Chapter 3: Rebelled

Kurtis found himself lost in contemplation, a myriad of thoughts swirling within the depths of his mind as he considered what facets of his life to unveil to Lara. She, noticing the brief moment of introspection, gently brought him back to the present with a simple utterance of his name.

"Kurtis," she said, the sound pulling him out of his reverie.

"Okay, I'll tell you something… The reason I rebelled," he responded, a decision made. As he began to share his story, his words wove a tapestry of his past—a narrative that had remained shrouded in mystery until this moment.

Kurtis, freshly turned 19, trudged home after a vigorous sparring session with Elizabeth. The day took an unexpected turn when they spotted his father's car in the garage. Sighing, they entered the house, the air thick with tension as the hushed conversation between his parents reached their ears. Elizabeth opted for retreat, heading upstairs to her room, while Kurtis moved closer to eavesdrop.

"A Lux Veritatis, Marie," his father's stern voice echoed through the walls.

"I don't care what he is. I want him to have a normal life. I already lost one son," his mother, Marie, countered with a mix of determination and sorrow.

"He's not normal, Marie; get it in your head," his father, Konstantin, raised his voice.

"Don't give me that tone, Konstantin. He's my son too," Marie responded, her anger palpable.

"I'll give you any tone I want. It's time for him to be a part of the shadow war," Konstantin declared, a revelation that struck fear and reluctance into Kurtis's heart. The prospect of being entangled in a world of shadows, a war he never asked for, weighed heavily on his shoulders.

Retreating to his room, Kurtis closed the door behind him, seeking solace in the confines of his personal space. With a heavy heart, he placed his school bag on the bed and retrieved his backpack from the cupboard. As he navigated the chaos of his cluttered desk, he retrieved his wallet and counted his meager funds—$350.

"Not much but enough for now," he muttered to himself, contemplating the impending departure from his hometown. Downstairs, the argument escalated, his mother's desperate pleas echoing through the house as his father's car roared to life, speeding away. His mother's room door slammed shut, signaling her retreat into solitude.

With determination etched on his face, Kurtis opened his backpack, meticulously ensuring he had all he needed. His wallet found a place in a small bag within the backpack, secured and sealed. The distant echoes of familial discord fueled his resolve. As he shouldered his backpack, he ventured out of his room, a silent observer of the aftermath of a fractured family.

His next destination was Elizabeth's room. Stepping inside, he found her meticulously packing her bag, a mirror image of his own preparations. The unspoken understanding between them spoke volumes—a shared desire to break free from the shadows that sought to engulf their lives.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his sad blue eyes fixed on her.

"I'm leaving. I can't stay here any longer. I have a life to live. Please don't be angry," Elizabeth replied, unable to meet his gaze. Leaving Kurtis behind was heartbreaking, but if she didn't escape, she would likely meet the same fate.

"I'm coming with you," Kurtis stated, determination in his voice. Elizabeth glanced up at him, thinking, 'Are you really going to turn your back on your father after he already lost one son? This will shatter him.'

"Why?" she questioned, searching his eyes for an answer.

"I never wanted this life, and this could be my chance to finally get away," Kurtis explained.

"Are you packed?" Elizabeth chuckled, trying to lighten the tense moment.

"Yes, I'm packed," he confirmed. "I've been ready to run for a long time."

"Good, because I called a taxi to pick me up. It'll be here in five minutes," Elizabeth informed him. Kurtis quickly fetched his backpack, and together they sneaked out, disappearing into the waiting taxis. Kurtis directed the driver to an unfamiliar location, somewhere Elizabeth had never been.

Upon arrival, Kurtis tipped the taxi driver, who drove off into the night. They found themselves in an area lined with rows of garages. Kurtis walked confidently toward Garage Number 37, unlocking it to reveal two motorbikes and a table. Opening the table, he retrieved a gun, a holster, a wallet, and knives, placing them into a nearby bag.

Curious, Elizabeth asked, "Where did you get all of this?"

Tossing her a key, Kurtis replied, "I was prepared to run. The Classic Brough Superior SS 100 was my father's, and the BMW R1200GS was meant for my brother. But since he's gone, just like everyone else, I took it."

Mounting the Classic Brough Superior SS 100, Kurtis started the engine. Elizabeth did the same with the BMW R1200GS, and together they rode off into the darkness of the night, embarking on an uncertain journey.

Lara's gaze lingered on Kurtis as he concluded his poignant narrative, the weight of his past experiences settling in the room. She couldn't help but feel a surge of empathy for the struggles he endured under the shadow of his father's expectations.

"So your father forced you to do a lot of things?" she inquired, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Yeah, that's why when we rescued Elizabeth, he kept insisting that she would be my partner and that we needed to train together," Kurtis explained. "I heard from my father again but never saw him alive again since that day."

Understanding dawned on Lara's features as she connected the dots. "That's why you and Elizabeth are so close."

"She's like a sister I never had," Kurtis affirmed, the bond between him and Elizabeth transcending mere camaraderie.

"I see," Lara nodded, absorbing the layers of Kurtis's past. Sensing a shift in the atmosphere, she shifted the conversation to Kristen.

"Talking about sisters, where is Kristen?" she inquired, delving into the dynamics of Kurtis's family.

"She took our mother back to Utah," he disclosed, the family ties and responsibilities revealing themselves in the fabric of his words.

A comfortable silence settled between them, interrupted only by the rustling of pages as Lara delved into her book. Kurtis, however, found his thoughts lingering on her, an unspoken yearning to unravel more of her complexities. He attempted to breach the barriers she erected, attempting to read her mind, only to be met with a resilient shield.

He sighed, looking up to find Hillary delivering coffee. Grateful for Lara's tip about his beverage preferences, Kurtis accepted the cup and took a sip. Before he could place the cup back down, a sudden sound pierced the air—an abrupt and unmistakable sequence of bangs.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Both of them turned their attention toward the source of the noise, a shared sense of anticipation hanging in the air. The unexpected disturbance disrupted the quietude of the moment, injecting an element of suspense into the serene atmosphere of the study.