"You can come in," said Sena, glancing toward the door.
The door opened. Joan walked in, holding a gun in his hand.
"Joan?" Jio couldn't believe his brother was still alive.
"You can take revenge on your brother now," Sena said to Joan.
With trembling hands, Joan aimed the gun at Jio… and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
But just before firing, Joan quickly shifted the gun toward Sena.
"Akhhh!"
Sena's body staggered to the side. He clutched his shoulder, now soaked with blood.
"You—"
"Stay right there, or I'll shoot again," Joan threatened.
Sena had no choice but to stay still and not fight back.
"I'm sorry," Joan said, quickly untying the ropes that bound her brother.
"H-how are you still alive?" Jio asked.
"That day, I accidentally found Sena's revenge plan in his room. I set up a meeting to try to kidnap him, but I forgot he could fight. I ended up getting captured instead. Then Sena offered me a deal, since he knew I hated you and Dad," Joan explained.
Jio cried and hugged his brother. "I'm so glad you're still alive."
"We have to get Arkhan to the hospital—fast," said Joan.
"You take him. I'll tie up this bastard and drag him to the police station later," Jio replied.
"Okay," said Joan as he rushed to untie Arkhan.
"Hahahahahaha," Sena laughed as Jio tied him to a chair.
"Now you're a murderer too, Joan. You're the one who finished off our friends. You burned Nero, dumped Levan in the river, and left Sandy in the woods to be eaten by wild animals," Sena said.
A voice called from outside, shouting Joan's name.
"I'm here, in the warehouse!"
Footsteps approached until a figure appeared—it was Sandy, leaving everyone in the room stunned.
"Whoa, I thought it was Jo," said Joan, confused.
"He won't be updating you about the others anymore. I'm all better now, and I came to get you out," Sandy said.
Joan laughed. "Looks like luck's still on my side. A classmate of mine found me here a few days ago. He helped me rescue the others."
Joan stepped closer to the tied-up Sena. "I never burned Nero. That ash you saw was from a deer we burned."
They didn't realize Sena still had a folding knife hidden in his pocket, which he was now using to cut his ropes.
"Let's go," said Jio.
Sandy walked ahead, supporting Arkhan, followed by Jio and Joan.
"You're leaving just like that?"
Suddenly, police sirens wailed outside the house. Sena quickly grabbed the pistol lying nearby and fired.
Bang!
The bullet struck Joan in the back. He collapsed into her brother's arms.
Footsteps rushed closer.
"Joan, open your eyes! Don't do this!" Jio shouted, patting his cheeks in panic.
"I-I'm okay..." he whispered, his eyelids heavy as he tried to look at her brother.
The police stormed into the room, weapons drawn.
"Sir, I'm Sandy—the one who reported this. And him," Sandy pointed at Sena, "he's the one who did all of this."
The officers immediately approached Sena, handcuffed him, and dragged him outside.
Medics arrived shortly after, quickly tending to Arkhan and the unconscious Joan.
Jio held his brother's hand tightly. "Hold on, Joan… you have to make it…"
Ambulance lights lit up the night outside. Footsteps, cries, and sirens blended into one chaotic symphony—a night that should've marked the end... instead opened a new chapter of deeper wounds.