Chapter 44 - Pilse Arc
Sonny does not sleep much that night. Even with Draco’s words of encouragement, his mind refuses to settle.
Every time he closes his eyes, the images return. Cages. Broken bodies. Blood across stone. And the people. People doing those things to each other. It lingers. It reminds him of something he tried to bury.
The Omegas.
The missions. The orders. The feeling of moving without thinking, doing whatever was required because there was no other choice. Or at least, that is what he told himself.
Sonny exhales slowly. “I can’t be just a killer,” he mutters to himself, “There is good in me.”
Sonny’s time in Pilse has reinforced his resolve that his next step will not be about fighting. It is about atonement. Atoning for his murders on behalf of the Omegas. His list of 37 assassination victims.
Morning comes.
Sonny rises without hesitation despite barely sleeping. Sleep used to be a luxury. His body has endured worse. Much worse.
He makes his way to Calo’s home.
When he arrives, Calo is already waiting. The door opens almost immediately.
“You’re up early,” Calo says.
“So are you.”
Calo gives a tired smile. “Couldn’t sleep considering our village's most dangerous offender is residing within our walls..”
He gestures inside. “Come in. Coffee? Tea?”
“Tea is fine.” Sonny steps inside.
The home feels warm. Lived in. Normal.
Calo’s wife stands in the kitchen preparing food. Calo introduces them briefly.
“This is Sonny,” he says. “The one I told you about.”
She looks at him with quiet gratitude. “Thank you for bringing our villagers home and ending that nightmare.”
Sonny gives a small nod.
Calo adds, “He’s the reason Pilse is still standing.”
Sonny doesn’t respond to that.
They take seats in the main room.
Tea is brought over, and the conversation begins.
Sonny gets straight to the point. “What did you do with Ruin?”
Calo’s expression hardens.
“He’s restrained,” Calo says. “Under guard in our prison.”
He pauses.
“You made that possible,” he adds. “If he still had his power, we wouldn’t be able to hold him.”
Sonny nods.
Calo continues, more conflicted now. “I gave orders to keep him alive. But beyond that…” he exhales, “they’ve been rough with him.”
Sonny doesn’t react.
“And what are you planning to do?” Sonny asks.
Calo looks down for a moment.
“Part of me wants him to suffer,” he admits. “For everything he did.”
He clenches his fist.
“…But another part of me wants to just end it. Finally turn the page on Anti Society.”
Sonny speaks without hesitation. “Kill him.”
Calo looks up.
“Today.”
Calo studies him. “You’re sure?”
“Yes,” Sonny replies. “I don’t know if what I did to him is permanent. If he regains his power…” he pauses, “this happens again, and it will be worse. Not to mention, he still could use energy if his three remaining limbs heal.”
Calo never thought about that possibility.
Calo nods slowly. “Exellent points. Then we end it.”
Sonny leans forward slightly. “But before that, we talk to him.”
Calo frowns. “Why?”
“He knew I was coming,” Sonny says. “Someone told him. He must’ve had an insider on the council.”
Calo closes his eyes briefly. “I was afraid of that.”
“I think it was Rafe,” Sonny continues.
“Why?”
“He was the only one pushing me for information. And he voted against me going.”
Calo considers that. “…It’s possible,” he says. “But we must confirm it.”
Sonny nods.
“One more thing,” Calo adds. “We keep this quiet. If someone on the council betrayed us, we handle it discreetly for now. It stays between us.”
“Agreed.”
They stand. Time to finish it.
They arrive at the holding area. Calling it a prison is generous. It’s small. Basic. Barely reinforced compared to the rest of the world.
A guard leads them inside.
“You want us in there?” the guard asks.
“No,” Calo replies. “Wait outside.”
The door closes behind them.
Ruin sits chained to a reinforced table.
The room is dim.
His body is wrecked. Bruises. Cuts. Swelling. Blood dried across his skin. He looks barely conscious. The guards have had their way with him throughout the evening.
When he notices them, his eyes widen slightly. Fear. Real fear.
Calo steps forward.
They have a plan already. Without a tongue, Ruin cannot speak. But he can still choose. The council member names are written down. Different orders. Same list. He just has to point. Neither Sonny or Calo can react to any name selected. This may give Ruin something to work with.
They begin.
“We know you had an insider on the Pilse council. Point to who it was.” Calo states.
Ruin refuses to point at any names at first. He shrugs smugly, like he holds all the power in this situation.
Sonny steps in. He grabs Ruin’s shattered leg and applies deep pressure.
