The Rogue System [BL]
Chapter 296 - Forgiveness

Chapter 296: Chapter 296 - Forgiveness

"Where’s Kai!" Eric shouted, the words tearing from his throat with a raw desperation that echoed through the dimly lit space.

Mark’s eyes narrowed, peering at him intently.

"Tell me! Right now! Did he go through? Or did he get caught? What happened to him!" Eric’s voice cracked, urgency and fear clawing at his insides. Tears threatened to spill over, blurring his vision as panic surged within him.

Mark stepped closer, his expression hardening as he placed a hand on Eric’s trembling shoulder, grounding yet somehow infuriating. "Come with me."

"What?" Eric spat, his heart racing with anger and anxiety. "This is a wall, damn it!" He was about to turn away and punch Mark, but then the man’s fingers flew across a hidden keypad embedded in the wall. With a low hum, the surface shifted, revealing a hidden door.

"Wait—what are you doing?" Eric’s heart sank as he followed Mark into the healing room, dread pooling in his stomach.

The room was sterile, a blend of sleek metal and cold, clinical light that made Eric feel small and vulnerable. In the center of the room stood the healing pod, a towering, transparent structure embedded into the wall. The pod was surrounded by a labyrinth of cables and wires, snaking like veins across the sleek metallic surface. Pulsing lights along the wires flickered in a rhythm that seemed almost alive, casting an eerie glow around the room.

Inside the pod, suspended in a strange, viscous liquid that shimmered with an otherworldly hue, lay Kai. His body was connected to a series of tubes and sensors, each one feeding into the network of wires embedded in the walls.

Eric’s breath hitched as he stepped closer, his heart racing.

Three gaping holes marred Kai’s back, each one a brutal testament to the violence he had faced. The wounds were wide and jagged, so deep that Eric felt like he could almost see the insides of him. Each gash was a horrific invitation into the dark, raw flesh beneath, making his heart race with dread.

One of the wounds was perilously close to Kai’s heart, and as Eric stared in disbelief, he could see the steady thump of Kai’s heart through the opening. It beat rhythmically, a fragile life force fighting to keep going despite the damage inflicted upon him. The sight twisted Eric’s gut; it was heart-wrenching and horrifying all at once.

He felt lightheaded, the blood rushing from his face as shock threatened to pull him under.

"He almost died today," Mark said quietly, his voice low and heavy as he glared at the treatment pod. "Just for you."

Eric stood frozen, his mind racing, struggling to process the sight before him. "W—will he be okay? Is he okay? Oh God..." The words tumbled out as he crumbled to the floor, hugging his bent knees, his heart breaking. It’s all my fault. I should have never let him go. I shouldn’t have fought with him.

Mark looked down at him, his gaze piercing. "Yes, it is."

Tears pricked Eric’s eyes, spilling over as the weight of Mark’s words settled on his shoulders. It is my fault. The thought crashed over him like a wave, pulling him deeper into despair.

"It is your fault, so fix it." Mark’s tone softened slightly, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "You’ve known the man for two lifetimes, and you know he loves you crazily. And so do you. Why hold a grudge? Life’s too short to be angry at someone you love. Hell, I married a girl who tried to kill me. I’ve had the happiest fifty years of my life." With that, he turned and left the room, the door sliding shut behind him.

Eric sat there, tears streaming down his face as he hugged his knees tighter, feeling utterly defeated. What have I done? Guilt clawed at him like a relentless beast. He was supposed to protect Kai, to be there for him, and instead, he’d pushed him away, let anger come between them.

Taking a shaky step closer to the healing pod, his heart raced like it might burst. Fingers trembled as they brushed against the cool glass. It felt icy against his skin, sending a chill through him that matched the panic clawing at his insides. He couldn’t hold it in anymore; a sob broke free, raw and desperate.

"Why... why do you love me so much?" he whispered, voice barely above a murmur, thick with regret. "Why didn’t I believe you? Why did I let you go alone...?" Each question hit like a punch to the gut. Leaning his forehead against the glass, eyes closed, the weight of it all crashed down. "I want you... please..."

Tears flowed freely, letting grief and guilt spill out. I can’t lose you, the thought echoed fiercely. But when he opened his eyes again, everything shifted. Those piercing blue eyes stared right back at him, and for a moment, the world felt like it stopped.

"Kai!" A gasp escaped his lips, hope sparking in his chest.

Movement drew attention as Kai stirred slightly. He reached out with wired arms, fingers trembling as they touched his face through the glass. A faint smile broke through the pain, and warmth flooded through him. "Don’t cry," Kai mouthed, expression so tender it made his heart ache.

But all he could do was shake his head, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Ahh, I’m not crying... I’m totally not crying!" he sobbed, voice cracking as denial bubbled up, feeling both stupid and helpless.

His voice echoed in the sterile room, filled with a mix of relief and heartbreak.

Right then Mark entered the room, "Okay, enough of your lovey-dovey crying. Let him sleep. He needs to heal."

Eric wiped his face clean. "How long will it take? Will he be okay? Will it leave any damage to his body? Will he be okay?"

Mark held his aching head. "Too many questions. Ugh, he will live if you let him sleep. Now come..." He dragged him out.

Eric gazed back. "I’ll be back. Just sleep, okay? Don’t strain yourself."