Katherine’s eyes never left the shattered school building.
Thin streams of smoke still drifted from the broken third-floor windows.
Somewhere inside…
Billy was still trapped.
She turned to Lucas, her voice barely above a whisper.
“…Billy.”
Lucas remained silent.
“He only helped Parker because they threatened him.”
Her grip tightened around the books pressed against her chest.
“…Please.”
“We can’t just leave him.”
Lucas looked toward the school.
His expression remained unreadable.
“…No.”
Katherine blinked.
“What?”
“You should leave.”
A look of disbelief crossed her face.
“And Billy?”
“I’ll bring him out.”
She stared at him.
“…How?”
Lucas didn’t answer.
His gaze stayed fixed on the silent building, where broken windows reflected the fading afternoon sun.
After a long pause, he spoke quietly.
“…I’ll find a way.”
Katherine stepped closer and caught his wrist.
“Lucas.”
He stopped.
“You can’t go back alone.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“If we both go…”
“…there’ll just be two people who need saving.”
The words hit harder than either of them expected.
The wind whispered through the maple trees, carrying fallen leaves across the empty road.
“You’ve done enough.”
“No.”
Her voice trembled.
“I haven’t.”
“You came back for Billy.”
“That’s more than most people would’ve done.”
She lowered her eyes.
“But…”
He shook his head.
“Go home.”
Silence settled between them.
Finally, Lucas glanced toward the university gate.
“There should still be taxis outside.”
Katherine looked at him for a long moment.
She knew.
He wasn’t confident.
He was afraid.
Terrified.
But he had already made up his mind.
“…Please…”
Her voice cracked.
“…Come back alive.”
Lucas didn’t promise.
He simply smiled.
It was small.
Tired.
But genuine.
Together, they walked toward the front gate.
A yellow taxi rolled to the curb.
The driver leaned toward the open window.
“Need a ride?”
Katherine opened the rear door, then looked back one last time.
“…Thank you, Lucas.”
“Go.”
She hesitated only a moment before climbing inside.
The door closed.
The taxi pulled away.
Lucas remained standing by the roadside.
He watched until the vehicle disappeared beyond the intersection.
Only then…
…did the smile leave his face.
He turned toward Westbridge University.
The campus no longer looked like a school.
It looked like something waiting to swallow anyone foolish enough to enter.
Lucas took a step.
Then another.
Before stopping.
A bitter laugh escaped him.
“…Who am I kidding?”
“If I go back in there…”
“…I’m probably walking straight to my death.”
His thoughts drifted to Parker.
To the bolt of lightning that had torn through the classroom.
To Billy, beaten and helpless on the floor.
Then…
To Katherine’s final words.
“Come back alive.”
Lucas closed his eyes.
“…Damn it.”
“I really don’t know how to walk away.”
He drew a slow breath.
When he opened his eyes again…
The hesitation was gone.
Without another word, Lucas turned toward the old library wing.
Whatever waited for him inside…
He would face it alone.