Dylan stormed back into the dimly lit hall, his eyes scanning for Adrien. When he found him, his voice was cold, sharp, and laced with fire.
"When will she wake up?" he asked, his jaw tight with concern.
Adrien glanced at Ember, still unconscious in the bedroom, her breathing soft and even. "I think she'll wake in about two - three hours. Around evening."
Dylan exhaled slowly, a dangerous glint flickering in his gaze. "Good," he murmured. "That gives me just enough time to make someone pay… for their sins."
Adrien raised a brow, uneasy. "You're going there now?"
"Yeah. Unless you'd rather sit this one out," Dylan replied with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Adrien straightened. "Let's go."
Dylan pulled out his phone. "I'll call my mom. She can stay with Ember and keep an eye on her condition. You call Emir—tell him to meet us at the old mansion."
With that, they were gone, tires screeching into the fading light.
The road twisted through the forest like a warning, and as they neared the mansion, they spotted the bright yellow of police tape flapping against the wind. The old place looked like a memory left to rot, its broken windows staring like hollow eyes.
They passed the tape without hesitation.
"Where are they?" Dylan asked, his voice low and threatening.
Emir, waiting just ahead, turned with urgency. "Follow me."
As they moved deeper into the ruins, Adrien spoke, a thread of doubt creeping into his voice. "Dylan, are you sure about this? Maybe we should've informed the police…"
Dylan didn't slow. His eyes were locked ahead, a storm brewing in them. "The police would've given them a few nights in a cell. That's not enough—not for what they did to her."
The weight of his words silenced Adrien.
Inside the mansion, sunlight bled faintly through the broken windows, casting long, eerie shadows across the dust-covered floor. The air was thick, heavy with tension. In the basement, two men sat tied to stone pillars—Brent and Kyle—their wrists secured with zip ties, mouths gagged, clothes torn from a rough struggle. Their eyes were wild with confusion and fear.
Dylan descended the stairs slowly. The silence seemed to hold its breath.
He rolled up his sleeves, revealing the muscles in his forearms tense and ready. His jaw clenched. Then, without a word, he picked up a thick wooden stick from near the fireplace. The fury in his eyes was unmistakable—raw, consuming, dangerous.
Emir and Adrien watched in stunned silence.
The two captives stirred. One of them mumbled through the gag, "Who's there?"
Adrien ripped the cloth from their mouths, and the guards gasped in a deep breath before repeating, "Who are you?"
Dylan stepped forward, shadows dancing across his face. His voice was a low growl, barely restrained. "You thought no one would come for her." He tilted his head, eyes burning. "You thought she'd be just another girl you could scare... hurt... and forget."
Brent tried to defend himself, voice cracking. "We didn't even do anything! She was saved—by you!"
"You shouldn't have touched her at all," Dylan snapped, and in one fluid motion, he swung the wooden stick. It cracked against their hands with a sickening thud.
Their screams echoed off the stone walls, raw and full of pain.
Adrien moved forward. "Dylan, you can't—"
Dylan turned, and when their eyes met, Adrien froze. The look in Dylan's eyes was unrecognizable—bloodshot, unblinking, consumed by something primal. Rage. Protection. Love.
Adrien swallowed his words, stepping back in silence.
Dylan faced the trembling men again, voice calm but lethal. "Answer my questions honestly... and maybe—just maybe—I'll let you walk out of here breathing."
Both guards looked at each other with wild, panicked eyes. They knew this could be their last chance at survival. One of them—his face pale and trembling—gave a quick, shaky nod.
Dylan's voice sliced through the silence, low and deadly. "Tell me everything. I want the whole story from that night—every disgusting detail."
The second guard swallowed hard, voice breaking as he began to speak. "The Madam... she hired us to kidnap a girl. Said we'd find her in the ladies' room at the party. When we got there, she was already lying on the floor... covered in blood. The Madam told us to take her to the old mansion—here."
Dylan's fists tightened at his sides, the sound of his knuckles cracking barely audible beneath the guard's trembling words.
"Her head was bleeding bad," the guard continued, "and the blood wouldn't stop. Madam ordered us to bandage her, but we had nothing—so we used a piece of cloth. She turned to leave... but then she stopped."
He glanced at Dylan, his voice dropping to a whisper. "She came back and tried to pull a ring off the girl's finger. It wouldn't come off. So... so she dug her nails into her skin until it ripped free."
Dylan's eyes darkened, the air around him seeming to thicken with fury.
"Even unconscious, the girl... she was crying. Tears just kept rolling down her cheeks. But the Madam didn't stop. She just laughed and told us to cover her eyes... said she'd return in the morning."
He paused, guilt twisting his face. "After she left, we kept guard. But... the girl woke up. She was sobbing—screaming in pain because of her head injury. My partner went to check on her."
