As Kai walked home, the quiet of the neighborhood streets did little to calm the storm in his mind. He kept replaying the conversation with Minseo, her words sticking with him like a thorn. There was a part of him that wanted to believe her, to think that maybe talking to someone could help. But there was another part of him—the part that had grown used to the isolation, the anger—that wasn’t ready to let go of the Ledger’s power.

By the time he reached his house, the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the yard. Kai hesitated at the front door, his hand resting on the handle. Inside, his mom would be waiting. She would ask him how his day was, and he would give her the same answer he always did: “It was fine.” She wouldn’t press him, wouldn’t pry into the details of his life at school. She had her own struggles, her own worries, and he didn’t want to add to them.

With a sigh, Kai pushed open the door and stepped inside. The familiar scent of home greeted him, but it did little to ease the tension coiled inside him. His mom was in the kitchen, stirring a pot on the stove. She looked up when she heard him come in.

“Hey, sweetie. How was school?” she asked, her voice warm but tired.

Kai forced a smile. “It was fine, Mom.”

She nodded, not pushing for more, just like he expected. “Dinner will be ready in a bit. You can go relax until then.”

“Thanks,” Kai muttered, already heading toward his room. He wasn’t in the mood for small talk, not when his mind was a tangled mess of thoughts and emotions. He closed the door behind him and dropped his bag on the floor, his gaze drifting to the spot where the Ledger was hidden.

He sat down on the edge of his bed, his hands resting on his knees as he stared at the floor. Minseo’s words echoed in his mind. You don’t have to face this alone. I’m here.

Could he really trust that? Could he trust anyone? He had spent so long building walls around himself, keeping everyone at arm’s length. Letting someone in, asking for help… it felt foreign, almost impossible.

But the Ledger… it was right there. It was always there, offering a way out. Offering control.

Kai leaned forward, resting his head in his hands. His thoughts were a whirlpool of doubt and fear. What if he didn’t use the Ledger, and things with Jin only got worse? What if talking to someone didn’t help, and he was left with nothing but more pain?

The sound of a quiet knock on his door made him sit up, startled. His mom poked her head in, her brow furrowed in concern.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Kai, are you okay?” she asked, stepping into the room. “You’ve been awfully quiet since you got home.”

Kai hesitated, not sure what to say. He had been so good at keeping everything hidden from her, from everyone. But now, with her standing there, looking at him with genuine worry in her eyes, he felt something crack.

“I’m… I’m fine,” he said automatically, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

His mom didn’t look convinced. She came closer, sitting down on the bed next to him. “Kai, you know you can talk to me, right? If something’s bothering you… I want to help.”

Kai’s throat tightened, and for a moment, he felt like he might actually tell her everything. About Jin, about the bullying, about the Ledger. But then he swallowed the words down, the familiar fear creeping back in. What could she do? She had enough to worry about. She didn’t need to deal with his problems too.

“It’s nothing, really,” he said, forcing a smile. “Just a long day.”

His mom studied him for a long moment, her gaze soft but piercing, as if she could see through the lie. But after a few seconds, she nodded, standing up and giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze.

“Okay,” she said quietly. “But if you ever want to talk, I’m here. You know that, right?”

Kai nodded, unable to meet her eyes. “Yeah. I know.”

She smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes, and then she left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

Kai sat there for a long time, his mind racing. He could feel the Ledger’s presence like a heavy weight in the room, pulling at him, tempting him. His phone buzzed, breaking the silence. He glanced at it and saw another message from Jin.

"Hey, loser. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. Got something special planned for you. ;)"

Kai’s hands clenched into fists, his jaw tightening as he stared at the screen. The anger that had been simmering all day boiled over, and he threw the phone onto his bed, standing up and pacing the room.

He couldn’t do this anymore. He couldn’t keep letting Jin torment him, couldn’t keep pretending that everything was fine. But what choice did he have? The Ledger was right there. All he had to do was write Jin’s name, and it would be over. He would be free.

But Minseo’s words echoed in his mind again. You don’t have to face this alone.

Kai stopped pacing, his heart pounding in his chest. He glanced at his phone, then at the Ledger, and then back again. His hands were shaking as he picked up his phone and opened a new message.

"Hey, Minseo… Can we talk tomorrow? I think I need some help."

He stared at the message for a long time, his finger hovering over the send button. His heart was racing, and his mind was screaming at him to just write Jin’s name and be done with it. But something in him resisted. Something in him wanted to believe that there was another way.

With a deep breath, Kai hit send.

The response came almost immediately.

"Of course, Kai. I’ll be there."

Kai let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding, a small sense of relief washing over him. He didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but for now, he had taken the first step.

He glanced at the Ledger one last time, then shoved it back into his bag, out of sight. He wasn’t ready to use it yet. Maybe he never would be.

For the first time in a long time, Kai felt a sliver of hope. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to hold onto.

As he lay down in bed, staring up at the ceiling, his thoughts were quieter than they had been in weeks. Maybe tomorrow, things would start to change. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t have to fight this battle alone.