Lucian turned away from the chaos behind him, his footsteps slow and deliberate, each one leaving a smudged trail of blood on the pristine tile floor. The restaurant was eerily silent, the tension so thick it felt suffocating.
Garry was the first to break the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. “What the hell just happened?”
Jimmy didn’t respond immediately. His gaze stayed locked on Lucian’s retreating figure, his brow furrowed with a complex mix of emotions concern, disbelief, and something unspoken that even he couldn’t quite place.
Lucian didn’t turn back, his steps steady and purposeful, as if the destruction he’d left behind was just another fragment of a story he refused to dwell on.
Garry and Jimmy stood frozen for a few moments, their eyes shifting to Victor’s crumpled, bloodied form on the floor. His face was unrecognizable, a gruesome tapestry of swelling and blood. Around him, crimson droplets stained the tiles, painting a macabre scene that drew murmurs and hushed gasps from the onlookers gathering nearby.
The two exchanged a brief glance, their faces tight with unspoken understanding. Without a word, they turned and followed the faint trail of blood leading away from the carnage.
As they walked, their eyes tracked the smeared droplets on the floor traces of Victor’s blood that had transferred to Lucian’s hands. The tension between them was palpable, neither of them speaking, their footsteps the only sound accompanying them.
They followed the trail until it led them to the restroom.
The faint sound of running water greeted them as they stepped inside. Lucian stood at the sink, his back to them, his shoulders relaxed. The fluorescent light cast harsh reflections on the tiled walls, and the faint echo of water splashing against porcelain filled the air.
Jimmy and Garry paused, their eyes fixed on Lucian’s figure. His hands were under the stream of water, methodically scrubbing away the blood that coated his knuckles and palms.
And then they heard it a soft melody, a voice so calm and melodic it felt out of place in the aftermath of what had just occurred: Stay tuned to empire
“Forever, forever, forever walk by my side
Promise me you’ll come back to me, right here
We are two bodies, but our hearts beat as one
Always be mine, never say goodbye…”
The melody drifted through the room, hauntingly beautiful, as if it came from another world entirely. Jimmy and Garry exchanged a look, their confusion evident.
Jimmy couldn’t hold back any longer. “You can sing too?” he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Lucian’s hands paused under the water for a moment. He turned his head slightly, enough for them to see a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
“Hah… what, me? Sing? No way,” Lucian said, his voice light and casual, as if they were discussing the weather. “Just thought I’d give it a shot. Bathroom acoustics, you know? Perfect for a little… impromptu performance.”
He turned his head back to the sink, the smile lingering as he resumed scrubbing his hands.
Jimmy’s face twisted into a look of utter bewilderment, while Garry leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his brow furrowed in disbelief.
Leave it but…
“Just now outside…” Jimmy began, his voice uncertain. “you just…” He trailed off, unable to finish the thought.
“Oh, that?” Lucian said, cutting him off with a chuckle. “That was nothing. I was just… caught up in my emotions, I guess. Don’t worry about it. Stress, you know? These past few days have been rough.”
Jimmy’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Lucian’s back. His friend’s tone was too casual, too light for what had just transpired. He didn’t know whether to feel relieved or
more concerned.
Lucian splashed water on his face, the sound of it hitting the sink loud in the quiet room. “Paa-lkk,” the water struck the porcelain, droplets scattering across the surface.
Garry broke the silence, his voice tinged with unease, his words carefully measured. “You don’t seem like someone who’s just stressed, man.”
Lucian didn’t respond right away. He grabbed a paper towel from the dispenser, the slow, deliberate movements of his hands doing little to ease the tension in the room. The paper crinkled faintly as he dried his now-clean hands, his focus seemingly elsewhere.
When he finally turned back to them, his face was calm, his expression steady but there was something missing.
“Well,” Lucian began, forcing a faint smile that barely lifted the corners of his lips. “Stress shows up in different ways.” He folded the paper towel neatly before tossing it into the bin. “Let’s get back before they start thinking we skipped out on the bill.”
