Leo stepped forward with a confidence he didn't quite feel, his voice cutting through the tense silence.
"What do you want from us?"
The only answer was a sharp blow that sent him crashing to the ground.
"M–m—what the hell was that?" he gasped, clutching his ribs.
Tyler immediately stepped between him and the uniformed men, eyes fixed on the squad leader.
"Sir, he didn't mean to raise his weapon at you. It was a mistake—"
A slap cracked through the air before he could finish. The officer's hand struck Tyler's face hard enough to make him stagger, but he held his ground. Slowly, he turned to Leo and Eileen.
"Hey—you two. Do yourselves a favor and follow their orders. Don't make this harder than it already is." His forced smile was the kind that only made things worse.
They understood. Without another word, they obeyed.
The soldiers pushed them forward like livestock.
"Move it! You damned Black Strays are always trouble," one of them barked.
Tyler clenched his jaw, his fury barely contained.
"Get in. All three of you," the leader ordered.
The truck rumbled to life, jolting violently as it rolled down an uneven dirt road. The metal floor shook beneath them, each bump throwing their bound bodies against the sides. Silence thickened the air until Tyler broke it with a snarl.
"Damn you, bastard! Slow the hell down—we're not cattle! Watch the road!"
The driver only laughed and pressed harder on the gas, making the truck jerk even more.
Leo shot Tyler a look. "Hey… Tyler, why do you sound like you know where we're going?"
Tyler let his head fall back against the cold metal wall, the cuffs biting into his wrists. "Oh, come on, Leo," he groaned, "don't tell me you haven't figured it out yet."
Leo frowned, staring at him blankly as if to say, I have no idea what you're talking about.
"Fine," Tyler snapped, his voice rising. "Men in white suits with gold trim arrest a bunch of teenagers caught in a magically guarded cemetery, next to a pit full of corpses—where the hell do you think they're taking us?!" He leaned forward, eyes blazing. "We're going to prison, Leo. Prison. You get it now?"
Leo exhaled slowly, shoulders sagging. "Alright, alright… just calm down. I won't ask again."
Tyler drew in a deep breath, forcing himself to swallow his frustration. The tension inside the rattling truck was thick enough to choke on, and he decided—perhaps out of sheer exhaustion—to change the subject.
"Hmm… by the way," he began casually, "why were you two fighting?"
Leo shot him a look that could have cut glass. "Really, Tyler? You're asking that now?"
"Of course," he said, unbothered. "We've got a long road ahead. Might as well pass the time with something entertaining."
Leo threw up his bound hands. "You were right there with us! How could you not see what happened? Are you blind—or just deaf?!"
Tyler raised a brow, smirking. "Sorry, I was a bit preoccupied with the gun pointed at the back of my head. Your little catfight didn't quite make my list of priorities."
Leo's temper flared. "Tyler, just shut up, alright?"
"Fine, fine," Tyler said with mock surrender. "Won't ask you then." He turned his head toward Eileen. "So, Eileen, mind telling me what actually happened?"
Eileen's eyes narrowed, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, really, Tyler? You're asking me?"
"Yes, I am. Come on, let's settle this before we start hating each other. We've got bigger problems than bruised egos."
She huffed. "He hit me. There. Happy now?"
"What?!" Leo twisted around, glaring at her. "You insulted my mother! And I didn't hit you—I was trying to wake you up! You weren't responding!"
"I didn't mean to insult your mother!" Eileen snapped. "It's just a bad habit when I'm angry! But what was I supposed to say to someone who slapped me—'thank you'?!"
Tyler tilted his head thoughtfully, then shrugged. "She's got a point, partner."
Both of them fell silent, glaring at opposite walls. Tyler sighed dramatically. "Alright, listen. No need for apologies or guilt trips. Simple math: you slapped her, she cursed your mom—call it even, yeah?"
Neither of them answered.
He grinned faintly. "Great, so you're both reconciled. Now shake hands."
Both turned toward him at once, their faces blank with disbelief. "We're chained, genius."
Tyler snorted, then let out a weary laugh that echoed through the metal cabin.
That was when the truck screeched to a halt. The doors flew open, blinding light spilling in.
"Out! Move it!" barked one of the guards.
They stumbled out, the chill air biting at their skin. Before them stood a towering stone fortress, its walls gleaming white under the gray sky. An iron sign above the gate read:
The Royal Guard – The White Knights.
Without a word, the soldiers dragged them down a corridor that smelled of iron and damp earth. No questions, no interrogation—just cold efficiency. Within minutes, they were thrown into a cell, their cuffs finally removed, their weapons confiscated.
