Klaus woke up late the next day, his eyes fluttering open to a slightly familiar room.
Slowly, he sat up, meeting Vincent’s blank gaze from the corner of the room. He glanced around but saw no sign of Morticia.
“She’s home with my mother,” Vincent clarified, sensing Klaus’s confusion. “So Ava won’t suspect anything and make Josephine worry.”
“Oh,” Klaus muttered, and a long silence settled between them.
“How is she?” Klaus finally asked, breaking the stillness.
Vincent raised a brow.
“I know you’re mad at me, bruh. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” Klaus said. “I planned to once you got back, and I never meant for you to find out like that.”
Another heavy pause hung in the air before Vincent spoke. “I’m not sorry for hitting you. But I’m sorry for not being there sooner.”
Klaus studied his friend. There was still anger in Vincent’s eyes, burning fiercely. But beneath the rage was something else-something unfamiliar. It was the first time Klaus couldn’t read him.
“I’m not gonna hurt her,” Klaus said softly, meeting Vincent gaze.
“I’m not letting you fuck with my sister…”
“I’m not going to. I love her more than my existence, and I’m going to prove it to you…”
“I don’t know, Klaus,” Vincent cut in, his eyes growing cold. “Just stay away from her. We’ve got some serious problems to deal with-Simon. He must have been finding a way to tear us apart, making one of us vulnerable before striking.”
“Let me guess. He sent you evidence of me and Morticia, then released Jamie to kill me while I was vulnerable,” Klaus added.
“That asshole,” Vincent mumbled.
“Oh, you’re awake,” a tattooed young woman stepped out. They called her Healer because she was a genius at treating people, her methods unique. “How are you feeling?”
“That’s a dumb question,” Klaus replied.
“You want me to hit you too?” Healer retorted.
Klaus smiled as she removed the bandages to check his wounds. Healer was a friend to both Klaus and Vincent, almost like a personal doctor who treated them after missions.
“Simon really crossed the line. What are you guys going to do about him? I mean, he almost killed Klaus. He should get a taste of his own medicine,” Healer said.
“That’ll come once Klaus is fine. I’ve got something planned for that motherfucker,” Vincent replied.
Healer finished dressing Klaus’s wound. “It’ll be fine in three days. You’re healing fast,” she said professionally. “You need to come here every day so I can check on your wound.”
“Thanks,” Klaus mumbled as he put on his black shirt. The wound stung, but after three years of being Simon’s pawn, he was used to pain.
“I’ll send the payment once I get a new phone,” he added.
“Nah, Vincent already paid,” Healer shrugged. Klaus glanced at Vincent, who was already leaving the room. Sighing, Klaus followed him out.
–
Morticia was in her room, reminiscing about what had happened yesterday. After Klaus killed Jamie, Vincent had thrown Jamie’s body into the water.
It doesn’t seems new to them, and that scared her. Even the police she had called never came.
“Morty,” Ava called, opening the door without knocking. “I need to get something from down the street… I’ll be right back.”
Morticia forced a smile as she watched Ava leave. Her thoughts drifted to Klaus. Was he okay? So much had happened last night-Vincent’s anger, Klaus almost dying, and then Klaus killing Jamie.
She couldn’t wrap her head around it, leaving her sleepless all night.
Soon, she heard her door opening again. Thinking it was her mother, she looked up and saw Klaus with Vincent behind him.
Morticia stood from the bed, facing them speechlessly.
“What you saw back there… do you have any questions?” Klaus asked.
She had many questions, but none spilled out. Finally, she asked, “What have you two been up to?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
Klaus sighed before explaining Simon’s dark deals. He told her about Void, the mysterious underworld figure who had Simon carry out jobs to destroy those who defied or challenged him.
“What?” Morticia whispered in disbelief. Her voice trembling. “How did you get tangled up in all this? You killed him. I hate him, but killing him was…”
“That’s how dark the world is. If we didn’t end him, he would’ve ended us,” Vincent replied.
