Chapter 71 - Solution (2/2)
”No, don't sugarcoat it punk, you were never one to even as a kid. It's one of your few redeeming traits if I might add. But, after all the guts and gusto I display, when it really matters, I always fall short. Back then and even now…”
Hal reached out to Haven but pulled his hand back, his white knuckles pressed against his chest.
”…I'm sorry…”
”See Lydis, brutally honest, that is who Hal is. Hate him or accept him, the choice is yours. But I am sad I won't be around to see your decision.” Haven smiled another bitter smile and let go of Lydis's hand.
”Haven, what do you mean?” Hal took a step forward but Lydis had grabbed Haven's finger.
”…Haven…” Lydis looked at Haven with hazy eyes, her small hand loosely dangling onto Haven's fingers.
”Lydis, when you're stable you'll find out either way, you too Hal so I'll just say it now. Central messaged me earlier. To atone for the deaths of seventeen children and one disabled, the parent's will demand an answer, someone to suffer like their children did. I agreed.”
Hal grabbed Haven's arm, his anger obvious.
”Are you insane?! Is Central blind? Or are they too busy kissing ass to even care what happened to our school! Seventeen children died and they want the one who fought off the killer to accept punishment?!”
Haven furrowed her brows. The thin dam holding her together breaking.
”You don't need to remind me! Yes, I know seventeen innocent children were murdered! Killed and displayed by a psychopath, even when I had him cornered, he escaped! But what am I supposed to do? How else do I atone for this? How else am I supposed to lift this weight, this crushing weight of their bodies piled on top of me?”
Lydis wanted to do more, say something else but sleep was taking her for real this time. She fought the urge to close her eyelids, but one long blink was all it took. Noticing that Lydis's hand had slipped from her own, Haven glanced back before grimly walking past Hal.
”Please, don't make this any harder than it already is. Goodbye Hal.”
Haven pressed on a small pad next to the wall, the door appearing once again. As the door slid open four armed men surrounded the door on the other side. Two armed with large guns while the other two wielding black blades pointed their weapons at Haven. A lady dressed in the blue and gold colors of Central's uniform stood in the middle, her obvious yawn didn't seem to bother the four around her.
”Henny Bellor, formally known as Haven, from something something Academy, uhh, you are under arrest for letting the continent-wide killer, Adler Reeves 'Reaper of the Hollow' escape. Come quietly and there won't be any need for force. I'd hate to chip a nail.” The lady stared at her purple nails, never sparing Haven even one glance.
”I am ready.” Haven stuck out both hands and stood quietly as two of the guards snapped on arm bands and ankle cuffs.
Hal bit his lower lip before turning to face Haven. Before he could even utter a word, she smashed the keypad outside the door. Automatically, the door slammed shut, Haven's sad smile imprinted in Hal's mind.
Frozen mid-motion, Hal suddenly squatted down, his back turned to Lydis's bed. With his hands covering his face, no one could see the stray tear that managed to tickle down Hal's cheek, nor the other tears that filled the gaps between his fingers.
Softly yet angrily, Hal uttered a word that seemed to contain everything he felt at that moment. His pain, sadness and especially his anger. Anger at the world, at Central for their flawed system, at his own weakness and hesitation, at Haven.
”F*ck…”