Chapter 20: Year Zero Part 2

The door creaked open as Leon gently guided Ivy inside, her eyes wide but vacant, scanning the apartment like it was unfamiliar territory.

"This is our home," Leon said softly, setting her down on the couch. "You live here. With me."

Ivy blinked, confusion clear in her face. "You're… my brother?"

Leon nodded, managing a fragile smile. "Yeah. I'm Leon. You're Ivy. You… had an accident. The doctors said you might not remember everything."

She looked down at her hands. "I don't remember school. Or my friends. I remember…" Her eyes lit up faintly. "Mr. Bun."

Leon raised his eyebrows. "Mr. Bun?"

She nodded. "The bunny plushie you got me when I was little."

Leon stepped into the bedroom and returned moments later with the worn-out white plush, a long-eared rabbit with one button eye. Ivy hugged it tightly.

"I guess not everything is gone," she murmured.

Leon watched her, heart heavy. It was a small spark of hope—but nowhere near enough.

Later That Week

The days blurred together as Leon moved through them like a ghost. He kept Ivy safe at home, did his best to explain their life to her, and tried to keep things normal. But nothing was normal.

And every time he passed her room and saw her quietly hugging that bunny, his heart burned with questions.

Who did this?

Why?

Police Station – West District Branch

Leon sat across from a bored-looking officer, a cup of stale coffee untouched in front of him.

"Drugged?" the officer repeated, clicking his pen lazily. "Got any proof of that?"

Leon slammed the doctor's report on the desk. "You're telling me this is not enough?"

The officer didn't even look. "We'll file a report. But, look, these things happen. Could've been anything. Maybe she got mixed up with some bad company."

"She's a kid," Leon growled.

The officer shrugged. "And Devil's Side is a mess. We've got bigger things to deal with."

Leon stood up, disgust rising in his throat. "You're not going to do anything, are you?"

The officer's smirk said it all. "Some things are better left alone, kid. Don't dig where you don't belong."

Leon walked out without another word.

Streets of Devil's Side – That Night

The city was cold and gray under flickering streetlights. Leon walked aimlessly, fury pounding in his veins. Every step echoed with frustration.

No one cared.

Not the cops.

Not the city.

Everyone was in someone's pocket.

Then, ahead of him in an alley, he heard a muffled voice — a woman's voice. Scared. Pleading.

Leon turned and saw two men closing in on a woman near the dumpsters, one grabbing her wrist while the other blocked her way.

She struggled.

They laughed.

Leon didn't hesitate.

He sprinted forward, launching into one of the men with full force, sending him crashing into the brick wall. The other turned in surprise—but caught a fist to the jaw before he could react. Both collapsed within seconds, groaning.

The woman ran without a word. Leon didn't stop her.

He stood there, chest heaving, eyes burning.

His knuckles bled.

His heart pounded.

And in that moment, under the flicker of a faulty streetlamp, he knew.

If no one would help him…

If the system was broken…

Then he'd burn the rotten parts himself.

He wouldn't ask permission.

He wouldn't wait for help.

He would become the help.