Commander J. Mark stood at the center of it all, his piercing gaze scanning the ruined hall with the cold efficiency of a man who had seen too much to be fazed. His uniform remained immaculate, a stark contrast to the bloodstained survivors before him.

  His expression remained unreadable as his voice cut through the heavy silence.

  "Where is Councilor Albert?" His tone was sharp, measured. "He wasn't outside, nor is he in here."

  A tense beat of silence passed. The weight of his words sank in.

  A guard stepped forward, standing rigid. "I'll locate him, sir," he said briskly. His eyes flicked toward the door, his posture stiff with purpose.

  "I'll report directly to Councilor Albert when I find him."

  Mark didn't respond immediately. Instead, his gaze lingered on the room, assessing, calculating. Then, with a slight nod, he dismissed the guard, who promptly turned on his heel and disappeared into the darkness.

  The tension in the air didn't fade with him.

  Robert exhaled heavily, rubbing the grime from his face before turning toward James. A rare flicker of something softer crossed his face-a mixture of gratitude and exhaustion.

  He clapped a hand on James's shoulder, squeezing it lightly. "Thanks for having my back back there," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "I probably would've been dead if you hadn't swung in."

  James cocked a smirk, the usual edge of cockiness still present but tempered by the day's brutality. "Don't worry. I won't go around bragging about saving your life..." His smirk deepened as his gaze flickered between Robert and Cenilera. "Or certain relationships."

  Robert stiffened ever so slightly, his lips pressing together. Cenilera glanced away, her fingers tightening at her sides.

  James's grin widened, his voice dropping to a knowing murmur. "But you're going to owe me one, Robert. For saving your life... and your relationship."

  Robert huffed a quiet laugh, the tension in his shoulders easing just a little. The chaotic experience they had just endured-this near-death chaos-had changed something between them.

  Strengthening their friendship.

  He met James's gaze and nodded. "Fine by me.

  Thank you, James."

  A silent understanding passed between them, one forged in blood and battle.

  With a final nod, James turned on his heel and disappeared through the gate, his figure swallowed by the dim glow of the burning flames outside.

  Cenilera's shoulders sagged as she finally released a weary breath. It felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on her, and for the first time in hours, she allowed herself to feel it.

  The blood. The death. The aching exhaustion that settled deep in her bones.

  Her mind was still reeling from the past, from the present, from the memories that refused to let her go. Her resolve at the end felt like a meaningless moment once the guards arrived.

  For a moment, she just stood there, staring at nothing.

  Survivor's guilt gnawed at her.

  The weight of exhaustion settled deep in Lilith's bones, anchoring her to the cold, blood-slicked floor. She barely registered the ache in her limbs, the shallow tremble in her fingers.

  Robert knelt beside her, his presence a much needed distraction, grounding. His hand extended toward her-a silent offer, a tether to reality. "Come on," he said, his voice gentler than before. "Let's get something to eat. The cafeteria's still open for brunch, and we both need a damn break."

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  Lilith tried to smile, but the expression crumbled before it could form. Her lips trembled, her breath uneven as she finally whispered, "I can't believe this." Her voice cracked beneath the weight of grief. "Edwin was just a boy—a sweet, kind boy. And now..." She shook her head, her throat constricting. "What has Albert done to him? How could he have done... all this?"

  A heavy silence settled between them.

  Her fingers curled into fists in her lap as she exhaled sharply, trying to steady herself. "I'm sorry," she added after a moment, her voice barely above a breath. "I'm just... exhausted. I feel like l've been running for miles."

  Robert's gaze darkened, the flickering light overhead casting deep shadows beneath his tired eyes. He ran a hand down his face, exhaling slowly. "Albert, whether unwillingly or intentionally, gave him power." His voice was quieter now, laced with something unreadable.

  "Whatever Edwin does with it.. well, it's hard to say if he even has a choice."

  His expression tightened, his jaw clenching as if the thought itself pained him. When he spoke again, it was almost to himself. "A kid that age... with everything he's been through..." His voice dropped even lower. "Can we really trust that he'll be able to control himself?"

  Lilith turned to face him fully, her gaze steady despite the exhaustion lining her features. The grief in her eyes hadn't faded, but beneath it, something else flickered—a quiet, unyielding determination.

