Chapter 7
The corridor felt colder today.
Heavier.
Jay walked slowly.
Her steps unsure.
Her heart…
pounding too fast.
"Please…"
She whispered.
"I don't want to see this…"
But no one listened.
Two guards walked beside her.
Silent.
Unmoved.
At the end of the corridor—
A door.
Big.
Closed.
Waiting.
Jay stopped.
"I didn't know…"
Her voice shook.
"I made a mistake…"
No response.
The door opened.
And fear stepped in with her.
The room was dim.
Cold.
And in the center—
A man.
Tied.
Bruised.
Bleeding.
Not the same one she saved.
Another.
Her breath hitched.
"No…"
And then—
She saw him.
Keifer
Standing there.
Waiting.
Watching.
"You're late."
He said calmly.
Jay shook her head.
"Please… don't do this…"
Silence.
"You wanted to help, right?"
Her eyes filled instantly.
"Yes… but not like this…"
"Then watch."
Her heart dropped.
"I can't…"
"You will."
His voice left no space for refusal.
The man on the chair started crying.
"Please… I didn't do anything…"
Jay covered her ears.
"Stop…"
She whispered.
"Please stop…"
Keifer walked forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
"You know what happens…"
He said quietly.
"…when someone betrays me?"
Jay shook her head violently.
"I don't want to know!"
"But you should."
A pause.
"Because next time…"
His gaze shifted to her.
"…you'll think before you act."
Her breath broke.
Tears fell freely now.
"I said I'm sorry…"
"Sorry doesn't fix damage."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then—
It started.
Jay squeezed her eyes shut.
Tried to block it out.
But the sounds—
The cries.
The pain.
They didn't stop.
They echoed.
Inside her head.
Inside her chest.
"STOP!"
She screamed.
Her voice breaking completely.
"Please stop… I'm begging you…"
Everything went still.
Suddenly.
Too suddenly.
Jay slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision blurred with tears.
Her body shaking.
Keifer stood there.
Frozen.
Looking at her.
Not at the man.
At her.
And for the first time—
Something changed.
Because Jay…
Wasn't angry anymore.
Wasn't arguing.
She was terrified.
Broken.
Her knees gave out.
She fell to the floor.
Crying uncontrollably.
"I hate this…"
Her voice shattered.
"I hate you…"
Silence.
But this time…
It didn't feel powerful.
It felt… heavy.
Keifer didn't move.
Didn't speak.
He just stood there.
Watching her break.
Watching the fear in her eyes.
The same fear…
Everyone had.
But it felt different.
Because it was her.
"Take her out."
He said finally.
His voice… lower.
The guards moved instantly.
Jay didn't resist.
Didn't speak.
Didn't even look at him again.
And that…
That did something to him.
Something he didn't like.
The door closed behind her.
Leaving him alone.
In silence.
Keifer looked at his hands.
Blood.
Familiar.
Normal.
But today…
It felt different.
Because for the first time—
Someone saw it…
And broke.
And for some reason…
He couldn't ignore that.
End of Chapter 7