Page 173 of The Amber Sunburst

“Don’t do this, Kallias. I’m begging you.”

Kallias’ face hardens when the Educator turns to him. “I already have. He’ll treat you with more kindness if you do what he says. Go to your boat.”

“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?” Alexander asks. “Were you planning it the whole time?”

“Go, Alexander.”

“There is no reason for this, estrela. Why are you doing this?”

Kallias doesn’t say anything more. Just taps:

--. ---

Alexander takes a step closer. “I’m not leaving without you.”

“This is pathetic,” the Educator sneers.

Alexander ignores him, stepping forward once more. “He’s the one, right? The one you talked about?” he asks.

“Alexander,” Kallias snaps.

--. ---

When he steps again, the Educator calmly reaches for the gun on his belt and points it at him.

Alexander has to laugh. Does he think that gun would stop him from reaching Kallias? Death would not stop him. Destiny would not stop him. A gun will not stop him.

He doesn’t hesitate to take another step, wearing the arrogance on his face like armor.

“Walk out the door, boy.”

He steps again.

Bang.

His vision flickers from the pain. When he comes back to himself, he’s on his knees, his leg screaming.

“Alexander, please,” Kallias begs, his eyebrows scrunched and his face finally, finally earnest. Alexander almost wants to smile. His beautiful boy, back again. No walls between them.

He stands shakily and, God, that really hurts. It doesn’t stop him from getting closer. He’s ready for another bout of pain, another gunshot, but it doesn’t come. Instead, the Educator shakes his head. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do this,” he says, before grabbing Kallias by the neck and pushing the gun into his hair.

Alexander freezes.

“You wouldn’t,” Alexander says. It comes out like a question.

“I wonder.” The Educator kicks Kallias to his knees and yanks his hair to hold him up to the gun.

Kallias doesn’t struggle.

Alexander doesn’t move.

Go, Kallias mouths.

So Alexander puts his hands up in surrender and slowly takes a step back. And another. He drags them out, anything to stall for time. To come up with something. There must be something.

“Let him come with me. To the docks. It will be more believable, right? And you’ll catch us anyways…”

“Open the door,” the Educator cuts in, patience long gone.