Dylan stepped forward slowly, like a shadow closing in. The guard's breath caught.
"When I got inside, he had already removed her blindfold. He was touching her. I told him to stop... but he didn't."
The words hung heavy in the air. Dylan's jaw locked tight, eyes aflame with restrained violence as he turned toward the first guard.
The man flinched. "H-Hey! Why are you acting like you're innocent? Don't lie now!" He pointed a trembling finger at the other. "You agreed to everything! You're acting like I was the only one touching her, but you—"
He looked at Dylan, desperation rising. "He's the one who bit her leg, alright? Not me!"
The second guard snapped back, face flushing with anger and shame. "What the hell are you talking about?! You were the one who tried to kiss her first! That bite mark—she did that before you could!"
He gave a dry, nervous laugh. "Serves you right, pervert."
Dylan said nothing at first. He just stared at them—his entire body trembling with fury. A dark, dangerous calm settled over him, like a storm moments before it breaks.
Inside his mind, the image of Ember—blood on her skin, tears on her cheeks, trembling in pain—flashed like lightning.
The first guard snapped suddenly, voice trembling with frustration. "Shut the hell up!"
The second snarled right back. "Why? Because I'm telling the truth? You're the one who bit her shoulder until she bled, remember that?"
The first one growled, "Don't act innocent—you were the one touching her, biting her under her shirt!"
Their words dissolved into chaos as they began shouting over each other, blaming, accusing, spitting out the truth like venom. They thrashed against their restraints, hatred and guilt bubbling to the surface in a frantic attempt to survive.
Dylan stood frozen for a heartbeat, eyes wide with a rage so deep it nearly hollowed him out. Every bruise on Ember's fragile body flashed through his memory—the ones she hadn't even been able to explain. Now he knew. Now he understood exactly how those monsters had left their mark on her.
And it broke something inside him.
He stepped forward slowly, a cold smirk twitching at the corner of his mouth—but there was no amusement in it. Only pain. Only fire.
"What did you say," Dylan asked quietly, "that made him so angry?"
The first guard hesitated, then muttered, "We thought... after what the Madam did to her, the girl wouldn't make it till morning. She looked so weak, so broken. So we figured we could have some... fun. Just for a while."
Dylan's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"But then... she slammed her head—over and over—on the metal headboard like a mad girl. It was terrifying. Blood... was everywhere. She wouldn't stop. It was like she wanted to die rather than be touched again."
His voice faltered, guilt finally creeping in.
"We panicked. Tried to run. But the Madam came back... She saw the state the girl was in and freaked out. Said she was going to call the police. We tried to stop her. She slipped, fell. Then... you showed up."
Dylan stood motionless, barely breathing. His world tilted with those words, and all he could see was Ember—his Ember—bloody, trembling, broken, and still fighting.
Rage surged through Dylan's veins like fire.
Without a word, he flung the wooden stick across the room. It clattered violently against the stone wall, splintering. His hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning bone white. And then, without hesitation, he drove his fist straight into the first guard's face.
Once.
Twice.
Over and over.
Each punch landed with a sickening crunch, blood splattering across the cold basement floor. The guard's mouth split open, a trail of red oozing from his lips. But Dylan didn't stop. His voice cracked with fury as he struck again.
"You tried to kiss her?" he roared. "You didn't stop?"
The second guard's terrified scream pierced the air, echoing off the stone walls. Dylan turned, eyes blazing, and stalked toward him.
"How dare you…" Dylan hissed. "How dare you touch her with your filthy hands."
With a terrifying calmness, he grabbed the second guard's wrist—and with a sickening crack, broke it. The man howled in agony. But Dylan didn't flinch. Every hit, every punch was guided by the memory of Ember—her bruises, her fear, the sound of her sobs in the dark.
He slammed his fist into the second guard's face, splitting skin and spilling more blood. The room reeked of violence, thick and suffocating.
But still—it wasn't enough.
He wanted them to feel what she had felt. To break the way they had broken her.
Blood dripped from Dylan's hands. His breathing was heavy, uneven. His eyes burned red, not just from rage—but from heartbreak.
Adrien stepped forward, grabbing Dylan by the shoulder. "Stop! They'll die!"
But Dylan didn't hear him. His fists trembled with fury, his vision red with vengeance.
Emir joined him, trying to restrain Dylan. "Dylan—listen to us, damn it!"
Adrien's voice cracked, desperate now. "If you kill them, you'll go to jail. You'll never see Ember again!"
At the sound of her name, Dylan froze.
His chest heaved. Blood stained his skin. Silence fell, broken only by the guards' groans of pain.
Ember.
Just the thought of her brought him back. The way she had clung to him. The way her eyes pleaded for comfort. Her broken voice whispering his name, even in her sleep.
