(Author's Suggested Chapter song. Max Richter – "On the Nature of Daylight")

.....

The moment Soren caught Handler, Ratler and Slacker were instantly exposed.

However, none of them acted, afraid that Soren was actually going to hurt Handler.

And that was when Vinegar spoke...

Soren could not believe what he had heard from Vinegar.

They were willing to kill her and harvest her organs to treat their true family, and she was okay with it?

He could tell—she was either crazy or broken inside.

"And what about me?" Soren muttered.

She paused. But only a bit.

The words came—stammering.

"I... I don't... want to lose anyone I love again. These three years have been the best time of my life. I always knew it was too good to be true.

I can't possibly be that lucky." She chuckled lightly at herself. "If this is the price I have to pay for those three happy years.

Then... then so be it."

To Soren, that laugh was the most pitiful thing he had ever heard.

Again he asked. "What about me? Do I... deserve a life without you?"

She paused, speechless.

In her eyes, Soren saw confusion.

It was the same confusion he had felt when he was contemplating whether to attack her fathers or not.

Basically, in her heart, she was weighing the feelings she had for him with what she had for her fathers.

Before she even spoke, Soren could tell.

They won.

How couldn't they?

She had known and loved them for at least three years, while she had only known Soren for a week.

Soren's heart sank, tears falling from his eyes.

She might have only known him for a week. But he had known her for years now.

In those days, regardless of the troubles he had to face or the obstacles he had to overcome, he always woke up with the desire to behold her smile.

Somewhere along the line, she had become the person he treasured the most.

In the other todays that had passed, Soren had asked himself what he considered to be his color of love, and it became clear to him.

Dr. Kaya was right.

He admitted to himself.

And then he raised his head to Vinegar. "That's quite unfortunate. Because I am selfish. I'd rather have you."

WHOOSH....

"NOOOO!!!"

Three voices synced together in one scream as the cave brightened up like never before.

As the flames roasted Handler, he screamed.

It was ear-piercing.

Haunting.

Handler struggled.

His burning fingers clawing at Soren's hand... his face.

But Soren did not let go. He looked away, stoic as ever.

He had made up his mind.

This was the color of his love.

As the flames bloomed, her father's skin melting, Soren saw it in her eyes.

Something in Vinegar broke.

But he did not stop.

He WOULD not stop.

Soon, the screams had died; all that was left was a burning corpse against the wall.

The clones that had been made by the combination of the abilities of the three men instantly faded away.

Tears fell from Slacker's eyes.

Tears fell from Ratler's eyes.

And then Soren turned to them. His eyes carried the resolve of his actions.

"You... you killed him." Ratler's shoulders shook with a mix of pain and shock. "You killed Handler.

You monster!"

Soren frowned. "The Irony. You wanted to harvest Vinegar's organs—a person you all claim to be your daughter, and now I'm the monster!?"

Ratler could no longer hold back the emotions. He roared to the sky crazily...

"NO! Don't do it." Slacker screamed, but it was too late.

Ratler had shot into the air, like an arrow leaving a bow.

His eyes and mouth were screaming the hunger for his vengeance.

If his mind was calmer, he would have understood the strength difference between him and Soren and probably backed off.

But he wasn't. And Soren was not so kind.

He kicked against the ground. focusing his attack in one region.

Clap. x4

Doom!

The sound reverberated through the walls of the cave.

Two people gasped.

One person vomited a mouthful of blood.

Soren pulled his arm back. It was drenched with blood.

Ratler staggered, turning towards Slacker.

He tried to walk to him, but his steps gave way, and he fell to the ground.

Vinegar screamed. It was gut-wrenching. Her fingers shook, and she wanted to go to him. But her legs gave way, and she fell back.

"Tell my sister. Tell Mari...I'm sorry." Ratler muttered, falling to the ground.

Slacker caught him in time.

Instantly, his eyes found the wound. It was a huge hole in the middle of Ratler's chest.

Slacker immediately attempted sealing it.

But Soren had appeared in front of him.

All the while, Vinegar cried ceaselessly.

"You killed them... you actually killed them." The tears fell from Slacker's eyes.

Surprisingly, even though Soren's face was stoic, the tears still fell.

No doubt he was struggling with his actions. This was a double-edged sword.

Soren was hurting too.

And then the question came.

Slow.

Inevitable.

"If I let you live, will you still... kill Vinegar?"

Soren stood mere inches from the kneeling Slacker. Ratler's blood still trickled down his fingers.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Slacker swallowed. He could see Soren's resolve.

He gave a mocking smirk. "You would have been one hell of a son-in-law."

Soren did not smile. Instead, the question came again. "If I let you live, will you still kill Vinegar?"

However, Slacker replied differently. "If you kill me, you'll be ending three lives. My daughters and Handler's wife.

They are alive because I have to consciously mold the organs in their bodies every minute of every day."

Nevertheless, Soren's answer came.

It shocked Slacker even more.

"I know."

Then silence.

The howling wind outside had become louder.

Cold.

Unforgiving.

Much like the moment between these two men.

Vinegar's sobs echoed behind.

Soren did not act.

He waited. He waited for Slacker's answer.

Amongst all three men. Soren had the best connection with Slacker.

He understood that the man carried a heavy burden.

A burden Soren had never heard him complain about.

In truth, this was a man Soren admired.

Finally, summoning the courage, Slacker answered...

(Author's note: Yeah. That hurt. I'm sorry.)

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