Chapter 35: Naïve Salvation
Her eyes scanned quickly, then stopped on him.
Their eyes met. Fiona froze for half a heartbeat, then moved—fast, almost rushing to close the distance.
Caleb didn’t move. Just stared, cold. Behind the mask, though, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Just like I thought. Straight here.
Fiona stopped right in front of him. Her face was pale, but her eyes burned with resolve.
"Caleb..." Her voice was soft but firm.
Caleb just stared back, unblinking. Then, almost imperceptibly, he gave a small nod.
Fiona pulled out the chair across from him and sat. A faint trace of perfume cut through the dusty library air—soft, sweet. For a moment, Caleb blinked. It pulled up an old memory. But he shook it off fast.
Fiona leaned forward, hands clasped together on the table between them. No small talk, no hesitation.
"Caleb, you have to stop. Stop all of this. Don’t keep being a criminal."
The words hit his ears like needles.
"Huh?" His brows shot up, pupils tightening. For a second, he almost couldn’t believe what he’d heard.
His face stayed blank, but inside, a spark of anger flared. Fiona—Maya’s daughter—after all this time, the first words out of her mouth were... to tell him to stop. To "quit" something he never even chose.
Caleb leaned in slightly, his stare cutting through the shadow of his hood.
"...What did you just say?" His voice was low, almost a growl.
Fiona drew a sharp breath. Her voice shook, but she forced it steady.
"Caleb... it’s enough." Her gaze didn’t waver, though a thin sheen of tears glistened at the corners of her eyes. "If you’re hurting, you can talk. And if what you need is... a woman, then I—" She swallowed hard, cheeks flushing red, but her eyes didn’t leave his. "...I’ll do it. For you."
Caleb froze. His chest throbbed—not from being touched, but from shock at the sheer naivety of it.
Fiona pressed on, her voice cracking. "Please, Caleb... just come back. I’ll pay for therapy. I’ll cover everything. Just... don’t keep living like this." Her hands trembled slightly above the table, as if she wanted to reach for him but held herself back.
Caleb lowered his head slowly. Behind the mask, a bitter smile twisted his lips. His left hand clenched tight on his thigh, fingers straining. She’s serious? After everything I’ve been through, after what social media’s done, after what her mother did... she really thinks I can just ’go back to normal’ with therapy? And she still buys into the bullshit hoaxes?
His eyes lifted again, cold, piercing.
"...You..." Caleb’s voice rasped, almost too low to hear. "...you’re still the same. Still that little girl who believes in fairytales."
A short exhale slipped out—half laugh, half sneer.
Finally, Caleb spoke, his tone flat, but edged with venom.
"Fiona... it’s all lies."
Her eyes widened, but Caleb pressed on before she could reply.
"I never threatened Joe. I just—" he sucked in a sharp breath, jaw tight. "...I just brushed Sarah’s ass on the train. That’s it. And my mom..." He paused, jaw locking hard. "...she wasn’t toxic. And there was never any incest, no matter what those assholes online say."
Fiona bit her lip, but her gaze stayed sharp. "Then... let me help you. I can find you the best psychologist, psychiatrist, whatever you need. Please, Caleb."
Caleb shut his eyes for a long breath. "Huh? What? Why... why do you believe all this so blindly?"
Fiona didn’t hesitate. "Because Sarah’s a friend of my sister. And my mom... she knows you, Caleb. I used to talk about you back in high school. Even if we... never dated, I knew you were smart. My mom knew you were talented."
The words stabbed at him. Caleb went still, lowering his gaze as his mind started to spin. Makes sense...
Pieces started falling into place. Joe—there’s no way that idiot could’ve played the cops that cleanly. Something as small as groping on a train... there’s no way it could’ve blown up this big unless there was serious weight pushing it.
And Sarah... if she was just an attention whore, the case would’ve burned out quick. Even with her elite family, they’d cover it up fast. But instead—it snowballed, louder and louder.
Caleb lifted his head, eyes blazing under the shadow of his hood.
Maya.
His lips curled into a thin, bitter smile. Of course it’s her. She’s the one pulling the strings.
Caleb rubbed at his temple slowly. Shit... I didn’t prep the Hijack. Not even the daily quest popped up. Is the system glitching?
His head felt like it was splitting. And right when his thoughts were spiraling, Fiona’s hand reached across and touched his. The softness of it froze him for a second.
"Caleb," her voice was quiet, but steady with conviction, "everything will be okay if you just come with me now."
Caleb blinked, still dizzy. His head rang—caught between his emotions, the system acting strange, and Fiona’s painfully naive words.
"Then..." Caleb lowered his head, his voice heavy, "...let me think first."
He stood, about to walk off, but Fiona quickly tightened her grip on his hand.
"Caleb, don’t go alone—"
In an instant, Caleb’s expression shifted. Calm. Controlled. He slipped back into the role, his voice steady, almost reassuring.
"We’ll meet again at five." His eyes cut into hers—cold, but carrying a strange, convincing weight. "Just let me be alone for now."
Fiona froze. Her lips trembled, but finally, she gave a small nod. "Five... in the evening."
Caleb gently pulled his hand free, then walked off. His steps were firm, leaving Fiona behind on the rickety chair, staring at his back with a mix of confusion and fragile hope.
The moment he stepped outside, Torkside’s cold air stabbed at him again. Caleb pulled his hood down lower, his breathing heavy. His stride quickened, heading straight back to his place—where Mike’s phone was still stashed.
Gotta get back... clear my head. Too many damn CCTV cameras around here. Too risky...
Caleb finally reached the rundown building he’d been crashing in. The street was dead quiet, only the morning wind slipping through cracks in the broken walls.
His hand pushed the rusted iron door—
BRUGHH!!!
Something slammed hard into his back from behind. His breath caught, his body lurching forward into the doorway.
"You bastard!!"
"Filthy old shit!"
"Where’s the phone that belonged to that disgusting freak?!"
Several female voices rang out, sharp and furious, catching Caleb completely off guard.