“What in the world are you talking about?” a voice sounded behind them.
They all turned to see Ava standing with her mouth wide open.
“K… killed who?” Ava stuttered.
–
In a dark, cold, empty room, the air was thick with the smell of blood and despair. Two figures hung from the ceiling by their wrists, their faces swollen and bloodied.
Chains rattled faintly as they shifted weakly, groaning in pain. The dim light of a single bulb swung above them, revealing their faces.
Simon and Dimitri.
A man stood in the corner, his hand reaching for a button.
Dimitri panicked. “Please don’t… Please don’t press that.” The thought of being electrocuted again overwhelmed her.
The man ignored her pleas and pressed the button.
Both Simon and Dimitri shook violently like a leave in a storm. Their eyes rolling back as they screamed in agony.
When the man released the button, Dimitri jerked twice, almost losing consciousness, while Simon struggled to catch his breath.
“What the fuck do you want?!” Simon screamed, trembling against the chains that held him.
They had been ambushed by several men in black. Some of Simon’s people had been killed, including Zara. After being injected with something, Simon and Dimitri had woken up here.
“Who sent you, huh? How much did they pay to bring me here?” Simon growled, while Dimitri sobbed.
The door opened, and a figure stepped in, followed by men in black.
Simon frowned, then realization dawned on him.
“Void?” he muttered, and the figure smirked. Judging by the aura emanating from the person, Simon knew he wasn’t mistaken.
Dimitri also raised her gaze, shocked to see who Void turned out to be.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” she mumbled.
Simon chuckled bitterly, mocking himself. This was the person he had been working for? Risking his life for over seven years after being saved from a gang that had tried to kill him over a debt?
The Void was here, staring directly into Simon’s eyes, and he couldn’t believe who it turned out to be.
“I gave you a warning,” Void said, reaching for a gun held by one of the men.
“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Simon stuttered, sweat dripping down his face.
“I told you. You can’t kill anyone without my permission.” Void stepped close to Dimitri, gripping her face while locking eyes with Simon. The gun was shoved into Dimitri’s mouth.
“I didn’t… kill anyone,” Simon stammered while Dimitri began to cry.
“You tried to kill Klaus,” Void said coldly.
Simon shook his head. “It was Jamie, not me! I had no-”
A gunshot rang out, Dimitri’s brains splattered onto the cracked wall and Simon’s face. Her body went limp, and Simon let out a guttural scream.
“No!!!… You fucking-”
The gun was shoved into his mouth, silencing him.
“I’ve got eyes everywhere, Simon. Klaus is mine to do with as I please. You almost ruined my plans, and that makes me so fucking mad.” Void’s voice was venomous.
Simon mumbled incoherently against the gun, his breath ragged.
Void chuckled, pulling the gun away.
“Klaus is going to kill you,” Simon growled. “Klaus and his friend will come for you once they find out you’re Void!”
Void simply chuckled. “Oh, please. Those boys will do nothing-not when I have their lives wrapped around my finger. Once I’m done with them, I’ll kill them in the most brutal way if they dare defy me. And you, Simon…”
Void tilted the head. “You’re no longer needed.”
Simon’s eyes widened “I’ll do anything to make up to you. Just name whatever you want please don’t kill me Void. I’m sorry I’ll never touch.. Two gunshots sounded hitting each of Simon’s legs
Void chuckled as Simon’s scream echoed the air. Four gunshots followed, two bullets hitting his arms
“Stop!” Simon gasped as his blood pooled the floor.
“Electrocute him. Let’s see how long he’ll last. Keep it medium, I want to see how long this bastard last” Void ordered and sat on the chair, hand reaching to take the glass of wine
“Arghhh!!!!!”
Simon scream echoed the fall walls ofthe dark space, his body trembling as hebegan to see stars.
He struggle from the chain holding him as the pain became so unbearable.
Voice drank the wine with a dark smile, then whispered. “Melody…”