"Now… I'll repeat myself."
Thorne's voice was calm—too calm.
Shan's eyes flicked to Thorne's hands, resting peacefully on the table. Waiting.
"I said," Thorne continued coldly, "get away from that girl."
"Back away from her."
Alice's shotgun was steady, aimed squarely at Evelyne.
"No, Mom—wait!" Michael stepped between them, hands raised. "It's a misunderstanding. This is actually—"
CLICK. CLICK.
The sound cut him off.
Alice cocked the shotgun.
Michael froze. Evelyne stood behind him, scythe still in hand.
"Mom," Michael said softly, taking a careful step forward. "This is Evelyne. Your daughter."
Silence.
"That's… Mom?" Evelyne whispered.
"And she's… Therma?" Evelyne added, her voice rising.
"Therma, Obsidian—why does it matter anymore?" Michael asked desperately.
"Mother, your daughter is standing right in front of you, and all you can do is aim a gun at her?"
"That is not my daughter."
Alice's voice cracked—but did not waver.
"Evelyne died. I saw her lifeless body with my own eyes."
"But you didn't feel her pulse," Michael shot back.
"She wasn't dead. Raito saved her. Her body didn't disappear—she didn't disappear."
He turned to Evelyne.
"Right? Evelyne?"
Evelyne swallowed. Slowly, she lowered her scythe.
"Right," she said, tears surfacing.
"I've missed you… Mother."
She stepped forward, arms opening.
"I said back the fuck away from me!"
The shotgun roared—fired into the sky.
Michael flinched. Evelyne stopped dead.
"I don't know how the hell you manipulated my son into believing this," Alice snarled, "but you are not my daughter."
"My Evelyne was shot through the head," Alice continued.
"Not the eye."
"She wasn't," Michael whispered.
"Michael. We're leaving."
Alice grabbed his arm.
"The others are waiting."
"My daughter wouldn't join Obsidian," Alice said bitterly.
"Wouldn't become their enforcer."
Michael yanked his arm free.
"Now listen—"
Evelyne laughed.
Softly at first. Then louder. Then uncontrollably.
In a blur—
Alice tackled Michael to the ground as Evelyne's scythe sliced through the air where his head had been.
"Evelyne…?" Michael gasped.
Evelyne stood with her back to them.
"I knew it," Alice muttered, chambering a slug.
"Michael—stay behind me."
"Abandoned again," Evelyne said quietly.
"I really wanted this reunion to be real," she continued.
"I'm sorry, big bro."
"But this world… it corrupts us all."
Michael stared, unmoving.
"This world…" he murmured.
"Why is my mother pointing a gun at my sister again?"
He stood.
"I'm tired," Michael said calmly.
"I think I'll just go to sleep. It'll probably be over when I wake up."
He turned.
And walked toward the cliff.
"Michael—!"
Evelyne's eyes widened as time slowed.
Alice turned—
Too late.
Michael stepped into nothing.
His body vanished over the edge.
Alice dropped her shotgun.
Evelyne dropped her scythe.
They ran—
SPLAAAT.
The sun dipped low as Alice collapsed beside Evelyne, hands trembling, grasping at empty air.
Below, Michael's broken body lay twisted on the road—zombies already converging.
Evelyne screamed.
She turned on Alice, fury burning through her tears—
William caught her.
Mama's Fangs arrived moments later.
"Mama…" Jax whispered.
Mika wrapped Alice in her arms.
"We have to go," Leo said, breathless.
"Shan's calling for us."
"Was that a gunshot?" Shan asked.
"Thorne," Shan demanded, "what's going on?"
Thorne didn't look at him.
"Shhh."
He raised a finger.
"This is my favorite part," Thorne said softly.
"When the unbreakable leader breaks."
His gaze lifted—to Haruka.
Footsteps echoed down the hall.
Alice stumbled in, hollow-eyed. Silent.
"Where's Michael?" Shan asked.
No one answered.
Eda and Rosemary lowered their heads.
"You killed him!" Shan roared, slamming the table.
"I didn't," Thorne replied.
"I can't kill someone who isn't Therma."
"Liar!"
"He killed himself," Evelyne whispered.
Thorne smiled.
Haruka's grip tightened on his katana. The scales of his mask burned brighter.
"About our deal," Thorne said casually.
"How about I trade you information… about your real father?"
Haruka stiffened.
"He had that same stare," Thorne continued, eyes never leaving Shan,
"when Shan suggested you for our mask experiments."
"I approved."
Haruka snapped toward Shan.
"Is that tr—"
Thorne moved.
His hand shot out for the mask—
Shan kicked the table up, smashing Thorne's arm aside.
Haruka hit the floor.
"I knew it," Shan said, assuming his stance.
"You finally grew impatient."
"You've only beaten me once," Thorne replied calmly.
"Don't get cocky."
"Finally," Raito growled, flames licking his axe.
"Some action."
Mama's Fangs raised their guns.
Haruka rose—katana unsheathed, glowing blue.
"You messed up," he said coldly.
"Big time."