~ The villain's dance

The whole town.

Milo leaned against the grave, looking at Selever. "You good, boss?" He dropped his cigarette and walked over.

"DO YOU THINK I'M OKAY!?" Selever shouted. "My best friend just died."

Selever laughed in a strange way.

"I'll make Kael pay. I'll make the whole town pay!"

Milo sighed, glancing at the funeral flowers scattered around Tori's grave. "I get it. You're hurting, but this isn't the answer. You can't just drag everyone into this."

Selever's eyes narrowed, filled with anger. "What do you know? You didn't see him lying there, cold and lifeless!"

Milo stepped closer, his voice calm. "Revenge won't bring him back, Selever. You're better than this."

For a moment, Selever hesitated, thinking about Tori and their memories. But the anger came rushing back.

"No! They all need to suffer. Kael will pay for what she did!"

Milo clenched his fists. "And what about the people who care about you? What about Tori's family? You think this will honor him?"

Selever's voice dropped, full of venom. "This isn't about honor. It's about justice."

Suddenly, Selever noticed a shadow in the graveyard. He thought he saw Kael watching, but when he blinked, she was gone.

"Damn it," he muttered, slamming his fist against the gravestone. "I won't let her get away with this!"

Milo placed a hand on Selever's shoulder. "You're not thinking straight. This isn't how to honor Tori's memory."

Selever shrugged him off, laughter bubbling up again. "Honor? Tori deserves revenge. You'll see. I'll make them all dance to my tune, starting with Kael."

"Selever, listen—" Milo started, but Selever was lost in his dark thoughts.

"Every laugh, every secret... I'll make them all pay." He looked at Milo with a chilling determination. "You either help me or get out of my way. This town will burn, and I'll start the fire."

Milo took a deep breath. "You're letting your anger blind you. There's more at stake than revenge."

Selever turned back to Tori's grave. "Do you think I care about them? They ignored Tori while she suffered. No more mercy."

As the cold night air surrounded them, a gentle breeze rustled the trees, echoing Selever's thoughts. "I'll show them. I'll show her."

Milo felt a chill. "You'll lose yourself in this, Selever. Revenge won't fill the emptiness Tori left behind."

But Selever was already lost in his dark plans. "Sometimes, destruction is the only way to rebuild. I'll create a new world from the ashes of this one."

Milo felt a shiver run down his spine. "Just remember, every action has consequences."

"Let them come," Selever muttered.

"Tori was my best friend. When she told me she had a boyfriend, I was so happy for her!"

"But then she came back crying because she lost him. I SHOULD'VE PUNCHED HIM FOR HER!"

Selever's voice broke, his fists clenched tightly.

Milo watched, feeling a mix of concern and helplessness. "I know it hurts, Selever. But this isn't the answer. You'll destroy yourself trying to punish the world for one mistake."

"But she was my everything!" Selever shouted, echoing through the graveyard. "I should have protected her! Now..." His voice faded into silence, filled with grief.

Milo stepped closer. "Tori wouldn't want this for you. She wouldn't want you to lose yourself in revenge."

Selever's anger flared. "Stronger? This isn't about strength! It's about making sure everyone knows they can't hurt the ones we love!"

Tears slipped down his cheeks, hot and bitter. "I won't let her death be in vain. If I have to burn this town to the ground, so be it."

Milo's heart ached. "But at what cost? You'll lose everything—yourself included."

Selever turned away, staring at the grave. "I've already lost everything. What more can I lose?"

The weight of those words hung heavily in the air. Milo felt a chill. He knew if Selever kept going down this dark path, there would be no turning back.

"Selever," Milo said softly, "I'm still here for you. You don't have to do this alone. Let me help you find another way."

For a moment, hope flickered in Selever's eyes, but it quickly faded. "You can't save me, Milo. I'm too far gone. But if you want to stay, be ready to dance with the devil."

"GOD DAMNIT, YOU ALWAYS DO THIS!" Milo shouted. "And it always ends up with someone getting hurt!"

"Maybe Kael had a reason for what she did," Selever snapped.

Milo rolled his eyes. "Come on!"

PUNCH!

Milo coughed out blood.

"GOD DAMNIT!" he yelled.

"ALL I SAID IS KAEL HAD A REASON!"

"YOU'RE NO HELP, MILO! KANDY WAS BETTER THAN YOU!"

"ANYONE WOULD BE BETTER THAN YOU!"

"NO WONDER PEOPLE HATE YOU! YOU NEVER FIX ANYTHING!"

Milo shook his head. "YOU THINK PUSHING EVERYONE AWAY WILL HELP? IT WON'T. YOU'RE ONLY HURTING MORE."

Selever hesitated, doubt creeping in, but the anger pulled him back. "I DON'T CARE! THEY ALL NEED TO PAY!"

Milo's heart sank. "AND YOU? WHAT WILL IT COST YOU? YOU'RE ALREADY LOSING YOURSELF."

"SHUT UP!" Selever yelled, voice breaking. "YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!"

Milo stepped closer. "I'M STILL HERE, NO MATTER WHAT. BUT YOU NEED TO SEE THIS PATH WON'T BRING PEACE—JUST MORE PAIN."

Selever's face showed conflict. "I HAVE TO DO THIS. FOR TORI!"

"THEN HONOR HER MEMORY BY CHOOSING A BETTER WAY!" Milo pleaded. "DON'T LET HER DEATH BE WHY YOU DESTROY YOURSELF!"

The tension hung in the air. Selever's expression wavered, uncertainty pulling at him.

"FINE THEN, IF THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT!"

"Tori would hate you."

Selever felt guilty, a small image of Tori flashing in his mind. He shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Tori. But the whole town will pay for what Kael did."