Nightfall: Last Call

Chapter 10 - I'll do it myself

03:00 AM April 24th - Darius's Office, The Howler

The office was quiet and colder than usual, the tension between Ren and Darius thick in the air. Ren paced back and forth, his fists clenched tightly, his mind a whirlwind of fear, anger, and desperation. Every second that passed felt like a nail in Kenji's coffin.

Darius stood on the far side of the room, his face a mask of calm detachment, which only made Ren's blood boil more. How could he be so calm? How could he stand there, talking about plans and caution, when Kenji was out there suffering—possibly dying? 

"We need to move now," Ren said, his voice low but laced with urgency. "Every minute we waste here, he's getting closer to being killed. I can't sit here and do nothing."

The vampire's gaze was steady, unreadable. "Ren, I understand your concern, but if we rush in without information, without a plan, we're walking into a trap. Valen knows how to manipulate you. He's counting on your emotional response."

Ren stopped pacing and whirled to face Darius, his frustration bubbling over. "I don't care about traps! I care about Kenji! He's my responsibility, he is all I have and I am all he has, and I'm not just going to stand here while he's being tortured. You can plan all you want, but I'm not waiting around while he dies."

Darius's eyes darkened slightly, but his voice remained calm. "If you go now, without knowing what we're walking into, you'll get yourself killed—and Kenji along with you. You need to think clearly, not react emotionally."

He dug his nails into his palm as Ren clenched his fists hard. "Think clearly? He's my best friend! I'm not you, Darius. I can't just suppress my feelings and wait for the perfect moment. You don't understand what this is like!"

The old vampire took a step forward, his voice firm. "I've lost people too, Ren. Don't assume I don't understand. But what you need to understand is that Valen is playing a longer game. If you rush in blindly, you'll fall right into his hands. I'm not trying to stop you from saving Kenji—I'm trying to keep you from throwing your life away."

Ren's heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in ragged bursts. He knew Darius was speaking from experience, from centuries of dealing with vampires like Valen. But every instinct screamed at him to act—to do something—before it was too late. "I'm not waiting," Ren said through gritted teeth, stepping closer to Darius, the tension between them palpable. "If you won't help me, I'll do it on my own."

Darius's eyes narrowed, his voice lowering to a warning. "You're not thinking straight, Ren. If you go out there without knowing what you're up against, Valen will use you. You're walking straight into his trap."

"I don't care!" Ren's voice cracked with desperation. "I don't care if it's a trap. I can't lose him. I won't lose him. If you want to sit here and plan, fine. But I'm not going to stand by and do nothing while my best friend dies."

Darius took another step toward Ren, his eyes cold, his voice sharp. "This isn't just about Kenji anymore. This is about The Howler. If you go out there and fail, Valen will take everything—Kenji, you, this place. You're not just risking yourself, Ren. You're risking all of us."

Breath hitched in Ren's throat, but the fire in his chest wouldn't die down. "You think I don't know that? You think I don't know what's at stake? But I can't—I won't—sit here and wait until you feel like it's 'safe' enough to move. I don't have the luxury of being strategic."

Darius's expression hardened, his patience wearing thin. "If you go alone, you will die. Is that what you want? To sacrifice yourself out of stubbornness?"

Through burning, red eyes, Ren stared at Darius, his heart pounding in his ears. He knew Darius was right—he knew rushing into Valen's territory alone was suicide. But every part of him screamed for action. He couldn't live with himself if he waited. Kenji wasn't just some friend—he was his brother. He couldn't let Valen take him, not without a fight. "I'll take that chance," Ren said, his voice deadly serious. "If I die trying to save him, then at least I tried. But I'm not going to sit here and do nothing."

For the first time, Darius's calm facade cracked. His eyes flashed with something close to anger, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "And what do you think will happen to The Howler if you fail? What do you think will happen to Akina? To the rest of the people depending on you? You're not just putting Kenji's life at risk—you're putting everyone's life at risk."

Ren's hands shook, his entire body tense with frustration and fear. "I'm not you, Darius. I can't plan everything out perfectly. I can't wait for the right moment. I have to act. I have to save him."

Darius flashed forward too fast to see, his face inches from Ren's, his voice cold and sharp as a blade. "If you go now, you won't save anyone. You'll die, and Valen will win. Is that what you want?"

Ren stared at him, his heart pounding, his mind racing. He felt the weight of Darius's words, the cold reality of the situation sinking in. But the thought of doing nothing, of waiting while Kenji suffered—he couldn't accept it. "I can't wait anymore," Ren whispered, his voice breaking. "I have to go."

Darius's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. "Then you're a fool."

Ren didn't respond. He turned sharply, storming toward the exit, his mind made up. He wouldn't sit here and debate while Kenji's life hung in the balance. If Darius wouldn't help him, he would do it alone.

As he reached the door, Darius's voice echoed behind him, low and cold. "If you leave now, you're on your own. Don't expect me to save you when you fail."

Ren stopped, his hand on the door handle, his entire body pounding with fire. For a moment, he hesitated, the weight of Darius's warning sinking in. But the image of Kenji—broken, bleeding—pushed him forward. He couldn't afford to wait. He couldn't afford to do nothing.

Without another word, Ren opened the door and stepped out. He left The Howler and walked into the cold night air, the darkness swallowing him as he made his way into the city—alone. He pulled out his silver dagger and twirled it in his hand.