Carl and Marcus hid in the shadows at the bottom of the stairs. They could hear someone coming closer. Carl could hear his own heart beating very loudly.

The person got closer and closer. Carl looked at Marcus, who nodded to show he was ready. The footsteps stopped just around the corner. Carl didn't make a sound, waiting for the right moment. Then, suddenly, someone came into view. Before the person could do anything, Carl and Marcus jumped out and knocked the person down. There was a loud noise as the person's body hit the ground, and the person cried out in pain and surprise. Carl realized that the person knew how to fight. It took them a while to finally get the person to stop moving. The person fought back hard. He tried to get back up several times, but Carl and Marcus wouldn't let him. Finally, after a long struggle, he stopped moving completely. Carl and Marcus sat there breathing heavily, looking down at the unmoving person. Carl and Marcus held the person tightly on the floor. Carl reached into his pocket, searching for his phone. Eventually, he found it.

He turned on the flashlight, shining it directly into the person's face.

"Eriens?" Carl whispered, his brows widening in surprise.

The light illuminated the face of the person they had been fighting. Eriens blinked against the bright light, looking dazed and confused.

"Carl? What's going on?"Marcus glanced at Carl, puzzled. Without waiting for a response, Carl quickly checked Eriens' trouser pocket. His hand felt something metal - it was the keys to the submarine.

"He stole the submarine keys right after poisoning Melvin," Carl said, holding the keys up for Marcus to see.

"Melvin's poisoned?" Marcus asked, puzzled, still holding Eriens down firmly.

"Let me go, I don't understand what you're talking about!" Eriens shouted, struggling to get free, but Marcus refused to loosen his grip. Carl's mind was racing.

"You've got some explaining to do, Eriens," Carl said sternly. "What did you do to Melvin, and why did you take the submarine keys?"

Eriens' eyes darted around, his expression mixed with fear and defiance. "I...I don't know what you're talking about. You've got the wrong guy!"

Carl didn't believe Eriens' denials. He tightened his grip on the keys, determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, no matter what it took.

"Let's get him to the storeroom. There were chains there. We can put him there until we find out the truth," Carl said, looking at Marcus.

Marcus nodded, though he still didn't fully understand the head or tail of the story.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Why did he poison Melvin?" Marcus asked, puzzled.

"I don't know, but it's clear he's the one who poisoned Melvin. I guess he was trying to escape using the submarine," Carl replied.

"Does he know how to control a submarine?" Marcus asked curiously.

"Who knows? The submarine is small, and one trained person can handle it," Carl said, trying to piece everything together. The two men hauled the struggling Erien to the storeroom and secured him with the chains, ensuring he couldn't escape. Carl kept a firm grip on the submarine keys, unwilling to let them out of his sight.

"Alright, Eriens, start talking. What's your connection to Melvin, and why did you steal the submarine keys?" Carl demanded, his gaze hardening.

Erien glared back, his expression a mixture of fear and defiance.

"You won't hear a thing from me," Erien said, laughing maniacally.

"Oh, you won't say that after I bring Kalvin here. He's a well-trained guard, and he'll get you to talk," Carl threatened.

The laughter died on Erien's lips. His eyes widened with a hint of panic.

"Screw you!"He screamed in anger. Marcus looked at Carl unable to understand a thing going on. Carl folded his arms, a grim expression on his face.

" I suggest you start talking, Erien. What's your connection to Melvin, and why did you steal the submarine keys?"

Eriens hesitated, weighing his options. The fear of facing Kalvin's interrogation tactics seemed to outweigh his desire to remain silent.

"You are not talking, fine then" Carl said turning around to leave.

"Alright, alright," he said, his voice trembling. "I'll tell you what I know. But you have to promise to keep Kalvin away from me."

Carl nodded, his eyes narrowing. "We'll see. Now start talking."Eriens took a deep breath, his gaze downcast.

Eriens' voice dropped to a whisper, his eyes turning watery. "He killed my brother."

Carl's brow furrowed in surprise. "What?"

Carl was shocked by the answer. So was Marcus.

"I always doubted that guy, Kalvin. He's not as innocent as he pretends to be. Now it's clear," Marcus said, his voice laced with frustration.

Carl was left wordless. Whom should he trust? Has Kalvin really killed another man?

Carl raked his fingers through his hair, lost in thought. This was turning into an increasingly complex and tangled web of deceit and betrayal.

"If what you're saying is true, Eriens, then Kalvin has a lot to answer for," Carl said slowly. "But I need to verify your story before I can decide what to do next."

Eriens nodded, his eyes pleading. "I know it's hard to believe, but I swear I'm telling you the truth. Kalvin is the real villain here, not me."

Carl sighed heavily. "If what you're saying is true, then why didn't you complain to the council? You could've asked for justice and gotten Kalvin captured easily?"

Eriens let out a humourless laugh. "Oh, you don't expect that Chancellor Bell Bostic will let his son die, do you?" he said dramatically.

Carl's eyes widened with realization. "Bostic... of course. He would do anything to protect his sons." Marcus said in an ironic tone.

Eriens nodded grimly. "Exactly. I'm not a fool to go asking for help from the villain's father. Bostic is just as corrupt as Kalvin. I knew I wouldn't get any justice through official channels."

Marcus shook his head in disbelief. "This goes all the way to the top, doesn't it? The council can't be trusted."

Carl ran a hand through his hair, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "So you took matters into your own hands, is that it? Tried to get revenge and escape using the submarine?"

Eriens met Carl's gaze steadily. "What else was I supposed to do? Kavin destroyed my life, and Bostic would have protected Kalvin no matter what. This was the only way I could get the justice I deserved."

The room fell silent as the gravity of Eriens' words sank in.