"What?" The man hadn't heard him clearly.
He let out a heavy sigh, closed his eyes, and repeated, "I said, how much longer until they get to Kyloria?"
The man glanced at his watch. "About two more hours. Don't worry, you still have plenty of time. If you release the hostage now, our police and firefighters can clear the scene quickly and take you away. We'll make sure they don't see you like this!"
"...There's no need." Willow Quincy's lips twitched into a smirk as a single, desperate tear slid from the corner of his eye.
"What do you mean, 'no need'?" the man asked patiently.
"They don't need to come to Kyloria anymore," Willow Quincy said.
"...Huh?" The man was stunned.
Willow Quincy slowly opened his eyes, the rims already completely bloodshot. The earlier arrogance and malice had vanished, replaced by a weary exhaustion and ashen despair in his crimson eyes.
"I said, don't have my parents come to Kyloria! Please, just send them back."
