A/N- Try Reading...
✨ JAYFER - Fragments of Section E ✨
...to see a version of amnse where a lot of new characters in section A
And keifer's twin too who is actually against him and to know that who was the biggest traitor who was capable of breaking section E when plan was revealed and it costed jayjay... her everything...
Chapter 134– Justice Doesn't wait For Emotions
Watson Mansion
One Week After The Funeral
The mansion was quiet.
---
Not peaceful.
---
Never peaceful.
---
Just empty.
---
The kind of empty that comes when someone important is missing.
---
Nobody laughed much anymore.
---
Nobody argued much anymore.
---
Even JJ had become quieter.
---
And that alone was enough to tell everyone how badly things had changed.
---
Then
The front doors opened.
---
A woman stepped inside.
---
And the entire room froze.
---
Aera.
---
For a second—
---
Nobody moved.
---
Then anger exploded.
---
Percy
Was the first to stand.
---
Percy
"What the hell are you doing here?"
---
Ash
Immediately followed.
---
Ash
"You have five seconds."
---
Lyra
Didn't even look shocked.
---
Only furious.
---
Lyra
"Get out."
---
Aera
Looked exhausted.
---
Broken.
---
Like she hadn't slept.
---
Like she hadn't stopped crying.
---
But nobody cared.
---
Not anymore.
---
Aera
"I came to apologize."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
A laugh.
---
A horrible laugh.
---
JJ
Slowly stood up.
---
And suddenly—
---
The old JJ was back.
---
Not the cheerful one.
---
Not the chaotic one.
---
The dangerous one.
---
The girl Section E once feared.
---
The girl who never backed down.
---
The girl who fought for everyone she loved.
---
JJ
"Apologize?"
---
She laughed again.
---
Nobody had heard that laugh in years.
---
JJ
"You came to apologize?"
---
Aera lowered her head.
---
Aera
"I—"
---
JJ
"Did your apology bring her back?"
---
Silence.
---
JJ
"No?"
---
JJ
"Interesting."
---
Another step forward.
---
JJ
"Can she laugh because of your apology?"
---
JJ
"Can she walk through that door because of your apology?"
---
JJ
"Can Cole hold his wife because of your apology?"
---
Aera started crying.
---
JJ didn't care.
---
Not one bit.
---
JJ
"Then keep it."
---
The room was silent.
---
Nobody stopped her.
---
Nobody wanted to.
---
Because every word hurt.
---
Because every word was true.
---
Aera
Finally broke.
---
Aera
"I didn't want this."
---
Ash
"Stop talking."
---
Aera
"I was told to do it."
---
That made everyone pause.
---
Cole
Who had been silent until now—
---
Finally looked up.
---
Cole
"By who?"
---
The room immediately became colder.
---
Aera
Looked terrified.
---
For the first time.
---
Aera
"Kaizer Watson."
---
Silence.
---
Aera
"And..."
---
Her voice shook.
---
Aera
"Someone else."
---
Immediately—
---
Everyone looked at her.
---
Percy
"Who?"
---
Ash
"WHO?"
---
JJ
"Say the name."
---
But Aera shook her head.
---
Aera
"I don't know."
---
Aera
"I never saw them."
---
Aera
"I only got orders."
---
Nobody believed her.
---
Not fully.
---
Then
Her eyes found Rhys.
---
Standing near the window.
---
Silent.
---
Completely silent.
---
He hadn't spoken once.
---
Not once.
---
Aera
"Rhys."
---
Nothing.
---
Aera
"Please."
---
Nothing.
---
Aera
"I love you."
---
Still nothing.
---
Slowly
She walked toward him.
---
Then fell to her knees.
---
Right in front of him.
---
Aera
"Please."
---
Tears streamed down her face.
---
Aera
"I'm sorry."
---
Aera
"I'm sorry."
---
Aera
"I'm sorry."
---
Again.
---
Again.
---
Again.
---
Rhys never even looked at her.
---
Not once.
---
He simply stared out the window.
---
Like she wasn't there.
