Slowly, Cal lets go of his embrace and gently clasps onto Gregory's hands. His eyes, sparkling with emotions, lock onto Gregory's tender gaze. A quivering smile gradually forms on Cal's lips as he tries to hold back tears. Cal lets out a deep sigh, closing his eyes briefly before turning towards Oliver. With slow, bashful steps, he approaches the Remaining Podeshire.

     As Cal draws closer, Oliver straightens his posture and places his hands together on his back. His gaze falls to the floor. Clearing his throat, Oliver takes a deep, trembling breath, gathering the courage to face the past head-on. He releases a heavy sigh, releasing the tension that had weighed heavily upon him.

"...Uhmm... Podeshire... I- I mean..." Cal stuttered, averting his gaze. "...O... Oliver...?"

"Mhm," Oliver nodded lightly, acknowledging his name.

"Oliver... I... I..." Cal's fingers tightened around his trousers. "...I am sorry for everything..."

Oliver's breath quivered. "...It's... it's okay," he said.

     The weight of Cal's past actions began to settle, and the magnitude of their impact crashed upon him. Suddenly, Cal collapsed to the floor, his body succumbing to the weight of his emotions. Wails of anguish escaped his lips as tears streamed down his face, each drop washing away the stains of blood that marred Oliver's boots.

"I sincerely apologise for everything... Oliver...!" Cal's voice cracked as he cried. He lowered his head, laying it on the shoes that carried the weight of the pain he had caused. "I am sorry! I regret everything I've done to you! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

     Oliver lowers to his knee. With gentle hands, he reaches out and firmly grabs Cal's trembling hands. Slowly, Oliver rises, using his strength to bring Cal upright from the floor.

     As Oliver holds onto Cal's hands, Cal's sobs slowly subside. Their eyes meet, and a profound understanding passes between them. Cal gradually rises from the floor as his breath quivers. He then timidly lowers his gaze.

     Suddenly, Oliver leaps forward, wrapping his arms around Cal in a warm, comforting embrace. The tightness of their bond envelops Cal's body, gently wiping away his tears. Moved by the gesture, Cal swiftly responds, wrapping his arms around Oliver in a tight hug.

     As Oliver cradled Cal in his arms, the burdening weight of the past lifted off their backs. The world around them seemed to hold its breath, enveloped in a tranquil stillness. Amidst the calm, Cal's loud sniffle pierced the silence as he locked eyes with Oliver. Oliver slowly pulled back, maintaining his gaze fixed on Cal's eyes. Their connection remained unbroken as they exchanged smiles, their hearts throbbing with the bittersweet ache of forgiveness.

     Meanwhile, Jean couldn't help but smile as he witnessed the tender sight before him. Filled with an uncontainable joy, he hopped off his seat and hurriedly approached Gregory. Jean then reached out, grabbing Gregory's hand and gently pulling him forward, eager to draw him into the circle.

     As Jean pulls Gregory forward, a whirlwind of thoughts swirls through Gregory's mind, pondering his son's intentions. Slowly and cautiously, Jean guides Gregory towards Oliver and Cal. Jean steps aside, tilting his head upward to gaze at the faces of the three men. Then, with an affectionate leap, Jean wraps his arms around their legs, pulling them into a tight and sincere embrace.

     Gregory's breath streams through his nose as his eyes meet Oliver's and Cal's. A gradual smile forms on his lips as he takes in the scene before him, and the weight of his doubts and worries lifts off. Slowly, Gregory loops his arms around Oliver and Cal, joining their embrace with a firm and heartfelt hug.

     Oliver, Gregory, Jean, and Cal close their eyes, allowing the gentle waves of emotions to sink deep into their hearts. Their warm embrace passes from one to another, creating a ripple of comfort that calms the lingering chills on their backs. The atmosphere settles into a serene stillness as sunlight cascades through the window, bathing Oliver, Gregory, Jean, and Cal in its soft, gentle glow.

     Suddenly, faint footsteps echo through the room, slowly growing louder with each passing second. The once-muted sound transforms into a resounding drumbeat, filling the space. Tiny dust particles rain down from the ceiling as the ground trembles.

     A dozen guards burst into the room with their rifles tightly gripped in their hands. As shouts and commands pierce through the atmosphere, their arrival electrifies the room, abruptly halting the peaceful energy in the air. The guards swiftly position themselves, pointing their weapons at Cal's two remaining minions.

"Freeze!" the guards' voices boomed as they swiftly aimed their weapons at the two minions.