Jimmy’s brows furrowed deeply, his gaze fixed on Lucian. His silence spoke volumes, a palpable concern radiating off him. “Are you sure you’re alright?” Jimmy pressed, his voice low but firm.
Lucian’s head tilted slightly toward the mirror, his reflection catching his attention. He inspected his face for any stray droplets of blood, his hands running briefly over his cheeks. Satisfied, he turned back to his friends. “Me? Of course, I’m fine,” Lucian said, his voice almost too casual, his reflection in the mirror showing the faintest shadow of doubt.
Jimmy stepped closer, his concern sharpening. “Don’t think too much about it,” Lucian continued, his tone light but not convincing. “I just got… caught up in some emotions. It happens. Today was just… a little more than I expected, I guess.”
Garry leaned back against the tiled wall, crossing his arms and exchanging a worried glance with Jimmy. He didn’t say anything, but the unease on his face mirrored Jimmy’s perfectly.
Lucian sighed softly, shaking his head as though brushing off his own words. “It’s almost evening. Maybe we should head home now,” he added, his voice quieter.
Jimmy didn’t move immediately. His jaw tightened, and a flicker of frustration crossed his face. Finally, he stepped forward, closing the distance between them. Without warning, he placed both hands on Lucian’s shoulders, gripping firmly as he turned Lucian to face him.
“Lucian,” Jimmy said, his tone serious, his eyes locking onto Lucian’s. “Are you alright?”
Lucian’s eyes widened slightly at the gesture, caught off guard by Jimmy’s intensity. For a moment, they stood there, staring at each other in silence. Jimmy’s gaze was unwavering, searching for any sign of truth beneath the surface.
Lucian’s lips parted, a faint breath escaping as he whispered, “Yes. Everything’s alright.” A small, almost fragile smile spread across his face, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Jimmy’s grip on his shoulders tightened briefly before he pulled Lucian into a hug. It was sudden, but firm, his large arms enveloping his friend protectively. Jimmy’s hand moved gently across Lucian’s back, a reassuring motion that spoke louder than words. “It’s alright, man,” Jimmy murmured, his voice low and steady. “Don’t worry too much. You’re okay. Everything’s okay.”
Lucian blinked, his arms hovering awkwardly for a moment before he slowly hugged Jimmy back. “Hmm,” he hummed softly, the sound barely audible.
Jimmy held the embrace for a moment longer, patting Lucian’s back firmly as he pulled away. “Alright,” he said, his voice lighter now, though his eyes still held a trace of worry. “Anything you want to do now? Wanna go somewhere?”
Lucian chuckled weakly, rubbing the back of his neck as he shook his head. “Nah, not really. It’s been a long day,” he admitted. “I think I’ll just head home. Today’s been… exhausting.” He sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging slightly.
Jimmy studied him for a moment, then nodded. “Fair enough. But before we go,” he said, his eyes flicking down to Lucian’s shirt, “we need to sort you out. That shirt…” He raised an eyebrow, gesturing to the bloodstains. “…doesn’t exactly scream normal day out.”
Lucian glanced down, frowning as he noticed the splattered blood on his shirt and pants. “Ah, shit,” he muttered, his frustration slipping through in a rare show of emotion.
“Yeah, you’re not going anywhere like that,” Jimmy said with a small grin, the tension easing slightly. “Let’s hit a store first. Get you cleaned up.”
Lucian sighed again, shaking his head but unable to suppress a faint smile. “Yeah… yeah, let’s do that,” he agreed, brushing his hands against his pants as if it would make a difference.
Garry, who had been watching silently, finally pushed off the wall. “Good call,” he said, his usual grin returning. “Let’s get you something sharp. Maybe a normal human outfit this time?”
Lucian rolled his eyes, but there was a flicker of genuine amusement in his gaze. “Lead the way, fashionista,” he said, the corner of his mouth quirking upward.
Together, the three of them exited the bathroom, the tension gradually fading as they stepped back into the chaotic world outside.