Ruin convulses in pain, a choked scream escaping him.
He points. They continue. Over and over. Different orders. Same process. Pain inflicted between each round.
Calo’s anger shows in his strikes.
Sonny’s methods are quieter. More precise. Practiced.
Every movement is controlled, deliberate. Like he already knows exactly how the body will react before he applies the pain.
Calo notices the difference immediately.
When Calo strikes, the pain is blunt. Emotional. Driven by anger.
When Sonny does, it’s… something else.
Ruin’s screams change. Sharper. Louder. Unraveling.
Even Calo can’t hide the way he flinches when it’s Sonny’s turn. There’s no hesitation. No discomfort. Just efficiency. And that is what disturbs him most.
Watching Sonny work… it becomes clear this isn’t new to him. This is something he learned. Something he lived.
For the first time, Calo truly understands just how dark Sonny’s past must have been.
Time passes. Slow. Deliberate.
Eventually…
The same name keeps coming up. Again. And again. And again.
They step into the corner to compare.
“…It can’t be,” Calo says.
The name sits between them.
Zoa.
Sonny doesn’t want to believe it.
Calo shakes his head. “No. Not her.”
Sonny’s expression remains steady. “It makes the most sense. She had the most to lose,” Sonny says. “Her sister was in captivity, not to mention the youngest council member.”
Calo says nothing.
“They targeted her,” Sonny adds. “She didn’t have much of a choice.”
Calo exhales slowly. “…I missed it.”
Sonny glances back at Ruin. “He didn’t.”
Silence hangs between them.
Then Sonny asks, “Do we finish it?”
Calo’s eyes harden. “Yes.”
Sonny summons his blade and takes a step towards Ruin's beaten body.
“Please, allow me,” Calo states.
Sonny offers his sword. Calo takes it and walks forward.
Ruin barely lifts his head.
Their eyes meet. No words. Just understanding.
Calo drives the blade forward. Slowly. Deliberately.
Ruin’s body tenses. Then stills.
Calo holds the blade there for a moment as he watches the life disappear from Ruin’s eyes.
Then pulls it free.
Ruin doesn’t move. It’s over.
Calo exhales and hands the sword back.
“Burn the body,” he tells the guard when they exit. “Tonight.”
The guard nods.
They walk in silence. They both know what comes next.
Zoa’s home.
Her mother answers the door.
“Chief?” she asks, surprised to see him. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“We need to speak with Zoa.”
She calls out. Zoa appears moments later.
She sees Calo. Then Sonny.
Something in her expression shifts. She follows without question.
They sit outside, away from the noise of the village. The space is quiet. No one else is around.
Calo speaks first. “Ruin knew Sonny was coming,” he says. “He had someone from the council feeding him information.”
Zoa stays still.
“We saw Ruin this morning and he confirmed it,” Calo continues. His voice is steady, but there’s weight behind it. “It was you, wasn’t it?”
There’s no hesitation.
Zoa lowers her head. Her shoulders begin to shake as tears fall.
“Yes,” she says softly. “It was me.”
She takes a shaky breath. “They had my sister. They told me exactly what they would do to her if I didn’t listen.” Her voice tightens. “I couldn’t let that happen.”
Sonny steps in, calm but direct.
“We know,” he says. “You were the easiest person for them to use.”
Zoa nods, sniffling and wiping at her eyes, though the tears keep coming.
“I’ll accept whatever punishment you decide,” she says. “I only cared about getting her back. And I did.” She looks up at them, forcing a small, fragile smile. “I don’t regret it.”
The words hang in the air.
Calo studies her for a moment, then exhales slowly. “I understand why you did it,” he says. “Anyone in your position likely makes the same choice.”
Zoa’s expression softens slightly.
“But that doesn’t change what happened,” Calo continues. “You put the entire basin at risk. That cannot go unpunished.”
Zoa nods again, accepting it.
“What happens now?” she asks.
Calo answers without hesitation. “We keep this between us,” he says. “For now.”
She listens closely.
“You will attend the celebration tonight,” he continues. “Be with your family. Celebrate your sister’s return.”
A small flicker of relief crosses her face.
“But starting tomorrow,” Calo adds, his tone firm, “you will be removed from the council.”
Zoa swallows and nods.
“And you will serve prison time,” he finishes. “We will determine how long, but you will answer for this.”
There’s no resistance. No argument.
Zoa straightens slightly, tears still in her eyes. “I understand,” she says.
Another small smile forms, more genuine this time.
“Thank you… for letting me have tonight.”