---
Like she had become a stranger.
---
Because maybe she had.
---
Aera
Started sobbing.
---
Aera
"Rhys please."
---
Nothing.
---
Aera
"Please."
---
Still nothing.
---
The man who once would've crossed oceans for her—
---
Didn't even turn his head.
---
Then
A chair scraped against the floor.
---
Everyone froze.
---
Cole.
---
Slowly standing.
---
The room instantly became silent.
---
Because something was different.
---
The grief was still there.
---
But now—
---
It was colder.
---
Much colder.
---
Cole
"Enough."
---
One word.
---
Quiet.
---
Terrifying.
---
Aera stopped crying immediately.
---
Cole
Walked forward.
---
Expression unreadable.
---
Cole
"You came here for forgiveness."
---
Silence.
---
Cole
"You won't find it."
---
Aera looked down.
---
Then
Cole looked toward the security team.
---
Cole
"Take her downstairs."
---
Nobody moved.
---
For a second.
---
Because even the guards looked nervous.
---
Cole
"Now."
---
The guards immediately obeyed.
---
Aera
Panicked.
---
Aera
"Cole."
---
No response.
---
Aera
"Please."
---
Nothing.
---
Aera
"I told you everything I know."
---
Still nothing.
---
The guards pulled her toward the doors.
---
Aera
"Rhys!"
---
Nothing.
---
Aera
"RHYS!"
---
Nothing.
---
Not even a glance.
---
The Doors Closed
Behind her.
---
Silence returned.
---
Heavy.
---
Uncomfortable.
---
Terrifying.
---
Then Cole spoke.
---
Without looking at anyone.
---
Cole
"Find out who gave the second order."
---
His voice was calm.
---
Far too calm.
---
Cole
"And when we find them..."
---
The room held its breath.
---
Because nobody had heard that tone before.
---
Not even Keifer.
---
Not even JJ.
---
Not like this.
---
Cole
"We finish this."
---
The mansion fell completely silent.
---
And somewhere below—
---
Aera realized that apologizing had never been the reason she was brought here.
---
Basement Level
Watson Mansion
Nobody spoke.
---
Not in the elevator.
---
Not in the hallway.
---
Not when the doors opened.
---
Silence followed them like a ghost.
---
Because everyone knew why they were here.
---
And nobody wanted to say it aloud.
---
Upstairs
Before they came down—
---
Keifer had found Rhys alone.
---
Standing near one of the windows.
---
The same place.
---
The same empty stare.
---
The same broken man.
---
Keifer
"What do we do?"
---
No answer.
---
Keifer
"Aera."
---
Still nothing.
---
Keifer
"Do we forgive her?"
---
The question hung in the air.
---
Heavy.
---
Painful.
---
Unfair.
---
Because forgiveness was easy to talk about.
---
Harder to live.
---
Especially when the person you lost could never come back.
---
Rhys
Finally laughed.
---
A horrible sound.
---
Not amusement.
---
Pain.
---
Pure pain.
---
Rhys
"Forgive her?"
---
His eyes were red.
---
Exhausted.
---
Destroyed.
---
Rhys
"I lost my best friend."
---
Silence.
---
Rhys
"And the woman I loved."
---
Keifer lowered his head.
---
Because there was nothing he could say.
---
Nothing.
---
Rhys
"In one night."
---
A shaky breath.
---
Rhys
"Care is gone."
---
Rhys
"And Aera..."
---
His voice disappeared.
---
Rhys
"Aera died the moment she chose that mission."
---
The room became quiet again.
---
Keifer
"What would justice be?"
---
Rhys closed his eyes.
---
For several seconds.
---
Then answered.
---
Rhys
"Justice?"
---
A hollow smile.
---
Rhys
"Justice is making sure she never hurts anyone again."
---
Basement
Aera sat alone.
---
Tired.
---
Broken.
---
Waiting.
---
The door opened.
---
Everyone entered.
---
Cole.
---
Keifer.
---
JJ.
---
Percy.
---
Ash.
---
Lyra.
