With a gloomy look in her eyes, she helped him to sit down. "Any news on him? Has Ian forwarded any threat?" She didn't respond to hid question for quite a while. Looking away with hesitant lips, she sighs.

"He's dead. Ian displayed his body on the streets. It's all over news now." Hearing this, he rolled his tongue in despair looking up into her eyes. As I stood by speechless, I didn't know what to say either, to comfort him. If only I didn't get in the way and stabbed him yesterday. Fixing the lace of his shoes with difficult, my eyes wavered.

Was he planning to go out in this state? Folding his lips, he closed his eyes in silence and retorted,"Where is he?"

Catherine sighed but wasn't willing to tell him where. It was obvious he wanted to get back at Ian and retrieve his body too. There was no way she'd let him leave in this state. "I know how important he is to you. But it's useless to go there now. You're still hurt-"

"Where's he?! Tell me," he yelled. Her eyes started to blink after processing his dark tone. Inhaling a deep breath, she shook her head. "I'm sorry. I can't tell you." Watching all this, I couldn't just stay quiet. I quickly rushed over to him. "We'll go and find out. You should rest first-"

Before I could keep on talking, he got up with struggles and started walking to the main hall. When he picked his phone, we run after him, stopping just a feet from him. "Liverpool Street again," he declared throwing his eyes around.

Catherine pulled his phone away and turned it off before he could read more information on the article. "Listen to me at least. Clara's right. We'll check and update you. You need to rest. Your wound is quite deep. You need at least a month to heal completely."

He bit his tongue and pushed a chair in his way to walk to the door. Astonished by his abrupt action, I swiftly turned to Catherine with a nod before running after him. I blocked the door with my body and turned to him with a serious look. But when he saw who was in his way, his eyes lowered.

"Step back," he said. Catherine shook her head and held his hand but he yanked it off. "I said step back!" Shaking my head, a tear run down my cheeks. Burning up with desperation and anger, he grabbed my hand and tossed me aside, opening the door with full force.

I stumbled back and fell back, but I managed to keep up with Catherine's help. "Max! If you step out, we're done. I won't help you with Ian. You're on your own." Turning around slowly, he lowered his head in agony.

"Max. Please stay back. We still need to nurse your wound-"

"It's all because of you! He would still be alive if only you'd let me explain. He died because I was indecisive. I won't be like that anymore!" Turning to Catherine, he pursed his lips before walking out on us. "Max!" I cried rushing for the door.

He didn't turn around, not even for a second. Catherine sighed watching him run off. It would be dangerous for him to leave alone. "Clara! Wait for me." Running down alley way, he stopped a taxi and drove off with the driver.

As I extended my hand to attract the approaching taxi, it gradually stopped by us, making me sigh. "Take us to Liverpool." The driver nodded and sparked the car after we got in. Following his car from behind, we got to the street only after about fifteen minutes.

As he quickly moved out of the car, I could see a huge crowd gathered around something while police and ambulance patrols slowly gathered around too. "Did he also commit suicide? Poor boy!" Nodding, the people around him stared at the dead body lying in a pool of blood. The police traced his identity and found out he lived on the third floor of the opposite building.

"I heard he jumped down from all the way there to here." Gasping, her companion covered her mouth to prevent shouting. He pushed his way in the crowd and stood at the edge immobile. Glaring at his dead friend in a pool of blood, his eyes teared up. "Dexter!" Rushing to him, everyone's eyes followed him.

He picked him up in his arms and cried, clutching to him to wake him up. The doctors moved out of the ambulance and rushed through the crowd with the stretcher. It took two doctors to separate him from his dead body.

"Another suicide scene in Liverpool Street today. A young man by name Dexter Griffin was found dead from jumping down his third floor flat. Investigations are still being carried on him. Stay tuned for more updates." The press gathered around filming and taking pictures.

I dashed to the edge to look for Adrian with Catherine. But we found him out of the crowd following as they pulled him on a stretcher away. "How are you related to the patient?" We rushed over and lowered our head to greet the doctors.

"We're his friends. Can we go with you?" Sighing, she opened the door for us. The ambulance halted at the entrance to the hospital and pulled him in, towards the mortuary unit. Adrian walked in silence but stopped by the room where his body was covered with a white cloth.

"Does he have any relatives. We need consent for autopsy." Folding her lips, she shook her head. "He's an orphan. You can go ahead with the autopsy." He nodded and walked out with his file. Walking to him, he held the wall, looking at him from the entrance.

"Dexter always wanted the best for you. He won't be glad to see you in this state." Keeping silent, he clenched his fists. As I lowered my head, I could see anger running through those silent eyes of his. "Do you still have no idea who Thunder is?" She shook her head and sighed.

"He's always in a hoodie. But he's around our age. I'm sure he's schooling too. But it will be difficult to find him with just that."

