"This isn't a movie, kid. The bad guys always win." Von made his last comment before turning around and following the back.

Aegon watched Von's figure disappear into a door, leaving him to deal with this.

The five men fanned out, blades glinting under the dim lights.

Their eyes were hollow, movements stiff but purposeful—puppets on strings, driven by Von's command.

Aegon's jaw tightened. He couldn't burn them, couldn't unleash what simmered beneath his skin. These weren't enemies—they were victims. But they were armed, and they were coming for his throat.

The first lunged, knife flashing. Aegon coiled in, his body folding tight like a spring. His hand shot out, clamping the man's wrist.

He dragged him forward, elbow jutting out like a spear. The crack of bone against temple echoed, and the man crumpled, knife clattering to the floor.

One down. Four to go.

The second came from the side, slashing wide.

Aegon twisted, the blade grazing his ribs. A hot sting spread across his side, blood soaking into his shirt.

"Tss." He hissed, but didn't falter. He caught the man's forearm, yanked him forward, and drove a knee into his gut.

The air left him in a wheeze. Aegon shoved him back, then pivoted, hammering a fist into his jaw. The man dropped, unconscious before he hit the floor.

The third and fourth moved together, knives raised high.

He backed up, his heel skidding against broken glass. He ducked as one blade sliced the air above his head, then rolled forward, catching the other by the ankle.

Twisting hard, sending the man sprawling. The knife skittered away.

Aegon rose fast, only to catch a slash across his forearm from the other attacker. Pain flared, blood dripping down his wrist.

He gritted his teeth, grabbed the man's collar, and slammed his forehead into his nose.

The crunch was sickening. The man staggered back, dazed, before Aegon swept his legs out from under him.

The fourth was already recovering, knife raised again. Aegon sidestepped, letting the blade whistle past his chest.

He hooked the man's arm, spun him, and drove his shoulder into his spine. The man collapsed, gasping, knife slipping from his fingers. Aegon kicked it away, chest heaving, sweat dripping down his face.

The fifth stood at the top of the stairs, knife steady, eyes blank.

He didn't rush. He waited, calculating—or rather, Mind-Forge's command calculating through him.

Aegon's breath came ragged, his body screaming from cuts and bruises. He flexed his fingers, blood slicking his knuckles. He had to finish this. Fast.

The man finally lunged, blade thrust straight for Aegon's chest.

Aegon twisted, the knife grazing his shoulder. He caught the wrist, twisted it hard, forcing the man to drop the blade.

Then, with a brutal efficiency, he shoved his elbow into the man's jaw. The impact reverberated through his arm. The man's head snapped back, and he collapsed in a heap.

Silence.

Just Aegon's ragged breathing, the drip of blood from his wounds, the faint sobs of Heather still holding the bottle to her throat.

His body trembled, every muscle screaming. He looked at the five men sprawled across the floor—alive, but broken. He hadn't killed them. He'd kept control. Barely.

Von's words echoed in his skull: The bad guys always win. Aegon spat blood onto the floor, his eyes burning with rage. Not tonight.

Heather's hand shook, the broken bottle pressed deeper into her neck. "Please don't come any closer!" She shut her eyes. "He's in my head and I'll do it."

Aegon's chest tightened. He couldn't reach her—not without triggering Von's command.

But he had one chance. One shot.

His eyes swept sharply across the room and landed on the floor. Risky, yes. But he no other options.

"Heather." He called her name softly. "I need you to trust me and I swear you'll be fine."

She didn't answer. Kept her eyes shut as if trying to convince herself this was all a bad dream.

He bent down, picked up one of the fallen knives.

His fingers wrapped tight around the hilt, slick with blood. He weighed it, tested the balance.

His eyes locked on Heather. She was trembling, tears streaking her face, but her hand remained steady.

Von's command was absolute. If he got too close, she'd drive that glass into her throat. He couldn't let that happen.

He exhaled, steadying himself.

His arm drew back.

Then, with a sharp flick, he hurled the knife across the room. It spun once, twice, before striking true—hilt-first against Heather's temple.

The impact snapped her head to the side. The bottle slipped from her fingers, shattering harmlessly on the floor. She collapsed, unconscious, but alive.

Aegon's chest heaved, relief flooding through him.

He staggered forward, blood dripping from his wounds, every step heavy. He glanced at the unconscious men, then at Heather lying still.

He'd done it. He'd kept them alive. But Von was gone, slipping deeper into the shadows.

No.

Aegon clenched his fists, pain radiating through his body. He wasn't finished.

Not by a long shot. He wiped the blood from his mouth, eyes narrowing.

He'd be damned if he let that bastard escape. Aegon was going to prove him wrong—even if it killed him.

He took off running through the same door as Von did. Through the narrow corridor flushed with fluorescent lights.

He ran as fast as his legs would let him. Pedaled down the stairs until finally pushed the backdoor of the club.

The night cold hit him like a train. His breath fogging before him. His eyes darted both ways to hopefully catch a glimpse of Von.

Seeing nothing, he focused on what he could hear. Mirage had been teaching them how to focus on their other senses in different situations.

Why not use them to hunt a man down?

He heard them, frantic footfalls, down a narrow alleyway evident from the echoes of each step.

He wasted no time chasing after him. Running as fast as he could be he'd lose him.

Von ran faster than he'd ever had to in his life. He was given an affinity that never really depended on any physical exercise so he was severely out of shape.

And that might've been what caused his death.

After a minute, his body just wouldn't go anymore. His breathing was erratic, his was sweating profusely even in the freezing cold and his lungs burned.

He glanced back and seeing no one let out a relieved sigh.

"For someone who has sex a lot, you sure do have low stamina." Aegon's voice echoed throughout the alley.

Von's breath immediately hitched. He spun around but saw no one. "Are you hiding from me?!" He screamed. "Show yourself."

"..."

"Nahh." He finally answered. "I think I'm going let you feel exactly what your victims felt."

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