---
Alex.
---
Others behind them.
---
Aera
Looked around.
---
Searching.
---
Only searching for one person.
---
Rhys.
---
And finally—
---
She saw him.
---
Standing at the doorway.
---
For one final moment.
---
Aera
"Rhys..."
---
Her voice cracked.
---
Aera
"I'm sorry."
---
No answer.
---
Aera
"I loved you."
---
Silence.
---
Aera
"I really did."
---
Rhys looked at her.
---
Actually looked at her.
---
For the first time.
---
And somehow—
---
That hurt more than being ignored.
---
Because there was no love left in his eyes.
---
Only grief.
---
Only exhaustion.
---
Only loss.
---
Then—
---
He turned around.
---
And walked away.
---
Without another word.
---
Without another glance.
---
Without looking back.
---
Because he couldn't.
---
Upstairs
The hallway felt endless.
---
Then—
---
A sound.
---
A single gunshot.
---
Echoing through the mansion.
---
Sharp.
---
Final.
---
And Rhys froze.
---
Completely.
---
Because he knew exactly what it meant.
---
For A Moment
The world stopped.
---
Then everything hit him at once.
---
Care.
---
Aera.
---
The wedding.
---
The hospital.
---
The waiting room.
---
Everything.
---
His Legs Gave Out
---
And he collapsed against the wall.
---
Not caring.
---
Not fighting it.
---
Just breaking.
---
Completely.
---
Finally.
---
The tears came.
---
The sobs came.
---
The grief came.
---
All at once.
---
Rhys
"No..."
---
A whisper.
---
Broken.
---
Rhys
"No..."
---
Not because he wanted her back.
---
Not because he forgave her.
---
But because once upon a time—
---
He loved her.
---
And now both women he cared about were gone.
---
One to betrayal.
---
One to consequence.
---
And neither outcome felt like victory.
---
Downstairs
Nobody celebrated.
---
Nobody smiled.
---
Nobody felt better.
---
Because revenge had not brought Care back.
---
It never could.
---
The basement remained silent.
---
Heavy.
---
Cold.
---
And somewhere above them—
---
The mansion that had once been filled with laughter stood quiet.
---
Still mourning the girl who had been its heart.
---
2:43 AM
Watson Mansion
The mansion was awake.
---
Nobody was sleeping.
---
Nobody could.
---
Every room felt colder.
---
Every hallway felt emptier.
---
Every corner carried a memory.
---
And memories had become dangerous.
---
Rhys
Sat alone in the library.
---
The lights were off.
---
Only the moonlight entered through the windows.
---
Hours had passed.
---
He hadn't moved.
---
Not once.
---
Because every time he closed his eyes—
---
He saw it again.
---
The wedding.
---
The scream.
---
The hospital.
---
The operating room.
---
Care.
---
Always Care.
---
Then
The guilt arrived.
---
Again.
---
And again.
---
And again.
---
Rhys
"If I never brought Aera here..."
---
A whisper.
---
Nobody answered.
---
Because nobody was there.
---
Rhys
"If I had noticed."
---
Another whisper.
---
Rhys
"If I had seen something."
---
His hands shook.
---
Rhys
"If I had looked harder."
---
A pause.
---
Rhys
"If I had been faster."
---
The words became quieter.
---
More broken.
---
Rhys
"If I tried harder in the OR."
---
Silence.
---
Rhys
"If I did one thing differently."
---
One tear.
---
Then another.
---
Rhys
"Maybe she'd still be here."
---
The Door Opened
Slowly.
---
Lyra.
---
Alex.
---
JJ.
---
Nobody said anything.
---
Because there was nothing clever to say.
---
Nothing magical.
---
Nothing that could fix this.
---
JJ
Walked first.
---
Then sat beside him.
---
For a moment—
---
Nobody spoke.
---
Only silence.
---
Then—
---
Rhys
"It was my fault."
---
Immediately—
---
JJ
"No."
---
Rhys
"It was."
---
Lyra
"No."
