Ethan's eyes snapped open.
He was lying flat on the cold floor, gasping for air as his head throbbed violently. Rubbing his bruised throat, he forced himself back up onto his feet, his legs unsteady.
"Why... why didn't he kill me?" Ethan muttered to the dark, empty hallway.
He scanned his immediate surroundings, but the modest house was dead silent. Turning back toward the far wall where the massive portrait had hung just moments ago, his eyes widened.
The wall was bare.
Murphy took the painting... Ethan realized, his chest heaving.
Suddenly, heavy, deliberate footsteps echoed through the entryway. Ethan whirled around, his posture stiffening as Murphy stepped back into the living room.
Instinctively, Ethan clenched his fists, dropping into a defensive stance.
Murphy remained completely unbothered, his expression cool and unreadable. "Kid... you look eager to break your mother's heart by forcing her to bury a son she only just reunited with."
Ethan stood paralyzed.
I can't beat him, the bitter truth settled heavy in his gut. I'm nowhere near strong enough.
With a slow, agonizing breath, Ethan forced his hands to unlace, dropping his fists to his sides.
"Just tell me..." Ethan demanded, his voice raspy. "What are you doing here? Tell me about that picture... about Allen's father. Who was the white-haired teenager you sent to dismantle the Three Pillars back then?"
Murphy stepped forward, closing the distance until he was standing face-to-face with Ethan. His towering presence radiated an invisible pressure.
"Tell me..." Ethan pressed, glaring up into his eyes. "Who is Jake?"
"He is someone... I cherish above all else," Murphy replied, his voice devoid of mock or malice.
Ethan's brow furrowed in utter confusion. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"You, handle Jake," Murphy said pointing his finger to Ethan's shoulder.
"What?!" Ethan spat, thrown completely off guard.
Instead of explaining, Murphy leaned down, leaning in close to Ethan's ear. "That is the single reason I am letting you walk out of this house alive today. You possess true potential... and exceptional talent."
Murphy patted Ethan's shoulder once—a gesture as light as it was unnerving—before turning on his heel and walking out the front door, leaving Ethan standing alone in the silent, ruined house, unable to decipher a single piece of the cryptic warning.
Meanwhile, at the far edge of the city cemetery, Daisy stood frozen in absolute shock.
What...? her mind raced, her breathing shallow. Mom told us she had no other family left...
Carved deeply into the weathered face of the left headstone were the words: BELOVED BROTHER.
On the headstone directly beside it: BELOVED SISTER.
Mother had two siblings... Daisy calculated rapidly, reading the birth and death dates etched beneath the names. And according to these dates, both of them were younger than her. But maybe these are her friends, but...
Her mind was in complete disarray. Why did Mom come all the way out here in the dead of night? She must be her siblings. Why did she keep their existence a secret from us for all these years? Should I bring this up to her, or keep quiet?
Before she could process another thought, a heavy, looming shadow fell across the grass beside her.
Daisy turned her head, her breath catching in her throat. Standing just a few feet away was a towering, massively built man. He was wearing crisp black shirt and white pants, his hair color was black.
Daisy had to tilt her head all the way up just to take in his sheer height. His eyes carried an unearthly, uncanny intensity that made her stomach drop.
Ignoring Daisy completely, the man stepped up to the headstones, standing in quiet homage for a long, heavy moment. Bending down with surprising grace, he picked up the wilted flowers resting over the sister's grave, replacing them with a fresh, vibrant bouquet and put one flower on the brother's grave.
Without a word, the man turned to leave.
"E-Excuse me..." Daisy called out, her voice trembling despite her best efforts.
The man paused, turning his head slightly to look back down at the terrified girl.
"Do not fear, child," he spoke, his voice deep and echoing like distant thunder.
Daisy swallowed hard, forcing the words through her throat. "Mister... did you know them?"
The man studied Daisy's face for a long, silent second. "...Something like that," he answered quietly.
A cold shiver ran down her spine.
He turned away once more, his broad form disappearing down the winding stone path.
The moment he was out of sight, the suffocating pressure in the air lifted instantly, and Daisy collapsed forward slightly, gasping for breath as if she had just surfaced from underwater.
Who on earth was that?! she thought frantically, watching his broad back fade into the distance. Does he know my mother's brother and sister? Should I have pressed him for answers? ...No way. I was genuinely terrified that if I said the wrong thing, he'd bury me right here alongside them.
I've never felt sheer terror like that in my entire life.
Without wasting another second, Daisy turned and practically ran out of the graveyard. As she reached the main street, her phone vibrated in her coat pocket—a text message from Sophia inviting her over to her place.
Rapidly typing back a quick thumbs-up emoji, Daisy headed off toward Sophia's residence to clear her head.
Elsewhere, Ethan was riding in the back of a taxi, staring blankly out the window as the city buildings blurred past. The cab was heading straight toward the Crown Apartments.
'Handle Jake? What kind of sick game is Murphy playing? Ethan fumed silently, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists in his lap.
Does he want me to protect him? Fight him? Why the hell would I ever follow orders from a manipulative bastard who slaughters people like they are toys?
The taxi pulled up along the curb in front of his residential complex. Ethan paid the fare, stepped out, and headed into the lobby.
I need to clear my head and catch my breath before I head out to face John Levi at the Lake View Restaurant tonight, Ethan thought as he rode the elevator up to his floor.
Unlocking the front door, he found the apartment completely quiet. His mother, Selena, was resting peacefully inside her bedroom, and Daisy was still out.
Stepping into his own room, Ethan kicked off his shoes and collapsed onto his bed. The physical exhaustion of the brutal encounter with Murphy caught up to him all at once, and within minutes, he drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep.