Silence.
The only sound left was the frightened breathing of a teen who still didn't understand that his grandfather had died twice.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
The boy opened his eyes.
For a brief moment—
He looked relieved.
"Grandpa?"
His gaze shifted.
To the shattered wall.
To the blood.
To the old man lying motionless on the floor.
His expression froze.
"Grandpa?"
He scrambled backward, pressing himself against the coffee table.
"No."
The word came out as a whisper.
Then he looked up.
At Erik.
At Kai.
At the crackling remnants of lightning still dancing around Erik's fingertips.
"You..."
His voice broke.
"You killed him."
Kai opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
Because what could he possibly say?
That they had saved him?
That his grandfather had already died?
That the thing standing over him wasn't family anymore?
The teen's eyes filled with tears.
"He was trying to wake me up."
The apartment fell silent.
Even Hrimnir said nothing.
