Taming the Devil

Chapter 48: The Battle Has Just Begun

The night air was thick with tension as Progress stormed out of Almond’s mansion, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His heart pounded against his ribs, his fists clenched so tightly his nails threatened to pierce his palms. Ohm, Meephoh, and Per followed closely behind, their footsteps eerily silent on the pavement.

Progress’s mind was in chaos.

Almond’s words, his broken promises, his weak attempts to push him away—everything was swirling inside him like a storm that refused to calm.

"I promise."

"I love you."

But love wasn’t enough.

Not when Almond was shutting himself away again.

Not when he was letting his father dictate his life.

Not when he was allowing fear to consume him.

Progress ground his teeth as they made their way back toward the campus dorms. The normally bustling streets felt quieter tonight, or maybe it was just the roaring in his head drowning everything else out.

He had let Almond shut him out once before.

He wasn’t about to let it happen again.

They walked in silence until Meephoh finally broke it. “What now?” he asked, voice steady but cautious. “We got in, we saw him, but he’s still stuck there.”

“Stuck because his father’s a damn tyrant,” Ohm muttered.

Per sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “And it’s not just Almond. Fee, Mawin, and Kritt are in the same mess. Their fathers are furious too. If they don’t prove their loyalty soon, they’ll be sent abroad, forced even deeper into that world.”

Progress’s jaw clenched. “Then we pull them out.”

Meephoh blinked. “What?”

“We’re the Four Mischievous, aren’t we?” Progress said, his voice sharp with determination. “We don’t let things slide. And I sure as hell won’t let Almond get locked away like some puppet.”

Ohm let out a low whistle. “You really do love him, huh?”

Progress shot him a glare. “No shit.”

Meephoh rubbed his chin. “So what’s the plan? Kidnap him back? Reverse the abduction?”

Progress exhaled, his mind racing. “We don’t just get Almond. We get all four of them out.”

Per frowned. “Fee, Mawin, and Kritt too?”

“Yes,” Progress said firmly. “Because if they fall, Almond falls. They’ve been through everything together. And if their fathers separate them, they’ll lose what’s keeping them sane.”

Ohm crossed his arms. “Okay. Let’s say we do this. How the hell do we take on mafia families?”

Progress smirked. “By being smarter than them.”

Meephoh scoffed. “That’s rich coming from you.”

Progress ignored him and continued. “First, we need inside information. Fee, Mawin, and Kritt are still in contact with us. They’ll know what’s going on inside the mansion. We need to find out what their fathers are planning.”

Ohm nodded. “And once we know, we can figure out when and how to strike.”

Meephoh’s grin widened. “I like where this is going.”

Per, ever the cautious one, hesitated. “Are we really doing this? It’s one thing to prank teachers and sneak out of school, but messing with the mafia?”

Progress looked him dead in the eyes. “You saw Almond, Per. You saw how broken he was.”

Per sighed. “Yeah. I saw.”

Progress nodded. “Then we don’t just sit back and watch.”

Silence hung between them before Ohm finally clapped his hands together. “Alright, I’m in. This sounds insane, but I’m in.”

Meephoh shrugged. “I’ve always wanted to commit a crime for a good cause.”

Per groaned. “Fine. But if we die, I’m haunting all of you.”

Progress smirked. “Deal.”

They quickened their pace, minds already whirling with possibilities.

But Progress wasn’t done yet.

Not even close.

He pulled out his phone and dialed Fee’s number.

It rang twice before Fee picked up. “Progress?” His voice was hushed, cautious.

“Where are you?” Progress asked without preamble.

“At my house.” A pause. “Things are… tense.”

Progress exhaled sharply. “I need to see you. Now. You, Mawin, and Kritt.”

Fee hesitated. “Progress—”

“No excuses. I don’t care how bad things are. Meet me.” His voice was sharper than intended, but he didn’t care.

A sigh. “Fine. Thirty minutes.”

—

Thirty Minutes Later

Progress, Ohm, Meephoh, and Per met Fee, Mawin, and Kritt at a secluded rooftop near the dorms. The three mafia heirs looked exhausted, their usual confident auras replaced with tension.

Mawin leaned against the railing, his expression unreadable. “I assume you called us here for a reason.”

Progress didn’t waste time. “Almond is shutting me out.”

Fee let out a humorless chuckle. “And you’re surprised?”

“No,” Progress admitted. “But I’m done waiting. You three know what’s going on inside his house. Tell me.”

The three exchanged glances.

It was Kritt who spoke first. “His father is pushing him hard. He’s being forced to act like the mafia heir he was raised to be.”

Mawin added, “And our fathers are pissed at us too. They think we’re slipping away from the ‘family business.’ They threatened to send us abroad if we don’t fall in line.”

Progress clenched his fists. “This is insane.”

Fee sighed. “Welcome to our world.”

Progress took a deep breath before looking at them one by one. “I’m not letting this happen. Not to Almond. Not to any of you.”

Mawin scoffed. “And what are you gonna do? Fight our fathers?”

Progress’s eyes burned with determination. “If I have to.”

Fee studied him for a long moment before speaking. “You really love him, huh?”

Progress didn’t hesitate. “More than anything.”

Silence. Then, Kritt smirked. “Alright, I’m in.”

Mawin raised an eyebrow. “You serious?”

Kritt nodded. “Yeah. Because Progress is right. If we lose each other, we lose everything.”

Fee sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… count me in too.”

Mawin looked at the group, then let out a defeated sigh. “Fine. But if this goes south, I blame all of you.”

Progress grinned. “Deal.”

They stood in a circle, their goal clear.

Save Almond.

Save each other.

And bring down the world that was trying to break them apart.

This wasn’t just a battle for love anymore.

It was a battle for freedom.

And Progress wasn’t going to lose.

Not now.

Not ever.