He grabbed Liam's face, covering his mouth and nose with a single hand, shoving him against the wall.
"T-T-They said… we're leaving," Liam stuttered through panicked breaths. "Mama said she'll take me everywhere and we're never coming back…"
Silence.
Then:
"Hahaha... HAHAHAHAHA!"
Caspian laughed so hard the bottle slipped from his hand and shattered. "They think they can escape? My pawns? From my chessboard?"
He let Liam go and stormed out, grabbing a gun from the hallway drawer.
Liam, soaking wet, stared in horror before sprinting after him.
After dinner, Serena fell asleep soundly, resting peacefully after days of planning. The room was dim, the air quiet and heavy, as if holding its breath for what was to come. Outside, Caelis and Jason sat in the villa's back garden under the night sky. The soft sound of the fountain nearby mingled with the rustling of wind through the hedges.
Caelis sat quietly in his wheelchair, fingers resting still on his lap, gaze lost in the darkness ahead.
"Jason…" he began, voice low and calm, "I don't know what might happen in the future."
He exhaled slowly. "Serena is doing her best… she's risking everything for Liam. And I want to do something too. I want to be useful for once… but I know better than anyone—Caspian is more dangerous than we ever imagined."
Jason stood beside him, silently listening, his expression unreadable.
Caelis continued, softer now, "One wrong move, and everything will fall apart. And our greatest weakness… is me. I can't protect them. I have no power. I'm not strong like you or her. I can only depend on those around me."
He looked up at Jason, eyes unwavering but clouded with worry.
"So if something happens to me… I want you to protect them both. Please, Jason. Watch over Serena. Guard Liam with your life. Promise me."
Jason stepped forward, kneeling slightly to be at Caelis's eye level. His voice was firm, unwavering.
"Master Caelis, please don't say such things. Lady Serena's plan is brilliant—and you're the one holding everything together. I swear nothing will happen to any of us. We'll see this through. All of us. Together."
Caelis smiled faintly, eyes soft as Jason sat by his legs.
"I know, Jason. Just in case."
"You needn't even ask such a thing of me, Master Caelis," Jason replied firmly, his voice filled with unwavering conviction. "Of course, whatever I can do… I will protect them."
Caelis didn't respond right away. Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out a thick, sealed envelope. He held it out.
"Jason… I want you to keep this. Protect it—no matter what. Don't show it to anyone. Not even Serena. There's only one other person who knows about this... and if anything happens, he will come for it."
He placed it into Jason's hands, gripping them tightly. His violet gaze didn't waver.
"I'm entrusting you with this."
"Master... I swear I will." Jason quickly slipped the envelope inside his jacket pocket. "But... can I at least know what's inside?"
Caelis looked at him, empty for a breath, before smiling ever so faintly.
"No."
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind. Both of them turned. Caspian approached with two men flanking him, his steps unsteady, clearly drunk.
Jason stood up immediately, positioning himself between them and Caelis.
"What brings you here at this hour, Sir Caspian?" he asked, but flinched the moment he noticed the glint of the gun in Caspian's hand.
One of the men grabbed Jason roughly, twisting his arms behind his back and slamming him to the ground.
"Agh!" Jason let out in pain.
Caspian marched directly in front of Caelis, raising the gun to his brother's forehead.
"Ca–Elis," he spat mockingly, pronouncing each syllable like venom. "Aren't you getting tired of this cripple act? I gave you a wife. A child. What more do you want?!"
Caelis blinked slowly. His violet eyes flared—not in fear, but defiance. Even slouched in his wheelchair, with a gun to his head, he looked more like a hunter than prey.
"Bastard…" Caspian muttered through gritted teeth as he looked at his younger brother.
"I pity you," Caelis finally said, voice calm.
"Hah! You what?" Caspian's face twisted, as if trying to laugh.
"You shouldn't waste your time pitying me, Caelis," Caspian sneered. "Pity yourself. I'll send you to the other side right now."
A sudden voice rang out.
"Father!"
A drenched, panting little Liam rushed forward, grabbing at Caspian's pants with shaking hands.
"Don't hurt Papa—please! Please don't!"
His small frame clung desperately, making Caspian stagger.
"Brat, let go!" Caspian roared.
"Liam!?" Caelis gasped in horror, trying to reach him, leaning forward in panic—
But Caspian shoved the barrel harder into Caelis's forehead, forcing him back.
"Don't fuckin' move, puppet," he snarled.
"Caspian! Not in front of Liam—he's a child!" Caelis barked in disbelief, eyes wide with fury. "You did all of this for a son! Don't hurt him!"
Caspian laughed, wild.
"Son of me? I have none. I don't give a damn about his mentality or what the fuck'll happen to him. He just needs to act like a doll, same as the rest of you."
His voice dropped as he leaned in close.
"I liked your part the most, my. dear. little. brother."
Caelis's eyes widened. He'd always known Caspian was trash… but what about Liam? Could even he be so heartless?
"Father!" Liam cried again, desperate.
Caspian groaned. "So annoying. And now I'm soaked."
Without mercy, he kicked Liam away. The boy flew backward, crashing to the ground. His eyes went wide in terror as his small body trembled.
"…No…" he whispered brokenly.
"Let my master go! Please! Please—don't, Master Caspian!, ugh master!" Jason screamed, struggling on the floor, but it was useless.
A door creaked open.
Everyone froze.
At the distance, a figure stood in the villa's doorway. Her eyes wide, her body stiff. Serena. She looked like death had touched her — pale, trembling, breath stolen from her chest.
Caspian's lips curled. "Ah… perfect."
Caelis turned slowly, seeing her. And he smiled—softly, warmly.
For the last face I see to be yours... my peace, my calm, my Sereny
"CAELIS!!" Serena screamed, running toward him.
But Caspian had already pulled the trigger.
BANG.
The gunshot echoed, shattering the silence.
Time seemed to stop.
The bullet tore through Caelis's forehead.
Everything froze.
And everything broke.