He let go.
Slowly, Dylan stood and took a step back. His fists unclenched, his breath trembling.
But his voice was ice.
"They don't deserve to live. Not after what they did to her."
Adrien placed a hand on his shoulder, firm but calm. "Then let them rot. Let the world see who they really are. But don't lose yourself, Dylan. Ember needs you. Not behind bars. She needs you beside her."
Dylan didn't respond right away. He looked down at the blood on his hands.
Dylan's voice was low, almost a whisper, but the weight in his tone struck like thunder.
"She's the only reason you're still breathing."
Then he turned his back on the broken men. The guards whimpered behind them, their voices weak and shaking.
"Please… please release us…"
But none of the boys looked back. Not even once.
Outside, it was almost dark, air was cold against Dylan's blood-stained skin. Emir pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen.
"I booked a hotel nearby. We should rest there for now. And Dylan—man, you need a shower. You're literally dripping in blood."
Dylan glanced down at himself, expression unreadable. Then he nodded.
"Yeah. Okay."
They arrived at the hotel and quickly got cleaned up. The water was hot, but it couldn't burn away the memory of Ember's bruises or the rage still simmering beneath Dylan's skin.
Later, in the quiet hotel lounge, the three sat together. Dylan, towel-draped over his head, was rubbing his wet hair dry when Emir broke the silence.
"Do you really think leaving those bastards like that was smart? What if they escape?"
Dylan looked up, his eyes dark but calm.
"Honestly? I should've killed them."
Adrien shot him a look, irritated.
"Seriously? You two are insane. Do whatever you want, but don't drag me down with you when the cops show up."
Emir leaned back, smirking.
"Adrien, come on. Stop being such a scaredy-cat. Be a tiger—like Dylan."
Adrien huffed.
"I don't want to be a tiger."
Dylan let out a small laugh, his voice smooth and teasing.
"You couldn't be like me even if you tried."
Adrien rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, I know. And I'm thankful for it."
Emir passed around a few cold beers, cracking open the tension in the room.
"I think the way Dylan beat them up, they won't dare touch another girl anytime soon. But… it's not a permanent solution."
Dylan took a swig, his jaw clenching slightly.
"You're right. We should hand them over to the police. At least that much."
Adrien and Emir nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. Let's do that."
There was a pause, then Emir's eyes lit up with a different idea.
"You know what? Let's ask Sheng Chi to make a story about this. He's one of the best crime-thriller writers in Country C. "
Adrien blinked.
"You're joking, right? You think the famous Sheng Chi is going to write a script for us? Come on."
Dylan shrugged, his smile curling.
"I think it's a great idea. Call him."
Adrien scoffed.
"Seriously? He'll just say no."
Emir raised his drink with a playful smirk.
"Wanna make a bet?"
Adrien sighed, defeated.
"Whatever. Do what you want."
"Deal."
Emir tapped the screen and put the call on speaker as it rang.
"C'mon, pick up…"
After a few seconds, a gruff but familiar voice answered.
"Hey, brother." Sheng Chi sounded distracted, maybe typing or reading something in the background.
"Hey, brother!" Emir greeted, cheerful as always.
*"Don't hang up—just hear me out."
"Ugh, what now?" Sheng Chi sighed. "Just tell me what you want. I'm busy."
Emir grinned and leaned back on the hotel couch.
"Don't be so mean. You always assume I want a favor."
"Because you never call unless you do," Sheng Chi snapped back, though there was a hint of a smile in his tone.
Emir chuckled.
"Yeah, well… guilty as charged."
Sheng Chi let out a frustrated sigh.
"Listen, I'm not helping with anything right now. I'm already neck-deep dealing with the fallout from Dylan's dating rumors. You wouldn't believe the number of girls showing up at the company just to get a glimpse of her—" he lowered his voice mockingly, "'the mystery girl.'"
There was a pause before he added,
"Don't tell me you guys did something stupid again…"
Emir hesitated for just a second.
"It's not me this time…"
Sheng Chi groaned.
"What did Dylan do now?"
Instead of answering, Emir smirked.
"Why don't you ask him yourself?"
"I'll call him then."
"No need. He's right here."
"He is? Pass the phone."
Dylan, drying his hands with a towel, walked over and took the phone.
"hello , Chi."
Sheng Chi's voice immediately dropped into a teasing tone.
"What now, Romeo? And before you say anything, please tell Ember to start covering herself when she goes out with you. Your fans are acting like bloodthirsty wolves. It's insane."
Dylan's lips twitched into a half-smile, but his voice was serious, low.
"She doesn't even know what's happening. She's been through too much already."
Sheng Chi paused on the other end.
"What do you mean?"
Dylan didn't say anything at first. The silence on the line hung like a blade in the air.
