The afternoon sun slanted across the empty school yard. Luna and Ria walked slowly in the hallway.
"You know..." Ria began, her voice a nervous. "ever since that night, after that man came looking for Ravyn at your house. I've been wondering a lot, If he's really an Anomaly, it means he forced himself into the Game. Is he dangerous?"
Luna sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know Grantham that much but for all the time I spent with him and on our first day meeting. He seemed more of a loser than someone who would force himself into the game. He didn't even know he was in it."
She stopped suddenly, her head snapping up & eyes wide with a sudden, devastating clarity. "Wait. That's it."
She spun to face Ria. "The first time I met him, he told me he was trying to kill himself and right before he jumped off a bridge, the Game gave him an invitation but he didn't accept or reject it, he just resumed his suicide."
Ria blinked, confused. "I don't get why you're excited about this, Luna."
Luna shrugged, dropping her gaze. "I don't know either… but I have a feeling it has something to do with it. I mean… think about it. He jumped off a bridge and survived. The Game… must've saved him somehow."
Ria shivered. "But what if he was lying?"
Luna exhaled slowly. "I don't know." she admitted, dropping her gaze.
They reached the edge of the school yard. And suddenly, Principal Krueger came rushing out of the main entrance. He spotted them and made a beeline toward the girls.
"Miss Longford! Miss Villanueva!" he puffed, skidding to a halt. "I heard you're the only... people Ravyn has close friends in this school. And I need you to convince him that dropping out isn't the best option!"
Luna stared, stunned. "Uh, sir, who said he was dropping out?"
Krueger wrung his hands. "He said it himself a few moments ago!"
Ria gasped. "Ravyn was here?"
"Yes! He just walked out!" Krueger confirmed.
Luna was already spinning. "Which direction?"
Krueger shouted. "North side! From the school gate!"
Luna didn't wait. She bolted across the empty yard. And Ria, followed.
They burst through the main gate and onto the sidewalk. Ahead, a figure in a black hoodie and his hands buried deep in his pants pockets, was walking away with a resolute stride.
"Grantham!" Luna screamed.
The figure stopped. He didn't turn immediately but slowly, he pivoted to face them.
Luna covered the remaining distance in a final sprint. She didn't speak, she hauled back and slammed her fist straight into his chest.
She immediately reared back for another swing but Ria rushed forward, grabbing Luna's arm and holding her back. "Luna! What are... what are you doing?" Ria pleaded, her voice trembling.
Ravyn straightened. And Luna stepped closer, tension radiating off her. "So… you just disappear for five days, come back and then leave again without even checking on how we're doing?"
Ravyn simply stared at Luna. "I see now, that you're okay."
Luna balled her fists but Ria's gentle hand stopped her again. "Luna, please!"
"You're unbelievable." Luna muttered, stepping forward. Her voice shook. "Why did you even disappear in the first place? We were worried about you… and your family is too, Ravyn."
"I'm doing this for their safety and yours." Ravyn stated.
"We never said we wanted to be safe!" Luna shouted, struggling against Ria's grip. "Cause if we wanted that, we wouldn't have joined the Game in the first place! Did that cross your mind? Of course it didn't, because you're such an idiot who cares nothing about other people's feelings!"
"I do care." Ravyn insisted.
"No, you don't!"
"I said I DO!" Ravyn shouted stepping closer.
But then, with a heavy sigh, his posture softened. "Look... I'm sorry but we can't be a team anymore. You guys deserve to be with someone who is definitely not me."
Ria's grip on Luna loosened slightly. She looked at Ravyn, her quiet voice laced with deep, shattering hurt. "Then what about your promise? You promised to protect me but how will you do that when you're not even here?"
"Please stop making this difficult than it already is." Ravyn pleaded, looking down at his feet.
"You're the one making it difficult for all of us, Ravyn." Luna snapped, her voice breaking.
Ravyn looked up, meeting their eyes one last time. "Ria, remember when we first met and you said you didn't want to kill anyone? Well... I did. And that guy… all he wanted was for us to be a team but I killed him. So you see? I'm a bad guy. Do you still want to be friends with me?"
Silence stretched between them as Ria and Luna were still.
"That's what I thought." Ravyn muttered. He then turned and started to walk away.
"In the end, that's what we all are gonna become!" Ria suddenly screamed. "Each and every one of us will become a monster, whether we like it or not, because it's either that or you get killed by another monster!"
Ravyn stopped dead. He stood for a long moment, then started walking again, putting distance between them.
"RAVYN!"
Luna called out for him but he didn't slow down.
He walked a long way, through empty suburbs and eventually into a derelict industrial district, finding refuge in the deep shadow of a forgotten factory.
Ravyn leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to the ground. He looked at his hands. And closed his eyes.
An amused voice sliced through the silence of the alley.
"You're very hard to find, Ravyn Grantham."