EVEN WITHOUT NAMING YOU

CHAPTER 10

Jinx remains motionless, frozen like a child caught in the act. She says nothing, but her entire body betrays nervous tension. Silco stops right in front of her, his gaze lowered, studying her in silence for a moment that seems to stretch on forever.

—"Jinx..." he finally murmurs, in an almost paternal tone, but loaded with an implicit reproach.

—"I... I meant well..." she begins, her voice broken, like that of a child begging not to be punished.

She immediately lowers her head, her arrogance disappearing like a blown flame. Sevika leaves, followed by the others, leaving only Jinx and Silco in the alley.

Ékko grits his teeth. Is that it, Jinx? Is that what you've become? A kid waiting to be congratulated after something stupid?

Silco doesn't answer immediately. He just watches her, his piercing eyes analyzing every tremor in her body, every word she doesn't dare to say.

"Did you mean well?" he finally repeats, tilting his head slightly.

Jinx nods frantically.

"Yes... I thought... that it was better this way. He was never going to talk. He..."

Silco raises a hand to silence her. Not abruptly, but with a quiet authority that immediately makes her curl up. She lowers her eyes, her arms falling limply to her sides.

"You think too much, Jinx. It's not your place to think." »

He reaches out, his thin but firm fingers gently grabbing her chin to lift her head. She doesn't resist. On the contrary, she lets him do it, almost seeking his touch. Her eyes, filled with tears, meet Silco's, which seem to devour her with an icy intensity.

— "Your role is to follow my orders. Nothing more. Nothing less."

Jinx swallows, barely nodding.

— "Yes... Yes, Silco... I'll do better next time. I promise."

Ékko watches, his throat tight. It's unbearable. Seeing this girl, this tornado of energy and chaos that he had known, bend like a rag doll in front of this man... It's sickening.

And then, it happens.

Jinx falls to her knees, her hands gripping the bottom of Silco's pants.

— "Please... Don't leave me. Stay with me." I'll do anything you want, but... but don't go."

Ekko wants to look away, but he can't. It's like an accident you can't help but witness. He sees the way Silco places a hand on his head, almost gently, stroking his hair with a possessive gesture.

"Stand up, Jinx," he orders calmly, but with implacable authority.

She obeys immediately, trembling, her face lowered.

Silco leans down slightly, whispering something that Ekko can't hear. But whatever it is, it's enough. Jinx raises her head, her face red and her eyes shining, and walks away quickly, disappearing into the darkness.

Ekko remains paralyzed. Part of him is furious, wanting to scream, to smash something. But another part... Another part is just terrified.

Why? Why do you obey him like that, while with me, you never listen to anything? Why can he break you just with words, when I have to yell at you for you to hear me?!

Ekko, still in shock from what he just saw, makes an impulsive decision. He writes a message on a piece of paper found in his things:

"Meet me at the bridge, if you still remember who you are." the bridge on the way to The Last Drop, where they spent a lot of time as children.