Slowly, Cal turns his back, fixing a piercing glare directly into Oliver's eyes. His brows furrow, intensifying the ominous nature of his stare. A spiteful grin spreads across his face, mirroring the darkness within his soul as the moonlight rains upon him from the sky above.

     The others arrive in the bedroom, cramming themselves into the doorway as they witness the unfolding scene. Their steps come to an abrupt halt, reflecting the sudden pause of their breath as their eyes lock on Cal behind the window. Cal stands on the roof's edge, clutching Jean in his hands, an image that freezes their hearts with a mixture of shock and terror.

"J-Jean!!" Oliver screamed.

     Oliver unleashes a piercing, breathless yell that echoes and reverberates through the room. His body surges forward with arms outstretched as he charges towards the window. His teeth clench tightly, and his eyes sink deep into their sockets, reflecting the profound anguish consuming him.

     Just as Oliver's hands are about to reach the window frame, Cal leaps from the roof's edge, clutching Jean tightly in his arms. Cal lands silently in the front yard, emerging unscathed from the descent, maintaining a firm hold on Jean. Unharmed, Cal sprints away, slamming forcefully with the mansion's tall iron gate, causing it to burst open under the impact.

     Seeing Cal leaping from the roof with his son sends Oliver's heart plummeting—as if it, too, has fallen from its rightful place. Quickly, Oliver whirls around, bolting out of the bedroom, squeezing past the others in the doorway. With urgency driving him, he dashes across the hallway, creating a rush of air that threatens to extinguish the flickering flames of the lamps.

     Oliver descends to the ground floor and bursts through the front door. He swiftly traverses the front lawn, his footsteps resounding with loud thumps on the pathway. Passing through the wide-open iron gate, he veers left onto the road and sees Cal hastening down the street, still holding Jean. The ever-widening gap between Oliver and Cal stretches over a dozen yards, making it increasingly difficult to envision rescuing his son.

     Overwhelmed by anger, Oliver's voice cuts through the air with a primal shriek, his hands raised in defiance. In his palms, fiery orbs materialize, their scorching heat illuminating the surrounding darkness. Without aiming, driven purely by fury, Oliver hurls the fireballs towards Cal, unleashing them with relentless force.

     As Cal scurries along the street, he hears a cacophony of cackling noises that resemble the crackling and swirling of fire in the air. He glances back, just in time to see two blazing fireballs hurtling towards him. Reacting with lightning speed, Cal swiftly moves to the left and jumps to the right, dodging the imminent danger.

     Cal tightens his grip around Jean as he turns to look at Oliver. A wicked smirk creeps across his face as the darkness within his mind shrouds the glint in his eyes. With a sinister grin, Cal resumes his rapid sprint and dashes towards the left corner of the street, gradually fading away from Oliver's line of sight.

"No!!"

     Agony echoes through every breath in Oliver's lungs, causing an outcry of torment. Gnashing his teeth, he lunges forward, intent on pursuing and apprehending Cal. But, before Oliver can take another step, an unforeseen force ensnares him, chaining his movements. Tears escape his eyes as he finds himself immobilized. Glancing to his side, he sees his spouse, Gregory, wrapping his arms around his frame.

"Oliver, stop!" Gregory shouted as he held Oliver tightly.

     Oliver writhes in an attempt to free himself from Gregory's grip. But his efforts prove futile. He pounds his feet against the ground, desperate to pry his body away from Gregory's arms, but the hold remains unrelenting.

"No! No!!"

     Gregory loops his arm around Oliver, anchoring his feet to the ground. His voice resonates with a firm shout as he holds his frantic spouse still. The breadth of Gregory's shoulders creates an impenetrable barrier, making Oliver unable to break free from the strict confines.

"Oliver, you almost hit Jean! Stop it! You might hurt him! Stop!" Gregory's voice thundered as he maintained a firm hold on Oliver.

     Suddenly, ravaging flames summon and engulf Oliver's forearms, devouring his hands and sleeves. The fire dances and flickers, its eerie light reflecting in his golden eyes, casting an otherworldly glow. Although the fire appears to consume his arms entirely, Oliver remains unharmed and unbothered, emitting only a feral growl.

     Gasping, Gregory loosens his grip and steps back, his eyes widening as he beholds the fiery inferno spawning around Oliver's forearms. Initially uncertain of how to respond, a sudden idea ignites in Gregory's mind. Acting swiftly, he jumps forward, leaping towards Oliver and enfolding him in a protective embrace.

"Oli, stop! Please, stop..." Gregory wrapped his arms around Oliver, desperately seeking to restrain him.

     Oliver's searing heartbeat stokes the fury in his mind. The flames in his forearms rage on, intensifying with each passing moment. Yet, upon hearing Gregory's anguished cry and sensing his constricting hug, a wave of calm washes over Oliver, melting his frayed nerves. Slowly but surely, the flames in his arms begin to diminish. Their once-blazing glow dwindles, their size shrinking until they ultimately extinguish themselves from Oliver's hands.

"Oliver... please, just stop..." Gregory pressed himself closer to Oliver, tightening his grip.

Oliver's voice quivered as tears glistened in his eyes and streamed down his cheeks. He closed his eyes and clung to Gregory's hands, finding comfort in their touch. "It's our child, Greg..." Oliver locked eyes with Gregory, his voice filled with pain. "...It's. Our. Child!!"

     Frederick, Sophia, Edgar, Sarrah, and Bethany rush towards the entrance, standing in the doorway as maids gather behind them. Their eyes flit in every direction, only to see Oliver weeping in Gregory's arms. Furrowing their brows, their gaze falls to the ground.

     Oliver takes a long, deep breath as his body trembles. A sob escapes his lips, and tears gush down his face as he shuts his eyes. He buries his face in Gregory's chest, wrapping his arms tightly around his spouse.

     Anxious breaths slip past Sophia's lips, her brows arching with concern. With uncertainty clouding her mind, she closes her eyes and tightens her lips. She then lowers her head and takes a step backwards. Unexpectedly, a cracking noise resonates beneath her loafers. Sophia lifts her skirt and sees her foot pressing on a white envelope. Curious, she lowers herself to her knees and retrieves the paper.

     Inside the mansion, a flurry of footsteps echo through the halls. Victoria, Elizabeth, Albert, and George burst through the doorway, their breaths ragged with exhaustion. Their eyes dart frantically, scanning the surroundings in all directions.

     Oliver and Gregory draw rapid, sharp breaths, their eyes locked in a penetrating gaze. Together, they turn towards the mansion, crossing the expanse of the lawn and ascending the porch steps, rejoining the others by the entrance. Oliver grabs Gregory's hand, exhaling deeply as he keeps his head bowed, his heart racing with a weighty intensity.

     Reaching the entrance, Oliver stops and looks at his other children. Releasing Gregory's hand, he kneels before them, his hands clenching into fists. With a deep breath, he braces himself.

     The children's eyes slowly shimmer with unshed tears. Words remain caught in their throats as they sniffle, tears dripping down their faces. Then, their cries break free, echoing through the entire neighbourhood.

"Jean!" the children's voices trembled with grief as tears flowed down their faces for their beloved brother.

     Oliver's glance rests upon his children, his heart heavy with their cries. His brows furrow upward, and his lips press together in a tight line. With a deep sigh, he closes his eyes, causing teardrops to fall down his cheeks.

"...I'll bring Jean back," he promised.