"Does he favor any other?" She retorted confidently, "Apart from him, you were one of his favorites. Why do you ask?"

He swallowed a lump in his throat and replied, "Tell me as soon as you find his permanent location. I'll track Thunder down."

Widening our eyes, I shook my head and grabbed his hand. Catherine agreed with me and said, "No. He's also dangerous. He'll kill you if he finds out. Although you're one of Ian's favorite, he won't also spare you." From the expression on his face, Max seemed firm on his decision.

"He's taking the lives of too many people. I can't just sit and watch."

"But you're injured! What can you even do to me in that condition. I got some donations from the clinic. You should take them first."

Turning away, he retorted sharply, "There are more patients who need them than me. I'm not going to live of of humans." With this final decision, he got up struggling to walk out of the hospital. "Max!" We screamed running after him. I embracing him from behind crying, "Please. I know it's my fault, but don't hurt yourself because of me."

Cathy gawked at him. He displayed no emotions and moved back thwarting at the sight of Cathy. "I'm not getting myself killed because of you. I'm doing this for Dexter and all other victims. You were right. I might hand you out when the need arises. So it's better you stay away."

My eyes flickered looking into his pale eyes. "Max. What are you saying?" He yanked my hand off and turned away, marching to the exit. "I'll go after him," Cathy adjourned scuttling after him. I rummaged the area and took a seat on the stairs after a long search.

What if he's going to Ian? What if he ends up getting himself killed? I already lost several people in my life. I won't let that happen. Wiping my tears, I got on my feet passing my hand over my back to clear any dirt before darting into the forest after them.

The clouds crumbled and clashed against each other with a thud. No sooner rain droplets escalates the skies tapping on the trees as droplets fell from the leaves onto the floor.

I ran my hands through my hair scurrying off to his cottage. Stopping by the wall, I heard arguments from there. After peeping from behind, I saw Max standing with Catherine.

"You should talk to her. She's worried about you." He scrutinized around lazily shaking his head. "That's not important right now. There are more people dying because of Ian. I still don't know why I had no control over my left hand before. Maybe that'll nr useful."

Cathy twitched her eyebrows in wonder gaping at him. "She's the little girl I was talking about before. The only friend I had made I'm the hospital before Ian kidnapped me. I got control over my left hand after staying with Ian for some years. If I can figure it out, I might be able to get rid of him."

She hoped her ears were playing a trick on her after hearing his confession. My jaw dropped listening to him.

Max ogled at the trees before turning back back to Cathy. "It doesn't matter. I'll surrender to him and end everything. If I don't come back alive, you should help his puppets settle with their new life."

A little smile formed on his face when he remembered something. I turned away, lying my head on the tree.

He's leaving without even telling me. Does he really hate me now? A tear escaped my eyes at the mere thought of losing him too.

Was I just going to be the spectator to the murder of the people I love? I can't do this anymore. I won't just watch! I will be decisive about those I care about, even if they don't accept me. I wiped my tears and grasped the wall. I stepped back when Cathy continued, "What about Clara? Shouldn't she know?"

He remained silent and turned his back on her. When she saw me approaching, she let out a sigh.

"I'll leave you two to talk."

Looking away, he started walking into his cottage. "What do you want?" he asked coldly taking a step back. I took a step forward to him to enclose the gap he made. Fumbling under my breath, I stared into his eyes. "Do you really not want to talk to me?"

He turned away holding his eyes back from me. "It's better this way. I can't promise not to become your enemy to save someone."

Cold wind from the rainfall brushed through my face sending shivers all over my body. Looking into his eyes with my teary face, I shook my head. "It's not better this way. I liked the bold Max. You're running away-"

"-I'm not running! I'm just tired of trying to keep the trust between us by myself. You change right after seeing or hearing a few words from someone. I don't think it's going to work. You should just keep your distance. That's for the best."

Shaking my head, I rushed to hug him from behind, sobbing. "You're right. It's my fault for always misunderstanding you. But you still love me and I still do. You can't deny that."

Throwing his eyes around, he retorted, "Many people need me as a capable opponent to their enemy than as a human-"

"-No! I don't believe you. Look into my eyes and tell me you don't love me anymore!"

Pushing him to face me directly, I touched his face and looked until his eyes. Planting a kiss on his lips, he responded and kissed me back. As I threw my hands around his neck, he deepened the kiss and kissed me passionately, devouring my lips. But he suddenly stepped back and turned away.

"No. I'm sorry. Don't come to look for me anymore." I rushed to stand in front of him and searched for the truth in his eyes. "I don't know what I'm doing. It was a mistake." I grabbed his collar and shook my head screaming. "You kissed me back, just like always. Why are you running away from your feelings?!"

He remained silent and walked out on me. Feeling desperate, I suddenly felt a burst of immense energy within me. My eyes lit dangerously, as my hands spread wide. "Clara!"

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