Luminara's Shadow

Eliott's heart skipped a beat. He felt his blood run cold instantly. He had thought Kai had saved him from a certain death, so why was he proposing this now? Shocked, he tried to voice his thoughts, but only a whisper escaped his lips.

"You... you want me to jump?"

Kai let out a small laugh, as if the situation amused him greatly. He stepped closer to Eliott, glancing at the railing before leaning halfway over to look down.

"Not exactly," he replied with a smile. "I'm talking about a fall... but not yours."

Eliott frowned, even more confused than before. "Could you be a bit clearer here?"

Kai straightened up and gently patted Eliott's shoulder. "We're going to stage a fake fall. You're not actually jumping, of course. But we'll make it look like you did. A well-orchestrated fall, with photos as proof."

Eliott blinked, slowly starting to grasp what Kai was saying. "A fake fall? But... why?"

Kai crossed his arms again, thinking quickly. "Simple. So Marc and his gang think they've won. If you disappear like this, they won't look for you. They'll think you snapped, that you went through with it. And in the meantime, you'll be safely hidden away."

Eliott swallowed, still uncertain. "But how are we going to do that? Everyone will know it's fake."

Kai shrugged, as if it was the easiest thing in the world. "Leave that to me. We'll take some pictures of you here, by the edge of the roof, from angles that make it look like you're about to jump. I'll handle the details to make it convincing. We'll send it to the right people."

Still hesitant, Eliott felt his mind waver between confusion and fear. This plan seemed completely insane. But, in a strange way, he also saw the logic behind Kai's idea. If everyone believed he had jumped, he'd finally have a reprieve.

"And if it fails?" Eliott asked, his mind still clouded by the flow of information.

Kai smirked. "Then we improvise. But trust me, it won't fail." He pulled his phone out of his pocket and opened the camera.

"Come on, stand here by the edge. Don't worry, I've got everything under control. Just act like you're going to jump."

Hesitant, Eliott slowly positioned himself near the railing. The wind whipped at his face, intensifying the vertigo clawing at his throat. He gripped the bars tightly and took a deep breath, trying to look natural.

"Perfect," Kai murmured, framing several angles. "A bit more... yeah, that's it."

After quickly snapping a few shots, Kai put his phone away and nodded, satisfied.

"It's done. Now, step away from the edge calmly and leave the rest to me."

Still in shock, Eliott moved slowly away from the ledge, his legs trembling. He couldn't believe what he had just done, but strangely, part of him felt reassured. Maybe this crazy plan would actually work.

"So, what do I do now?" he asked, still a little lost.

Kai smiled slyly. "Now, you wait for my instructions. Go home, tell your parents to close the restaurant, and don't talk to anyone. We're going to make 'Eliott' disappear. And when everything is ready... you'll be reborn."

Without another word, Kai finally left the rooftop, leaving Eliott alone but strangely comforted by the conversation that had just taken place at the edge of the void.

Eliott carefully made his way home, keeping his head down to avoid drawing the curious gazes of passersby. He didn't want to be seen in this state. His clothes were torn, his face marked with fresh bruises, and his limbs still trembled from the beating he had received earlier that day. Every step he took was a silent struggle against the pain. His heart raced, but he had to stay calm. He knew this situation couldn't go on much longer.

When he reached the small door of their house, he quickly glanced around to ensure no one had followed him. Then he slipped inside quietly, closing the door behind him without making a sound. The warm, familiar air of the interior greeted him, a stark contrast to the freezing cold of the street. His parents weren't yet aware of the horrors of his day.

Eliott found his father organizing some papers behind the counter, while his mother finished preparing dinner. They seemed serene, though tired from their long shift. He watched them for a moment, his heart heavy. These two people, who had always sacrificed everything for him, didn't deserve to suffer any more.

Taking a deep breath, Eliott stepped forward.

"Dad... Mom... I need to talk to you about something important."

His father turned to him, frowning at the sight of his son covered in bruises. "What happened to you?" he demanded, his voice full of anguish.

His mother rushed over immediately, concern written all over her face.

"I'm fine," Eliott lied, placing a reassuring hand on his mother's shoulder. "Listen, I've been thinking... and I think it would be best for you to close the shop for a while. Just until things settle down. We need to hide... stay out of sight while this all blows over."

His father stepped back slightly, a mix of surprise and anger crossing his face. "Hide? Close the shop? Do you realize what you're saying, Eliott? This is our only means of survival!"

His mother spoke up as well, her voice trembling. "Why should we hide? What's going on, Eliott?"

The young man felt the pressure mounting inside him. He didn't want to worry them further, but he couldn't bear to see them suffer anymore. He owed them the truth, even if it broke them.

"You have to trust me," he said, his voice low but determined. "There are things... things you don't understand. Marc, his father, and everything happening at school... I can't explain everything right now, but if we stay here, they'll destroy us."

His parents exchanged a worried look, but their faces also showed disbelief. His father, in particular, seemed to be seething inside. He refused to be intimidated, not after everything they had endured to get this far.

"You want us to hide like cowards? To abandon everything we've built, everything we've fought for?" his father spat, his voice firm.

Eliott rushed to calm his parents. "No, I don't want that! But if you keep fighting like this, they'll eventually win. There's something in the works... a solution..."

"A solution?" His mother looked at him with a mix of hope and doubt. "What solution, Eliott?"

The young man took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the situation on his shoulders. "There's someone... someone who helped me. Someone who gave me hope that things can change. But for it to work, we need to step away for a while. Just long enough for the plan to unfold. Please trust me."

His parents looked at each other for a long moment. His father's anger seemed to fade, replaced by a desperate confusion. His mother, on the other hand, couldn't ignore the glimmer of hope in her son's eyes. It was a spark she hadn't seen in a long time—the same light he had when he dreamed of a better future, before the bullying and threats broke his innocence.

Finally, his father let out a long sigh, running a hand through his graying hair. "I don't like this idea, Eliott. But I can see you're determined. And if you say there's a solution... then we'll trust you."

His mother placed a gentle hand on his arm, nodding. "We're ready to do whatever it takes to protect you, sweetheart. If this is what you think is best, we'll follow your lead."

Eliott, feeling the weight of their love and trust, nodded in return. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice filled with gratitude.