Chapter 217: [TICK TOCK TICK TOCK]

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

’Why isn’t he saying anything anymore?’

A bead of sweat slid down Eli’s forehead.

Which made absolutely no sense. The condo was freezing, and all he had on was a glittery pink sweater—one he already hated wearing on a good day. Now it just felt like a personal insult on top of everything else.

The moment they’d stepped inside, Caelen had taken a seat on one couch.

Eli sat on the one opposite him.

Adjacent.

Close enough to feel each other’s presence. Far enough to make the silence unbearable.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

’Should I just start explaining?’

Eli’s fingers tapped restlessly against his thigh, each movement betraying the nerves he was trying so hard to bury.

’No. There’s a reason he’s quiet.’

There was always a reason with Caelen.

This was mental warfare.

Eli had to keep reminding himself of that. Caelen never acted without intent, never left a move uncalculated.

Which meant—

Eli couldn’t either.

He forced his breathing to steady, jaw tightening as he stared straight ahead, refusing to break first.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

The sound grew louder. Sharper.

Each second stretching longer than the last, pressing against his skull.

And then—

’SINCE WHEN DID I HAVE A CLOCK?!’

Eli’s eyes snapped upward, landing on the wall-mounted clock he swore had never been there before. The ticking suddenly felt deafening, echoing through the room like it was mocking him.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

’Great,’ Eli thought grimly. ’Now I’m going to lose my mind.’

He didn’t move.

Not because he was calm—but because he no longer knew what the right move was. The confidence he’d clung to earlier felt thin now, fragile.

So he stayed still. Back straight. Hands resting uselessly on his thighs. Posture carefully neutral.

His gaze fixed on nothing in particular.

But his attention slid sideways, cautious and deliberate, stealing glances at Caelen through his peripheral vision.

Caelen hadn’t shifted.

Hadn’t fidgeted.

Hadn’t even blinked much.

He sat there with an unnervingly perfect poker face, elbows resting lightly on his knees, fingers loosely interlaced. His posture was relaxed—but not careless.

And his eyes—

Locked on Eli.

Not judging.

Not amused.

Just watching.

Eli swallowed, his throat tight, Adam’s apple bobbing visibly.

This silence wasn’t empty.

It was dense.

Pressurized.

Like the moment before something fractured beyond repair.

As Eli continued to glance at him, something began to feel… off.

Uncomfortably familiar.

The angle of Caelen’s face when he wasn’t smiling.

The sharpness in his eyes once the humor was stripped away.

The way his mouth rested when he wasn’t speaking—flat, severe, almost cold.

Eli’s breath hitched.

’…God.’

His thoughts slowed, then clicked into place with quiet, horrified clarity.

’He really looks like Kairo.’

Not the exaggerated, theatrical Caelen everyone knew.

Not the charming, flirtatious, infuriating version that filled screens and interviews.

This one.

This Caelen looked disturbingly like Kairo.

Same bone structure.

Same intensity.

Same presence that made the air feel heavier, the room feel smaller.

Eli’s mind reeled.

’How come no one ever noticed?’

How had he not noticed?

They were always in motion. Always clashing. Always drowning each other out with noise and conflict. Their personalities were so different that it masked everything else.

But strip Caelen of his charm—

And there it was.

Obvious. Unavoidable.

’They really are brothers…’

The realization tightened something in Eli’s chest.

Not shock.

Understanding.

And something dangerously close to fear.

Because if Caelen could look like this when he was serious…

Then whatever he was holding back right now wasn’t small.

Eli’s fingers curled into the couch cushion, knuckles pressing into the fabric.

’Say something,’ he urged himself. ’Before he decides for you.’

And as if Caelen sensed the exact moment Eli’s resolve began to crack—

He spoke.

“Eli.”

The calmness in his voice made Eli flinch harder than any shout would have.

Too calm.

Eli lifted his head fully this time, meeting Caelen’s gaze without thinking.

“Y–Yeah?”

Caelen tilted his head just slightly, golden eyes unreadable.

“You’ve dragged this out long enough,” he said evenly.

Then, without raising his voice at all—

“Tell me what I want to know.”

Eli flinched.

For a split second, instinct screamed at him to pull back, to protect Wormy, to shut this down before it went any further.

But hesitation wouldn’t save him now.

He had made a deal.

And deals—especially with someone like Caelen—had consequences.

So Eli drew in a deep breath, slow and steady, and rolled up his sleeve.

Wormy was immediately visible.

The small serpent coiled tighter around Eli’s wrist, scales shimmering faintly as its tiny face twisted into something fierce. Its eyes narrowed, its body tense, tail trembling like a warning.

“Hiss—”

The sound was sharp. Defensive.

Eli could feel Wormy’s anger, its instinct screaming at the presence in front of them.

“This is Wormy,” Eli said carefully, his voice controlled despite the tightness in his chest.

Caelen raised an eyebrow.

“You named it?”

Eli hesitated, then nodded slightly. “I mean… it’s easier than calling him it all the time. Or ’the serpent.’” His gaze softened as he looked down. “And he likes the name.”

