Prince of Gluttony: Born from Betrayal

Cain skidded through the dormitory hallways, his bare feet slapping against the polished floors. The morning light filtered weakly through the windows, but it did nothing to calm the storm of panic racing through him. Anna had left the room, and he couldn't let the moment slip away.

He turned a corner and called her name, his voice low and urgent. "Anna! Wait!"

The dorm was nearly empty. The faint hum of distant voices came from down the hall, but none belonged to her. Cain's heart pounded in his chest as he ran past closed doors and empty common areas. He skidded into the stairwell, descending two steps at a time, ignoring the sting in his legs.

He spotted her at the end of the hall, leaning against the wall outside one of the rooms, her posture stiff, her gaze downcast. She hadn't noticed him yet. Cain's pace quickened again, every nerve screaming, every thought fixated on her.

"Anna!" he called again, voice cracking. She flinched and looked up, startled, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and hesitation.

"I… I didn't mean for you to see—" he started, but she held up a hand, stopping him.

"Cain… I…" Her words faltered, her throat tight, as if she didn't know where to begin.

Cain slowed, careful not to crowd her, but he closed the distance enough to make his presence reassuring. "I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I didn't want you to see that. I didn't mean for… any of it. But I had to come after you. I couldn't let you walk away like that."

Anna's gaze flicked down, her fingers fidgeting at the edge of her sleeve. "I just… I need a moment," she whispered.

Cain nodded, taking a step back and keeping his voice calm. "Take all the time you need. I'll wait. I won't go anywhere."

The hallway was quiet except for the faint creak of the floorboards under his feet and the soft murmur of distant voices. Cain leaned against the wall, just enough to keep himself steady. His chest ached, but he forced himself to remain composed. He couldn't rush her, but he couldn't leave her either.

It was only now seeing her shocked and hurt expression just how much she truly meant to him. She was the first and only person to have welcomed him back when he had returned from the abyss. She had been the one to listen to him and didn't judge, instead siding with him without a second thought. He didn't know if he was in love with her but she was someone far too important for him to lose now.

Anna hesistated for a bit longer before she remarked with a cold tone "Was it fun?"

Cain tilted his head, unclear at her meaning but alarmed by her tone. She could tell from his eyes that were staring right at her with guilt and reluctance gleaming through that he didn't understand what she was asking him.

"Was it fun? Was it fun toying with my heart? Playing with my emotions?!" she then shouted, tears welling up in the corner of her eyes.

Cain's chest tightened, his stomach twisting as he realized the depth of her hurt. He had expected shock, embarrassment, maybe confusion, but not this raw, cutting anger. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat.

"Anna… no, it wasn't like that," he said finally, his voice strained but steady. "I didn't mean to— I never wanted to hurt you. I didn't… I don't play with people's hearts."

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, her body trembling as she stepped back slightly, putting distance between them. "Then why? Why did it look like you were having… fun?" Her voice cracked under the weight of her emotions, sharp and accusing.

Cain ran a hand through his hair, his pulse hammering. "Because… I wasn't thinking. I got carried away in the moment. It was… it was real, Anna. Everything with Jayden… it doesn't change what you mean to me."

Her lips parted, but she shook her head violently, tears spilling free now. "Real? You call that real? Do you have any idea how that looks from the outside? How it makes me feel?!"

Cain stepped closer cautiously, keeping his hands visible, trying to show her he meant no threat. "I know it looks bad, and I know I messed up. I'm not asking you to forgive me right now, but please… just listen. You're the first person I ever trusted again. You're the one who mattered, and I can't lose that. Not to misunderstanding, not to my mistakes."

Anna's gaze wavered, flickering between anger and something softer, something that hinted at the bond they had shared before. Cain's chest ached, every word he spoke laced with desperation, every step toward her a plea to bridge the gap his foolishness had created.

"Cain… I…" she faltered again, her voice breaking, "I don't know if I can just… forget what I saw."

He shook his head, swallowing hard. "I don't expect you to. I just… I need you to know the truth. None of it was about hurting you. You mean too much for me to ever do that on purpose."

Her chest heaved as she struggled to maintain control, but she didn't turn away. Cain held his gaze, silent for a moment, letting the weight of his words and the sincerity in his eyes reach her.

Anna hung her head, her hair falling over her face. Her shoulders slumped, the fire in her eyes dimming to something heavier, more pained. "Cain… I need some time to think," she murmured, her voice soft but firm.

Cain's stomach twisted, but he nodded slowly, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Take all the time you need. I'll wait," he said quietly, forcing himself to sound steady.

She lifted her gaze briefly, eyes still glimmering with unshed tears. "Don't you have a duel to get to? Isn't today the day… the one you've been preparing for?"

Cain's eyes widened. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. Today. Today was the day he was supposed to duel Abel. Today was supposed to be the day of his revenge.

He cursed under his breath, muttering something sharp and frustrated before forcing his features back under control. "Right. I'll be back as soon as I can," he said, his voice tight but determined.

Without waiting for a response, he turned and ran down the hall, urgency and purpose driving every step. He had a duel to finish, a reckoning to take, and a promise to keep to himself that he would fix everything that had gone wrong.

He would finish his revenge against Abel. He would reclaim control over the chaos that had taken over his life since returning from the abyss. And then, when the dust had settled, he would try to mend what he had broken, rebuild what he had lost, and somehow put the pieces of his life back together.

Nothing would be easy. Nothing would be simple. But he would take every challenge head on.