  "He's still so young, Robert." Her voice was firm, though tinged with sadness. "All he's ever known is fear, pain, and control. But if we could get him far away from here... if we could show him a life beyond this madness, maybe-just maybe-he'd have a chance to find himself. To know what peace feels like."

  She swallowed hard, forcing the next words past the lump in her throat. "I don't believe he'd ever hurt anyone intentionally."

  Robert studied her, his expression unreadable.

  The air between them felt heavier, charged with unspoken truths. Then, finally, he sighed, rubbing at the back of his neck before extending his hand again.

  "So, you're still in?" His voice was quieter now, softer. "You still want to help him?"

  Lilith hesitated for only a second before placing her hand in his. Her grip was strong-surprisingly so, given how drained she looked.

  "Yes," she said, her voice steady and unwavering. "I want to give him a chance."

  The weight of their unspoken plan settled between them like a storm cloud-dark, inevitable, and dangerous. Robert exhaled slowly, his fingers flexing at his sides as if already grasping the burden of what was to come. His expression hardened.

  "If we're getting him out, we need to be smart," he said, his voice edged with quiet urgency. "Albert's not going to take any more chances after this. He'll have guards posted around Edwin constantly." His jaw tightened. "I just need to make sure I'm one of them."

  The implication hung between them, heavy and unspoken.

  Lilith's eyes narrowed, her mind racing through the risks. "You'd be one guard among many," she countered, her voice measured but laced with concern. "They'll be watching your every move. What makes you think you can pull this off?"

  Robert met her gaze, and for the first time in what felt like hours, a flicker of something else sparked in his weary eyes-defiance, rebellion, hope.

  "Because I won't be alone," he said quietly.

  Lilith's brow furrowed, confusion knitting her features. "What do you-"

  Before she could finish, Robert stepped forward and pulled her into a firm embrace. Her body tensed, surprise locking her muscles in place, but then-his breath ghosted against her ear, his voice so low it barely reached her.

  "I'm not the only guard who doesn't like what's going on here," he murmured. "Give me time. I'll reach out to those I trust. We'll create a distraction big enough to buy you the chance to get Edwin out."

  A shiver ran down Lilith's spine, not from fear, but from the sheer gravity of what they were about to attempt. The air between them felt charged, pulsing with silent determination.

  She pulled back just enough to search his face.

  The exhaustion was still there, the weight of everything pressing against him like an iron chain

  -but beneath it, an unshakable resolve burned in his gaze.

  "Are you sure?" she whispered, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the fabric of his sleeve. "This could be the end of everything for you."

  Robert's lips quirked in a shadow of a smile-not cocky, not reckless, but something far steadier.

  "Then let's make sure it's worth it."

  Beneath his hardened exterior, something else flickered-something raw.

  "I've seen enough of what Albert's done to know it's worth the risk," he murmured, his voice quieter now, yet laced with a conviction that sent a shiver down Lilith's spine. He exhaled, a bitter edge tugging at the corners of his mouth. "And if I can make a difference, even in a small way... then maybe all of this has a purpose." His lips twisted into something resembling a smile, weary and knowing.

  "Besides, I have my own reasons too."

  Lilith felt something in her chest tighten. Fear and gratitude warred within her, tangling together into something almost painful. How many times had she wanted to believe there was still a reason to fight, that they weren't just clawing against the inevitable? And yet, here was Robert, standing before her, willing to risk everything for a cause that, for too long, had felt hopeless.

  Before she could stop herself, she reached out, her fingertips ghosting over his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath the rough stubble. It was a fleeting touch, but in that moment, it spoke volumes.

  "Thank you, Robert," she whispered. "I don't know what we'd do without you."

  His expression flickered-surprise, perhaps, or something deeper-but he didn't pull away.

  Instead, he gave her a slow, steady nod before stepping back, his gaze drifting toward the bodies of his fallen comrades as they were carried out. The scent of blood and gunpowder still lingered in the air, a brutal reminder of how high the stakes had become.

  "Stay safe, Lilith," he said at last, his voice rough but steady. "When the time comes, be ready."

  And then he turned, walking away with purpose in every step, disappearing outside.

  Lilith watched him go, her heart pounding in her chest. The nightmare wasn't over-not yet. The road ahead was still steep, treacherous, lined with uncertainty and danger.

  But for the first time in what felt like forever, something stirred within her. A spark, faint but undeniable.

  Hope.

  And she wasn't about to let it die.