While Karl was driving back home, only one thought kept running through his mind.
I'm finished.
Someone had survived.
Someone had seen everything.
It wouldn't be long before the police came looking for him.
"What the hell just happened...?"
"I... I massacred them."
"I deserve to die..."
"Rhhh...!"
He slammed his fist against the steering wheel.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't erase the screams from his mind.
He drove as fast as he could.
After nearly an hour, he finally reached his house.
He jumped out of the car without even turning off the engine and rushed inside.
"OLIVIA!!"
"Where are you?!"
"We have to leave!"
"Right now!"
His voice echoed through the house as he searched every room.
"Olivia!"
"Answer me!"
"We don't have much time!"
He kept calling her name, hoping she had already packed everything and was ready to leave.
Olivia hurried downstairs after hearing Karl's voice.
"Karl, what happened? Why should we le—"
Before she could finish, Karl cut her off.
"Don't ask anything!"
"We don't have time!"
"Just listen to me, okay?!"
He looked around the house.
"Where the hell is Ivan?!"
Olivia stared at him in confusion.
"He's still at kindergarten."
Karl's eyes widened.
"...Shit."
"I completely forgot."
He turned toward the front door immediately.
"Pack everything."
"Only the essentials."
"I'll go get Ivan."
"Karl, at least tell me what happened!"
"I said I'll explain later!"
"If you trust me..."
"Just do as I say."
Without waiting for another word, Karl rushed back outside, leaving the car engine still running.
Karl grabbed Olivia by both shoulders.
"Listen to me very carefully."
"I'm going to pick up Ivan."
"You pack only the essentials."
"Then leave."
"Go somewhere far away... your village, anywhere."
"Just don't stay here."
Olivia looked at him, completely confused.
"Karl..."
"Don't come back until I tell you it's safe."
"And leave your phone here."
"What?"
"Don't take it with you. Just leave it."
"I'll find you once everything settles down."
Olivia's eyes filled with worry.
"Karl... you're scaring me."
"I know."
"But please..."
"Just trust me this one last time."
"I'll bring Ivan back."
"I promise."
Without waiting for an answer, Karl turned around and ran back toward the still-running car.
"But what about Ivan?" Olivia asked, her voice shaking.
"I'm worried about him."
"I can't just leave him with you."
"I don't even know why you're doing all this."
Karl looked her in the eyes.
"I'm trying to protect you."
"And don't worry about Ivan."
"I'll bring him back safely."
"I promise."
Olivia remained silent.
Karl continued,
"I'll come back for both of you."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"And when I do..."
"I'll be blessed with another child."
He gently placed his hand on her stomach.
"You're pregnant."
"So please..."
"Don't ask me anything else."
"I've already booked a cab."
"It'll take you to the railway station."
"From there, go straight to your village."
"Stay there."
"Don't come back until I come for you."
Olivia's eyes filled with tears.
"...Promise me you'll come back."
Karl nodded.
"I promise."
For a brief moment, neither of them said a word.
Then Karl turned toward the door.
Time was running out.
But Olivia still wasn't convinced.
"Karl..."
She looked straight into his eyes.
"Did you murder someone?"
Her breathing became heavier as she waited for an answer.
"We have to leave right now. Don't you understand?"
"Karl, just answer my damn question!"
"Did you kill—"
"YES, I DID!"
Karl's voice echoed through the house.
"Now what?!"
Silence.
Olivia slowly stepped back.
"I... I'm calling the police."
She reached for her phone.
"You won't do that, Olivia."
"Why?"
"I can't stay with a murderer."
Karl looked toward the front door.
"Ivan is still at kindergarten."
"If the police get involved before I reach him..."
He paused.
"...I don't know what will happen to him."
He looked back at Olivia.
"I'm begging you."
"Don't force this."
"Just leave."
"Please."
Olivia's hand slowly loosened.
The phone slipped from her fingers and hit the floor.
She stared at Karl as if she no longer recognized the man standing before her.
Everything she believed about him had shattered in a matter of minutes.
Without another word, she picked up her bag and walked outside.
The cab Karl had booked was already waiting.
She got in without looking back.
As the cab drove away, Karl stood silently in front of the house.
Now there was only one thing left for him to do.
Bring Ivan home.
Karl drove straight to Ivan's kindergarten.
The staff had already begun dismissing the children for the day.
"There you are, Dad!" Ivan said happily as he ran toward him.
Karl forced a smile.
"Come on, buddy."
"We're going on a little trip."
"Really?" Ivan's eyes lit up.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
Karl picked him up and carried him to the car.
As soon as Ivan fastened his seatbelt, Karl started the engine.
The city slowly disappeared behind them.
Neither of them looked back.
Ivan happily looked out the window, unaware of what had happened just a few hours earlier.
Meanwhile, Karl kept driving toward another city, hoping to stay ahead of anyone searching for him.
For the first time, he wasn't driving toward a destination.
He was simply running from his past.
Karl sat silently in a cheap hotel room in another city.
Ivan was asleep on the bed beside him.
The television continued playing the breaking news.
"...According to officials, the fire was caused by a technical malfunction."
"...Out of 35 people believed to have been inside, only one survivor has been found."
Karl stared at the screen in disbelief.
"What...?"
"That's impossible."
"I'm sure at least four or five people made it out alive."
"And a technical malfunction?"
He shook his head.
"What the hell are they talking about?"
"I was there."
"I know exactly how that fire started."
Karl switched off the television.
Something didn't feel right.
Someone was hiding the truth.
And whoever was behind it had already begun rewriting what happened that night.