---
Rhys
"If I never brought Aera—"
---
Alex
"Stop."
---
The word was firm.
---
Stronger than usual.
---
Alex
"Stop doing that."
---
Rhys looked away.
---
Rhys
"It's true."
---
Alex
"No."
---
Alex
"You're looking for someone to blame."
---
A pause.
---
Alex
"And the easiest person is yourself."
---
Silence.
---
Rhys
"I failed her."
---
Lyra sat beside him.
---
Immediately.
---
Lyra
"No."
---
Tears filled her eyes.
---
Lyra
"You fought for hours."
---
Lyra
"You refused to stop."
---
Lyra
"You gave everything."
---
Her voice broke.
---
Lyra
"I was there."
---
Lyra
"I saw you."
---
Rhys
Lowered his head.
---
Rhys
"It wasn't enough."
---
And suddenly—
---
Nobody had an answer.
---
Because that was the cruelest part.
---
Sometimes—
---
Everything you have isn't enough.
---
JJ
Finally moved.
---
She wrapped her arms around him.
---
Just like she used to.
---
Back when they were teenagers.
---
Back in Section E.
---
Back when life was simpler.
---
JJ
"You know what Care would say right now?"
---
Rhys laughed bitterly.
---
Rhys
"No."
---
JJ
"She'd call you stupid."
---
A tiny smile appeared.
---
For one second.
---
Then disappeared.
---
JJ
"Because that's what you're being."
---
A tear slid down her cheek.
---
JJ
"Care loved you."
---
JJ
"She trusted you."
---
JJ
"She never blamed you."
---
A pause.
---
JJ
"So stop blaming yourself."
---
Rhys
Started crying again.
---
And this time—
---
Nobody stopped him.
---
Nobody told him to be strong.
---
Nobody told him to move on.
---
They simply stayed.
---
Beside him.
---
Because sometimes—
---
That's all you can do.
---
Elsewhere
3:11 AM
Cole's room.
---
Dark.
---
Silent.
---
Unmoved.
---
Cole sat on the edge of the bed.
---
Still wearing his wedding ring.
---
Still staring at nothing.
---
The room hadn't changed.
---
Her hairbrush remained there.
---
Her books remained there.
---
Her jacket remained there.
---
Everything remained.
---
Except her.
---
A Knock
Soft.
---
Then the door opened.
---
JJ.
---
She entered quietly.
---
Closing the door behind her.
---
For several moments—
---
Neither spoke.
---
JJ
Walked over.
---
Sat beside him.
---
Just like she used to when things were hard.
---
When he was angry.
---
When he was tired.
---
When he was broken.
---
Cole
Didn't react.
---
Didn't look up.
---
Didn't speak.
---
Nothing.
---
JJ
Started crying again.
---
Because seeing him like this hurt.
---
More than she expected.
---
Because this wasn't Cole.
---
Not really.
---
This was a shell.
---
An empty version.
---
The man Care was terrified he'd become again.
---
JJ
Softly.
---
JJ
"She loved you."
---
No response.
---
JJ
"More than anything."
---
Nothing.
---
JJ
"She was happy."
---
Still nothing.
---
JJ
"Really happy."
---
Silence.
---
JJ
Looked at him.
---
Hoping.
---
Waiting.
---
Begging.
---
For anything.
---
One word.
---
One sentence.
---
One reaction.
---
Anything.
---
Nothing.
---
Cole simply stared ahead.
---
Expressionless.
---
Motionless.
---
Silent.
---
And somehow—
---
That silence terrified JJ more than tears ever could.
---
Because she had seen this before.
---
Years ago.
---
Before Care.
---
Before happiness.
---
Before love.
---
And she knew exactly what it meant.
---
The walls were coming back.
---
The cold was coming back.
---
The darkness was coming back.
---
JJ
Started crying harder.
---
Because she remembered the promise.
---
The promise Care had begged for.
---
Don't become cold again.
---
And for the first time—
---
JJ was afraid.
---
Truly afraid.
---
That maybe—
---
This grief would break them all.
---
Chapter End.