Elsewhere – The Safehouse. 3:55 AM
Souta's lips were cracked. Her wrists bruised.
The ropes were looser now—Kairi had grown soft, convinced she was breaking through.
"You know," Kairi said, sitting across from her, sipping cold coffee, "I used to dream of this. Of you and Ryouma coming home. Of dinners. Laughter. A normal house. After everything."
Souta said nothing.
"You don't have to believe in me. Just believe in what we could've had. What we still could have."
Souta looked up.
Her voice was barely audible.
"You butchered Dad. You butchered everyone. That house doesn't exist."
Kairi leaned in, gripping Souta's chin.
"I destroyed the world so I could make one where you were safe."
Her voice cracked.
"For once, no man will touch you. No teacher will scold you. No weak coward like Katarina will tell you who to be."
She smiled—wide and broken.
"I'm the only home you'll ever need."
Forest Edge – 4:03 AM
Ryouma spotted the clearing. A dim light flickered ahead—lantern glow.
His legs screamed. His heart thundered. His sister was inside that nightmare.
He dropped the walkie in the dirt.
Then picked up a rusted crowbar from a shed he'd passed.
His knuckles turned white.
No more waiting.
He crept forward—each footstep a war cry held in silence.