on the second guard—the one who had dared touch Ember before.
He didn't need to say a word.
With one swing, Dylan smashed his fist into the man's jaw. Then again. And again. The men were already weakened from their earlier fight with him, and now they had nothing left. Their faces twisted and bruised with each hit, blood splattering like ink across the dusty walls.
Dylan's knuckles burned, but he didn't stop until their features were unrecognizable—ugly, broken. Monsters reduced to crawling cowards.
Then, in the distance—the sweet, sharp cry of police sirens.
Relief washed over Dylan like a wave. He exhaled, his fists finally dropping to his sides, his vision swimming slightly. She's safe now... Ember's safe...
But in that brief moment, as he let his guard down, one of the guards moved again—slower, desperate. He struck Dylan hard, right at the same wounded spot on his head.
Pain exploded in his skull.
Blood streamed freely this time, warm and fast. Dylan's knees gave out, the world spinning around him as he crashed onto the floor again.
His last conscious thought was Ember—her face, her voice, her scent, her warmth beneath him the night before.
"I'll come back to you, baby... no matter what. I'll always come back to you..."
Darkness took him.
The guards had made their plan—they were going to kill Dylan by throwing him off the rooftop of the mansion. His bloodied body hung between their grasp as they dragged him toward the edge, the night air heavy with the scent of rain and death. But just as they reached the corner, preparing to toss him over like broken trash, a voice shattered the tension.
"Hands up! Step back or we will shoot!" a police officer shouted, his weapon drawn, boots pounding against the concrete rooftop.
Startled, the guards froze.
The flashing red and blue lights from behind the rooftop entrance lit up their terrified faces. Knowing they had no way out, both men slowly raised their hands and surrendered. They were cuffed immediately, their bodies trembling now—not from rage, but fear. Dylan, semi-conscious and drenched in blood, was rushed into an ambulance, his head resting against emir's arm.
emir never left his side—not for a second.
At the hospital, doctors immediately wheeled Dylan into the emergency ward while Emir handled the paperwork with trembling hands. The air was thick with anxiety. After nearly an hour, Dylan was finally transferred to a private VIP room. The anesthetic still lingered in his veins, keeping him unconscious. But barely thirty minutes later, his eyelids fluttered open.
His first word was a breathless whisper. "Ember..."
Emir, sitting by his bedside, leaned in quickly. "She's alright," he said softly, his voice cracking, "But what about you, idiot?"
Dylan blinked, then turned his head slightly to face him. Despite the stitches on his forehead and the bruises decorating his jaw, a small, teasing smile curved his lips.
"Why is my little friend angry?" he asked playfully.
Emir scoffed. "You're laughing? After getting this many stitches? Are you insane?"
"I'm alright, Emir," Dylan said calmly, still grinning.
"Alright?! You reckless fool! Who the hell told you to go there alone? If I had reached even a second later, you would've been... dead!" Emir's voice broke toward the end.
Dylan's eyes softened, and he said gently, "But don't you to save me."
emir, face dark with disbelief. "I just don't get it," he muttered. "You're a black belt in karate, top in fencing, and unbeatable in boxing... and they still managed to beat you?"
Dylan chuckled, even with the pain. "Did you really think I let them beat me because I was weak?"
Emir frowned. "Then why? You're actually injured, Dylan."
Dylan leaned back into the pillow, eyes closing briefly. "I needed the police to believe it was real. If those bastards were the only ones who got beaten, the story wouldn't hold. So yeah... I let them hit me a few times. Made it convincing."
And then he laughed—soft, reckless, defiant.
Emir shook his head. "You're completely insane, Dylan."
"Maybe." Dylan smirked. "Now tell me everything that happened."
Emir sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "The police took them to the station. They said once you're fully recovered, they'll notify you of the court date. You and Ember will need to be there."
Dylan nodded slowly, eyes darkening with determination. "Then let's be ready for it." He turned his head slightly. "Emir... can you arrange everything quickly? I just want to take Ember back to the shine. Back where she belongs. With me."
Emir gave a short nod. "Okay. I'll handle it."
Dylan's voice dropped, heavy with promise. "Let's end this... once and for all."