     The two minions swiftly raise their hands in surrender, their bodies still and motionless. Despite their visible composure, their racing hearts cause them to clench their teeth. Immobilized by fear, they watch two guards close in with handcuffs at the ready.

     Sophia, Edgar, Sarrah, and Bethany rush through the corridors and burst into the room, their breaths ragged and gasping as beads of sweat drip from their foreheads. As their eyes scan the room, searching for their friends, shock freezes them in place upon seeing Oliver, Gregory, Jean, and Cal together. The embrace between Oliver, Gregory, Jean, and Cal gradually dissolves as they let go of each other, their attention now drawn to Sophia, Edgar, Sarrah, and Bethany standing in the doorway.

     Cal's gaze shifts away from the doorway, landing on Jean with an affectionate glimmer in his eyes. A light smile graces Cal's lips as he brushes Jean's hair gently. Then, bending down to his knees, Cal places a loving peck on Jean's forehead. A shiver runs through Cal's breath as he stands upright.

     Glancing at Oliver and Gregory, Cal reaches out, joining their hands and bringing them together. The three men's hands clasp firmly. With a smile reaching from ear to ear, Cal nods at them. He then takes a deep, audible breath.

     As Cal exhales, he turns his focus towards the advancing guards. Three guards step forward, their hands holding cold, silver handcuffs tightly. Their gazes fixate on Cal, brows furrowing with sternness. With a sudden halt in their steps, the guards' furrowed brows transform into arcs of astonishment. Their eyes widen as they witness Cal raise his wrists towards them.

     Cal stares at the guards' eyes, his wrists coming together as he extends them closer. He nods with a fearless will to endure the consequences of the atrocities he has committed. Surrendering himself to their custody, Cal watches as a handcuff securely clasps around his wrists, sealing his fate.

     Four guards walk forward, positioning themselves behind Cal's minions. Firm grips take hold of the two men, their arms and shoulders now under the guards' control. Without hesitation, the guards march towards the door, dragging the minions.

     Stepping forward, two guards advance and position themselves behind Cal, seizing his shoulders firmly. Steadily, they march towards the door, navigating the sea of onlookers. Sophia, Edgar, Sarrah, and Bethany step aside, watching Cal and the guards pass through the doorway.

     Cal's breath grows increasingly unsteady as worry dashes through his veins, his heart pounding with apprehension. Yet, his knees remain steady, maintaining balance as he walks across the groaning floorboards. Cal closes his eyes, accepting his inevitable punishment.

     Oliver, Gregory, and Jean stand witness as the guards escort Cal out of the room. Their faces lengthen, marked by deep frowns, while their gaze softens. Sophia's head swivels towards Oliver, her attention instantly captured by the vivid stains of bright crimson and dark maroon that paint his clothes. Her eyes widen in alarm, and her breath quickens with each passing moment. As her brows shoot towards her hairline, she points at Oliver and yells.

"O-Oli! Blood!" Sophia frantically yelled as she pointed at Oliver, his body drenched in his blood.

     Oliver's gaze gradually lowered to his stomach, his breath labouring and growing louder as his eyes widened. The sight of crimson staining his clothes triggered vivid memories of his piercing wounds. Gradually, everything around Oliver transformed into a blurry haze.

      Though Oliver could discern the presence of bodies, their faces eluded him—as if a mist had hung in his eyes. His companions' voices erupted into distressful cries upon witnessing his blood-soaked state. Yet, their words reached him as faint echoes, distant and muffled.

     Oliver could feel the warmth of his blood seeping onto his palm, and a weighty burden landed on his head as his knees trembled. Then, a cold and rippling shock shook his body. The load on Oliver's knees became unbearable, dragging him down until he fell, collapsing onto the floor. However, just before his head could meet the surface, Gregory swiftly intervened, catching Oliver in his arms.

     Oliver feels Gregory's arms wrapping around him, cradling him. A pained groan escapes his mouth as he struggles to lift his heavy eyelids, his vision blurred as he gazes at Gregory's face. Through the haze, he can hear Gregory's muffled screams. Held securely in Gregory's hands, Oliver's rapid breaths gradually slow.

     The weight on Oliver's eyelids grows increasingly burdensome, each passing second making it harder to resist the urge to close his eyes. Despite the battle within, he fights to keep them open, aware of the fading strength of his heartbeat, its once steady rhythm growing faint and sluggish. A sudden darkness engulfs Oliver's vision, leaving him with nothing but an impenetrable void. In the absence of light, his surroundings disappear, leaving him immersed in pitch black. Then, a piercing noise rings in his ears, cutting through the silence.