From the speaker, Sheng Chi's voice cut through with sudden urgency.
"Don't tell me... did something happen to Ember again?"
Emir exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yeah… Ember was kidnapped."
"What?!" Sheng Chi's voice was sharp now, no trace of his usual humor.
Emir quickly added,
"But don't panic. We found her. She's safe now."
Sheng Chi's voice dropped, laced with worry.
"Is she alright? Please tell me she's okay…"
That's when Dylan finally spoke. But it wasn't the calm, composed Dylan everyone knew. His voice was heavy with guilt, raw and broken.
"I left her alone… just for a little while. And they—" He swallowed hard, trying to steady himself. "They almost raped her. If she hadn't tried to end her own life, they would have…"
His voice cracked, and a tear slipped down his cheek.
In that moment, every horrible image flooded his mind—
Her smile... twisted into screams.
Her laughter... replaced by trembling sobs.
Her body... bloodied.
Her voice... whispering in his arms, "I'm dirty…"
More tears followed, unrelenting. Adrien, who'd been sitting quietly, noticed and handed Dylan a box of tissues, his voice soft.
"She's okay now, Dylan. She's safe. That's what matters."
On the call, Sheng Chi's voice returned, but this time, it was quiet, almost disbelieving.
"What did you just say…?"
He stopped mid-sentence as Dylan's crying came through the speaker. Sheng Chi had known Dylan for years—but never had he heard him break like this.
Emir moved closer, gently wrapping an arm around Dylan's shoulders, steadying him.
"Let it out," he said quietly. "Cry as much as you need to. Be strong when you're with her—but here… with us… you don't have to hold it in."
There was a long pause. Sheng Chi's voice, when it came again, was softer than before.
"Let him cry. Let him grieve."
Then, like a dam breaking, Dylan broke down completely—his cries tearing through the room until his eyes swelled, puffy and red, his face flushed like a fish gasping for air. He remained in the firm embrace of his best friends, no longer the untouchable Dylan everyone feared, but a man shattered by guilt, drowning in the weight of Ember's pain.
After what felt like hours, when Dylan had finally sobbed himself quiet, Sheng Chi's voice came through the speaker, calm but focused.
"Now, tell me... what do you need from me?"
Emir leaned forward, glancing at Dylan.
"Dylan beat the hell out of both those bastards. They're tied up at the mansion—the one where they kidnapped Ember. We need to know what to do next."
There was a pause. Then Sheng Chi said coldly,
"Honestly? It'd be better if he just killed them."
Emir let out a dark chuckle.
"I agree."
Dylan's voice was low, menacing. His eyes still glistened from crying, but now they burned with vengeance.
"It's not too late. I can go back… finish it."
Adrien shot up from the couch.
"You're all out of your minds! Think rationally—what if Dylan gets arrested? You think Ember could handle losing him too?"
Sheng Chi sighed through the speaker.
"Yeah, he's right. We can't take that risk. Now I get it—you called me for a story, didn't you?"
Emir grinned slightly.
"Yeah. We need your genius, man."
Sheng Chi's tone shifted into something more calculated.
"Alright. Here's what you're going to do. Tomorrow, go back to the mansion. Untie them, stage a confrontation—make it messy, make it look real. Beat them again, from my side too. Then call the police and tell them you came back to retrieve something Ember left behind."
Everyone leaned in, listening carefully as Sheng Chi continued:
"Say when you got there, you caught those bastards trying to destroy evidence. Claim they attacked you. Make sure you've got some fake bruises, a bloody lip if you can manage. Frame it as self-defense. That way, the cops arrest them, and Dylan walks free. Clean. Problem solved."
Emir suddenly began clapping, grinning wide.
"What a plan! Seriously, thank you so much, man!"
Adrien, still the voice of reason, raised an eyebrow.
"But... what if those bastards tell the police that we already beat them up yesterday?"
Sheng Chi's voice came calmly but with quiet confidence.
"Do you really think the police are going to believe a couple of criminals over a globally famous idol and his friends? The moment Dylan steps in with a bloody lip and bruises, the cops will eat up the story. Trust me."
Dylan leaned forward, his voice softer now, full of unspoken gratitude.
"Thank you, Sheng... really."
"Don't mention it," Sheng replied with a chuckle. "We're friends. And... I also did it for Ember. She was my first crush, after all."
Dylan's head snapped toward the phone, eyes narrowing.
"Hey."
"What?" Sheng teased. "Just let her know—if she ever gets bored of you, she's welcome to come running to me."
Dylan rolled his eyes, lips curving into a small smirk, but his tone held a warning.
"You better stop teasing me before I start thinking you're serious."
"Alright, alright," Sheng laughed. Then his voice turned more serious again. "Wait... what are you going to tell her parents about all this?"
The room went quiet.