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"Barnabas was after him because after Ethan saved me from being raped and tortured, he nearly killed him," Lock finally answered, his mind buzzing from the slam against the wall that had undoubtedly given him a concussion. He knew that another slam like that would probably wind up tearing at his skin and cause it to bleed, if it wasn't already since he couldn't tell if it was sweat of blood that was running down his neck, but he didn't care as much as he would've in different circumstances. "He took Ethan while I was getting juice from the store. By the time Fredrich and I found him, he was close to death, but I managed to distract Barnabas long enough for Fredrich to get him out of there. And now they're both in the hospital, recovering from their injuries before Barnabas gets put into jail." He looked down, resigning himself. He was too tired to keep talking, and he didn't really feel well from his slight concussion.

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"I know," he replied, leaning on the wall and sliding down it. His arms bent on his knees, wrapping around them and holding them close to his body. "I tried to tell him that in the hospital, that it was probably best we were kept away from each other, but he wouldn't listen. You know how headstrong he can be."

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"No," was Lock's loud reply, loud mainly to catch Mark's attention. He slowly stood, looking out into the dorm. "You do that, he'll still try to come and find me, to stay with me. I have a better idea." He walked over to the couch, picking up his phone. "My brother is leaving for Seoul in a few days before returning to New York. I'll go with him. Ethan would never look for me in New York."
He didn't look at Mark, but instead started for his and Ethan's bedroom. He had to pack. It was cold in New York, wasn't it?

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He paused, standing still and silent. "Let him work out for himself that I'm gone. It'll give you more time to get ready to comfort him, stock up on oranges. Don't let him eat too many, though. Last time he did that, he suffered a huge personality change that got us all in trouble." He reached into a side table, pulling out a small box. "Have him send the ring back in this box. I kept it just in case we'd need it for something else."
He then pulled out a small book bound in dark brown leather with Lock's writing documented. "Also, here's a list of all the commands he's been able to teach his shadow so far. He's doing very well, so make sure that he practices every day, or he'll lose control and have to start all over again. There's a weekly schedule inside for the rest of the year. Just call Ellery if you have any questions." He paused again, then sighed and reached to untie the key from around his neck. He'd finally gotten it back that morning.
Lock turned to face Markus, tossing the key to him. "Keep this with you, and hide it. If Ethan gets his hands on it, he'll use it to find me, and I can't have it in my possession if I'm going to be staying away from him. I'll probably end up cracking and come back to see him. You can use it to visit your fiance if you want. Just ask Ellery to show you how to use it." He waved his hand a little, then tucked it into his pocket and started again for the bedroom. He had a lot of packing to do.

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By the time Markus spoke again, Lock was already hard at work putting his clothes into his suitcases. He folded with military precision, emptying out his dresser in about thirty minutes. He then went to take his clothes and shoes out of the closet, filling about four suitcases after an hour and a half. He tried not to rest, sure that he would start crying if left to his thoughts. He never once touched his phone, letting it ring and ring with messages from Anthony and Ellery. He simply turned the music on, listening to Ethan's favorite radio station as he packed his things to leave.

It took halfway into the night to go through the house and collect everything that was his. He'd stopped to call Anthony and tell him to be there the next morning so they could leave together as soon as possible, but that was all the human interaction he'd had. He cleaned the house as he packed, ending up with six suitcases and four boxes. He hadn't brought too much with him, he didn't think, but he wanted to be sure that he had everything. He left the clothes he'd bought Ethan, taking the ones Ethan had bought him and sneaking an old shirt of Ethan's to have something to remember him by. At around 3 in the morning, Lock finally finished, sitting on the couch, cracking open an orange soda and drinking one last drink in his and Ethan's dorm.

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Weary with an exhaustion that he couldn't feel, Lock grabbed his phone from the couch cushion beside him and held it up to his ear, pressing TALK with his thumb. "Hello?" His voice, cracking from misuse and tears, sounded as broken as it did before, and twice as tired.

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Lock sat up straight, instantly awake. He opened his mouth to speak, the closed it, then bowed his head and closed his eyes. "The doctor says that we got to him just in time, and that he's going to be fine. He just needs to go through a little rehab." He looked up, rubbing his jaw with his hand, then rubbing the back of his neck. "I want you to know that I accept full responsibility for what happened, and I'm leaving for New York in a few hours to live with my brother. Ethan's in danger when I'm closeby, so I'm going to distance myself from him."

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Lock took a while to answer back, taking a deep breath and holding it for a few seconds before releasing it and hanging his head.
"Mrs. Wilhelm, Markus is very intent on chasing me out. He nearly broke my neck in the process of convincing me that leaving was in Ethan's best interest. If I stay, Ethan could get hurt because of my attempts to see him." He paused, then spoke again. "Ethan's probably my best friend in the world, and I would do absolutely anything to keep him safe. But you've got to admit that ever since I came into his life, he's been through worse things than usual. I mean, jail, kidnapped and nearly killed, he was at risk of suicide when I almost died myself."