Crane never wanted to feel like he is going to lose someone.
Not again.
When Brecken returned to the Tower injured and alone, not a single sight of his apprentice, a sense of worry began to wash over him.
"Layton!"
Kyle sprints up the chair with the bound recruit, his knife in hand, tearing through the ropes like nothing. The moment he saw the familiar blue hoodie, a wave of relief washed over him.
He knew something wasn't right with these people.
He knew he should have trusted his gut instinct when they first met those survivors.
Crane grasps Layton's bloodied face. Recognising that more harm has been done to what was already there. There are two jagged lines in each corner of his mouth. These aren't going to heal completely, it appears.
This was what Rais meant when he gave Layton a smile.
"I'm so fucking sorry!" Crane clutches Layton tightly, desperately hugging him, hoping for a reaction. "I was too slow, and—"
He felt a hand brush against his back.
"You big oaf," Layton mumbled, trying not to open his jaws. “You're crushing me."
"Oh my God, sorry!" Relaxing his grip, he allowed Layton to breathe before accidentally suffocating him. Kyle wiped away a small tear from the corner of his eye. "Do you… Layton, let's head back to the Tower." He had the impression that Layton needed some time to collect himself. Both physically and psychologically.
"I just want to get out of here... I feel shite."
Layton grumbled, his hand hovering over his mouth. Kyle could tell that it hurt. Markings like that indicated that Rais intended for this to be excruciating; the lines were probably not done in a single sitting but rather several times. He intended for this to be an unforgettable experience for the youth.
Rais was a psychopathic man.
"Jesus Christ, you had me worried when you didn't answer my call," Kyle began to spout whatever came to mind. "And the moment Brecken came back alone, I was terrified—everyone was worried that he did worse on you! Rahim... fuck, he almost went looking for you by himself." Kyle exhaled. “But that’s enough about us, are you okay?”
"Still kicking." Layton chuckled. Uneasy but still alive—that's all that matters. "But, really?" He pointed to the wounds left by Rais’s attempt to assert superiority against them. Still rather feeling drained. “This hurts like hell.”
Kyle had a gentle smile, offering a piece of fabric to replace the old mask.