The floor was stone and mercilessly cold. They sank down, exhausted beyond words.
"Hey, guys," Tyler muttered, rubbing his wrists, "let's just sleep. Doesn't look like we're getting out anytime soon."
But Leo and Eileen were already asleep, their breathing deep and steady. Tyler smiled faintly, leaned back against the wall, and closed his eyes.
The rest didn't last long.
A rough voice shattered the silence. "Hey! You filthy strays—wake up! Your bail's been paid."
Three pairs of eyes snapped open, disbelief flashing between them.
"What?" Leo whispered.
"Bail?" Eileen echoed.
Tyler blinked, sitting upright. "Well… that's new."
"Follow me," the guard ordered.
The three obeyed, still groggy and disoriented. Their footsteps echoed through the stone corridors until they stopped before a large oak door marked with the insignia of the Royal Guard Commander. Inside, the air smelled faintly of old parchment and cigar smoke. Behind a heavy desk stood the captain, deep in conversation with an older man dressed in a fine gray coat—someone of obvious wealth and influence.
A check glimmered between them, the ink still fresh, the digits long enough to silence any moral hesitation.
When the man turned, his sharp eyes softened at the sight of Tyler. Without a moment's pause, he approached and actually knelt before him.
"Master Tyler," the man said with deference, "my deepest apologies for the delay. You're free to go now."
Tyler smiled lightly. "No harm done, Reynold. I must say, it was quite… entertaining to experience prison life for a change. Don't you agree, partner?" he added, throwing an arm around Leo's shoulder with teasing ease.
Leo blinked, utterly lost. "Entertaining?!"
Eileen looked equally confused. "What the hell is going on?"
Reynold leaned close to Tyler's ear, lowering his voice. "Sir, I did as you instructed. She's in the car, waiting."
Tyler's grin sharpened into something almost wolfish. "Excellent. And the captain?"
"Silenced," Reynold replied smoothly. "I made sure his pockets are… well-filled."
Tyler chuckled. "Good man, Reynold. As reliable as ever."
With that, Reynold handed him a sleek keyring, bowed slightly, and departed.
Leo and Eileen exchanged a look filled with a hundred unspoken questions.
"Okay," Leo finally said, his voice tight. "You mind explaining what just happened? How did you—how did we—get out of prison?"
Tyler started the car, the engine purring to life. "While we were in the truck," he said casually, "I sent a magical message to Reynold. Told him to get us out before the commander realized we were missing from the report. That's all."
Eileen frowned. "That doesn't explain how we were released so easily. What kind of spell did you use on the captain?"
Tyler grinned, eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, no spell at all. Just a little something I call the magic of money, sweetheart."
Both Leo and Eileen fell silent, staring at him as if he'd grown horns. Neither of them had ever imagined that the reckless loudmouth they'd been traveling with was rich.
After a moment, Leo pointed toward the back seat. "Alright, then. Care to explain what that is?"
Eileen pulled back a dark cloth—and immediately went pale. A corpse lay beneath, its skin ashen and lips faintly blue. She dropped the cloth back over it in disgust.
From the driver's seat, Leo caught a glimpse of her reaction in the rearview mirror and burst into incredulous laughter. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me. You stole a corpse? Tyler, I swear—you're insane. But I'll give you credit, that's impressive."
They both laughed and high-fived, while Eileen pressed herself against the door, revolted. "Just cover it already! I can't even look at it!"
"Relax," Tyler said, grinning. "It's covered. No one's going to notice a thing."
Eileen pointed through the window, alarmed. "Except them! Aren't those the bastards who arrested us?"
Leo's grin widened into a mischievous smirk. "Oh, well then. Shouldn't we say hello?"
As the two cars passed each other, the trio simultaneously lifted their bound hands—each extending a single middle finger toward the stunned soldiers.
"Screw you," Leo muttered gleefully. "We're out, losers."
Moments later, Tyler slowed the car before a massive iron gate flanked by marble statues. The sprawling estate beyond shimmered under the evening light.
"Alright, everyone," he said, pulling the brake. "End of the line. Welcome to the manor."
Leo's throat went dry. "Tell me I'm imagining things—or is that the captain standing right in front of the gate?"
Eileen squinted, then lowered her gaze. "Damn it. That's him."
"Do we… run?" Leo whispered. "He looks like he's about to murder us with his eyes."
Tyler exhaled slowly, his grin fading into something more serious. "Run? No point. Once the organization's involved, punishment is… inevitable."
Eileen shivered. "You mean—"
He nodded grimly. "I mean, we're in deep trouble. Welcome back to reality."