Wormy lifted its head just a little, eyes flicking up at Eli, then back to Caelen—unimpressed, hostile.

Caelen crossed his arms. “You’re talking about it like it’s a pet,” he said coolly. “Not a dangerous monster that shouldn’t even exist.”

Eli didn’t answer right away.

He inhaled again, slower this time, grounding himself.

’Stay calm. Just tell him.’

“From the beginning,” Eli started, then corrected himself, “well… not the very beginning.”

His fingers curled slightly, steadying Wormy without restraining him.

“In the dungeon,” Eli continued, “when Wormy—when this SS-Class serpent—took Kairo and me… he didn’t swallow us.”

His throat tightened.

“I was terrified. I still am, honestly.” He let out a quiet breath. “When he spat Kairo out, I thought that was it. I thought I was next.”

Eli lifted his eyes to Caelen, forcing himself not to look away.

“But he didn’t kill me.”

The room felt heavier as Eli spoke, the words pulling memories up from somewhere he’d been avoiding.

“He took me to the lab,” Eli went on. “The one I told everyone about.” His voice wavered just a little. “And there… he spoke.”

Caelen’s gaze sharpened.

“He spoke about an Orion,” Eli said. “You remember that, right?”

“Yes,” Caelen replied immediately.

“The man in the photograph,” Eli continued. “The one with the nametag. Orion.” He swallowed. “When I looked around the lab… and realized the serpent could only say his name…”

Eli paused, then exhaled.

“I figured—”

“That the serpent might be a lab-made monster,” Caelen cut in smoothly, “created by this Orion.”

Eli nodded, slow and deliberate.

“Yes.”

Caelen’s eyes never left Wormy. “Then how is it still alive? We killed it while it was distracted. The gate appeared right after.”

Eli hesitated.

“That… I actually don’t know,” he admitted quietly.

He extended his hand, palm open, inviting rather than commanding. Wormy hesitated for a brief moment before loosening its coil and slithering onto Eli’s palm, still tense but obedient.

“When I got back here,” Eli continued, watching Wormy carefully, “I felt a presence. I thought I was imagining things.” He swallowed. “Then I saw him. Alive. And… small.”

His fingers curled slightly, protective.

“I want to believe he did die,” Eli said. “At least the big form. But maybe—maybe that wasn’t his only body. Maybe he retained a smaller one. Or reverted. I don’t know.”

Eli looked up at Caelen, meeting his gaze head-on.

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. This serpent—his existence doesn’t make sense.” His voice gained quiet intensity. “He understands me. He trusts me. For some reason, he came looking for me.”

Eli exhaled sharply. “And I don’t even know how.”

He glanced down at Wormy again. “I haven’t felt danger from him. Not once. And that alone tells me something’s different.”

Caelen frowned. “And what if that’s by design, Eli?” he said coolly. “What if that’s exactly how it was made? This is why you should’ve told my father. You should’ve handed over the information so they could’ve—”

“They would’ve taken him,” Eli cut in. “Poked and probed him. Experimented on him.”

Caelen scoffed. “And? It’s a monster.”

“Exactly,” Eli shot back. “An SS-Class monster.”

His voice sharpened now, the fear finally bleeding into something fiercer.

“One that could wipe out the entire Hunter Association if it wanted to. One we don’t understand. One that survived something it shouldn’t have.” He shook his head. “Maybe he’s stronger than we think. No—he’s definitely stronger than we think.”

Eli lifted his arm slightly as Wormy settled there, resting against his skin as if it belonged.

“Wormy trusts me,” Eli said firmly. “He doesn’t attack me. He stays calm when I’m around.” His eyes locked onto Caelen’s. “Did you really want me to risk breaking that?”

Silence followed.

Caelen didn’t answer.

Didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t argue.

Eli noticed it immediately.

’He knows I’m right.’

Mimicking Caelen’s posture, Eli crossed his arms, Wormy still resting quietly along his forearm.

For the first time since this confrontation began—

Caelen had nothing to say.

“If that’s all set,” Eli said carefully, forcing his voice to stay even, “are we good?”

He straightened slightly, heart still pounding but hopeful—just enough to be dangerous.

“I’ve answered your questions. You’ve answered mine. You know my reasons.” Eli hesitated, then added, “So if you don’t mind—”

Ding dong.

Eli froze.

Every muscle in his body went rigid, the words dying in his throat.

’Who is that?’

His eyes widened as his pulse spiked, thoughts racing far too fast for comfort.

’Did Caelen call someone—?’

Eli snapped his gaze toward Caelen, fear flashing openly across his face.

But Caelen looked just as startled.

His brows were furrowed, surprise etched plainly into his expression, the usual composure cracked just enough to be unsettling.

“Were you expecting anyone?” Caelen asked sharply.

“No,” Eli replied immediately. “Were you?”

Caelen stared at him for a long second, then gave him a look that very clearly said ’Are you serious right now?’

The doorbell rang again, echoing through the condo.

Eli swallowed hard.

’Then who is that?’

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