Breaking Rules ( Radioapple )

On The Edge - Part 8

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Alastor wandered the city streets aimlessly after college, the events of the past few days weighing heavily on his mind. The uncertainty surrounding Lucifer's condition gnawed at him incessantly, leaving him in a constant state of anxiety. The bustling sounds of the city barely registered as he walked, lost in his thoughts.

As he turned a corner, a familiar but unwelcome figure stepped into his path. Alastor's heart skipped a beat, and a cold dread settled over him. His father, a man he had hoped to avoid for the rest of his life, stood before him with a sinister smile.

"Alastor," his father greeted, his voice dripping with false sweetness. "It's been a while."

Alastor's body tensed. "What do you want?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

His father glanced around, ensuring no one was watching, and then grabbed Alastor by the arm, dragging him into a nearby alleyway. The shadows enveloped them, and the noise of the city seemed to fade away, leaving Alastor feeling trapped and vulnerable.

"I heard about what happened to Lucifer," his father began, his grip tightening painfully on Alastor's arm. "Tragic, isn't it?"

Alastor's breath caught in his throat. "What do you mean?" he managed to choke out, fear and confusion swirling within him.

"He's dead, Alastor," his father said with a cruel smile. "You didn't know?"

Alastor's heart pounded in his chest. "No... no, you're lying. He can't be."

"Oh, but he is," his father continued, enjoying the torment he was inflicting. "You should have been there to protect him, but you weren't. And now he's gone."

Tears welled up in Alastor's eyes as the doubts that had been haunting him solidified into a horrifying certainty. "Stop it," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Just stop."

"Or what?" his father taunted, leaning in closer. "What are you going to do about it, Alastor? You couldn't save him, and you can't even stand up to me."

Anger flared within Alastor, cutting through his fear. "You don't know anything," he spat, glaring at his father. "You're just a sad, pathetic man who enjoys hurting others."

The slap came without warning, sharp and stinging against Alastor's cheek. He stumbled back, clutching his face, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional agony.

"Watch your mouth," his father snarled. "You think you can talk to me like that? You're nothing without Lucifer, and now he's gone. Face it, Alastor. You're alone."

Alastor's resolve wavered. The conviction in his father's voice, combined with his own crippling doubts, made it hard to hold on to any hope. He wanted to believe that Lucifer was still alive, but the fear and despair were overwhelming.

"You don't know that," Alastor said weakly, his voice trembling. "You can't know for sure."

His father leaned in, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "I know enough. And so do you. Face the truth, Alastor. Lucifer is dead, and there's nothing you can do about it."

With that, his father released him, stepping back with a satisfied sneer. "Think about that the next time you try to defy me."

Alastor stood there, shaken and devastated, as his father walked away. The shadows of the alley seemed to close in on him, and he sank to the ground, unable to hold back the tears any longer.

The world felt like it was crumbling around him. The hope that had kept him going was shattered, replaced by a crushing sense of loss and loneliness. Lucifer was gone, and there was nothing he could do to bring him back.