The scarred man didn''t hide the truth. He told Evan everything.


    Evan clenched his fists, his jaw tight. His chest heaved with fury, and his eyes burned with rage.


    Elliot watched him, worried, expecting another outburst now that he knew the truth. But Evan didn''t lose control. He was furious for a moment, then he stood up and said in a hoarse voice, "Let''s go back and spend a little more time with Bernard. Then we''ll find a good ce to bury him."


    "Evan..." Elliot and the scarred man said his name in concern.


    Evan sniffled forcefully. "Don''t worry about me. I''m devastated, but I won''t be impulsive.Mom and Bernard both said that acting in the heat of the moment only leads to ruin. I will get revenge for Bernard, but not now! I''ll listen to him. I''ll grow up first, be stronger, and then I will avenge him, and his mentor, and his mentor''s wife, and the entire Warner legacy!"


    Evan then looked at the scarred man. "Great-uncle, you shouldn''t be sad either. Bernard is gone, but you still have me. I''ll stay with you. I''ll take care of you when you''re old, I''ll help you get your revenge, and together, we will restore the Warner family to its former glory! Just give me a little more time. I''ll try to grow up fast. Trust me, I will find the killer, and I will avenge Bernard!"


    The man pulled the little boy into his arms, his eyes welling up with tears again.


    ...


    Bernard wasid to rest three days after his passing. His grave was on a mountaintop, a spot Evan and the scarred man had chosen together. Not only was the view beautiful, but it was also a high ce Bernard loved. He often came here to rest when he was alive. For three days, Evan had been incredibly strong, only breaking down in tears when the casket was sealed.


    After Bernard was buried, Evan fell ill, his fever spiking to over 104 degrees, making him delirious. With the old woman there, there was no fear of permanent damage, but he wouldn''t be leaving the mountain anytime soon. So, Elliot went back to the signal station to call Tarquin.


    Tarquin was at the hospital with Keaton when he saw the call. He had been waiting for Elliot''s call for days. He quickly stepped out of the infusion room. "Elliot."


    At the sound of Tarquin''s voice, Elliot''sposure shattered. His eyes reddened, and tears streamed down his face. He''d been through so much, was so sad and worried about Evan, that his nerves were stretched to their breaking point.


    "Elliot?" Tarquin called out again.


    Elliot sniffled. "Daddy."


    Tarquin heard the strain in his voice and asked immediately, "What is it? Did something happen in the mountains?"


    "I miss you and Mommy," Elliot said, his lip trembling.


    Tarquin''s heart melted. "We miss you too. Are youing home today?"


    "We can''t yet. Evan''s sick."


    Tarquin froze. "What''s wrong with Evan?"


    "He has a high fever, but


    Qu


    Great-Grandma is here, so he''ll get


    better soon it''s just. it''


    Bernard is gone. Waaah...


    Tarquin''s breath hitched. He was stunned for a moment before he could ask, "Gone?"


    "He''s gone," Elliot confirmed. "Bernard is dead. Waaah..."


    Tarquin felt a tightness in his chest. "How?"


    "When he faked his death all those years ago, the bad guys injected him with poison," Elliot exined through his sobs. "All these years... Great-Grandma has been helping him suppress the toxins. Butashe got older, his body got weaker, and he couldn''t fight it anymore. The poison took over. Waaah..."


    Tarquin''s face darkened. "When did this happen?"


    "Three days ago."


    Tarquin fell silent. Three days ago. That was the day Elysia had cut her hand. After that, she hadn''t been herself. She was always distracted suffered from insomnia, and


    when


    she finally did sleep, she''d wake up from nightmares, crying. It seemed there really was such a thing as a psychic connection.