Sumdem — In the Bello's Mansion
Patty packed the dried laundry from outside and carried them inside, beginning to fold them carefully.
Suddenly, she felt a cold blade pressed against her neck.
The cloth slipped from her hands as she froze, then began to cry.
"Please… I'm not the person you're looking for. I'm… I'm just a maid."
Damien stood behind her.
"Where is he?"
He tilted his head slightly, eyes cold.
"Where is Alex?"
Patty's thoughts raced violently.
Did the young master fight with Damien? Why does he look different? What should I do? If I tell him of the young master's whereabouts he would kill him, and if I don't he would kill me… What should I do? I don't want to die… Oh God please help me. I should have just followed Martha and Maria and left this place…
Damien's grip tightened.
"Are you deaf?"
Patty screamed as he pressed the blade closer.
"I won't ask you again. Where is he?"
"I don't know!" she cried. "You're the one who spends way more time with him than I do! I only get to see him once when I clean his room! And ever since Madam's death he refused to come back home! I swear I have no idea where he is now, please spare my life!"
She broke down completely.
"It was only once I heard him tell late Charles that the cliff side has a beautiful scenery… that's all, I swear!"
Damien paused.
"The cliff side?"
He pushed her away.
For some reason, that name felt familiar.
Without another word, he left the mansion.
Patty collapsed, breathing heavily.
"What have I done to deserve this? First it was Madam that left me, and now even Damien doesn't want me… Only God knows how many people would come here again in search of the young master. I'm not safe here… I need to act fast."
She grabbed her phone and called someone.
"Yes, is this Mr Jang? No, this isn't the young master. I called on behalf of the young master though."
She smiled faintly.
"Yes, I want a transfer of property and business… yes, from Sumdem to Thailand. Yes, please, as soon as possible. Thank you."
She hung up.
At the Cliffside
Damien stood still, staring into the distance.
Then he saw a familiar figure standing far away.
"…Alex?"
The figure turned around.
It was him.
Damien charged forward instantly.
He threw a punch—Alex dodged.
He grabbed a huge rock and hurled it—Alex dodged again.
Alex countered, grabbing Damien by the neck, but Damien broke free violently, kicking him away and sending him crashing into a tree.
"Make it go away," Damien growled. "Make this excruciating pain go away."
Alex looked confused.
"DAMIEN? What are you talking about? Are you okay? I thought you actually died bro… I'm so happy to see—"
Damien punched him.
Alex's nose broke instantly, blood spilling, yet he still smiled faintly.
"You won… you found me first."
Damien punched him again and again.
"Have you been working out? You're so strong now…"
He coughed blood but still smiled.
"Welcome back home."
Damien froze slightly.
"Why won't you fight back? You cause me pain yet won't fight back no matter how hard I hit you?"
Alex struggled to stand.
"It's been a while… I thought I wouldn't see you agai—"
Damien punched him again.
"I won't fall for your tricks!"
He kicked him repeatedly.
"If that's how you want to die then fine by me!"
He lifted a rock and tried to smash his head, but Alex dodged.
"Is dodging the only thing you got?" Damien snapped.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you attacking me?" Alex shouted, noticing his changed appearance.
"What pain are you talking about? I don't really understand!"
Damien attacked again and again.
Alex kept dodging until Damien finally grabbed his hand and snapped it.
Alex screamed in pain.
A smile appeared on Damien's face.
He continued punching him relentlessly until Alex collapsed, barely moving.
But Alex forced himself up again, broken, bloodied, barely standing.
"I really don't get you… but one thing for sure is I won't let you kill me."
Damien laughed.
"You goddamn twisted talking cockroach… you think something like you could hurt me? You're pathetic."
He threw Alex down and stepped on his broken hand.
Alex screamed.
"You talk too much."
He kicked him hard, sending him rolling into a rock.
Alex struggled up again, only to be knocked down once more.
Alex's thoughts flickered:
If I don't do anything at this point I might end up dead… He said I'm the one causing him pain? If one doesn't follow the true form of awakening then he's bound to go berserk… For the fact he still remembers me means there's still a bit of his memories intact…
"Damien… please stop!"
He managed to stand and punch Damien.
Damien shoved him down and continued beating him.
Alex reached desperately for a rock and struck Damien's face, but it barely left a mark.
Then he felt something in his pocket.
A strangely carved blade.
It had been poking him since the fight began.
He remembered Hiruko selling it to him for 900 million dollars.
He stabbed Damien.
Damien stopped instantly.
Alex applied pressure after pulling the blade out—but no blood came.
Instead, Damien's body began turning to ash.
Bit by bit.
His eyes and hair slowly returned to normal.
He smiled softly.
"I've found you."
Alex stared in shock.
"Why… why are you turning to ash? Why?"
Damien smiled sadly.
"I've won the game, right? Seriously… I thought I'd never see you again."
He paused.
"I finally get to see her… her name is Flora. And I look exactly like her."
He coughed softly.
"You should stop slacking off and claim your throne already."
Alex's eyes widened.
"If I did go… I couldn't have been able to see you again."
He broke down crying.
"I'm sorry… I'm really sorry… I don't know why… I didn't mean to hurt you…"
Damien smiled at him one last time as he fully turned to ash.
A cold breeze swept through, carrying him away.
Alex screamed loudly.
He threw the blade off the cliff.
"Why? I could have just died in your arms… what's the point of living? What is? I'm just a loser… nothing has changed for years… nothing fucking changed!"