The night passed in silence.
By dawn, Kai and Teanguan had returned to their respective rooms.
Only one task remained...
the key.
Once they had it, they would be gone.
Gone from this institute.
Gone from her.
---
Flashback
Last night, when Kai had rejoined Teanguan, she had told him the key wasn't found.
Her lie slipped out so smoothly that even Teanguan, who knew her better than anyone, didn't doubt her.
After all, there was one thing he believed without question.....
Kai never retreated from a mission.
If she ever had a reason to, it could only mean one thing:
that reason wouldn't live to tell.
Teanguan leaned closer, his voice a hushed whisper:
"It doesn't matter. All that's left is to find the key. If we secure it by tomorrow, we leave by evening. Then it's straight to the next mission. What do you say?"
Kai nodded.
But inside.....her heart stopped.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow evening, they would leave.
Leave the institute.
Leave her.
The girl she had just held, the girl who felt like breath itself.....
the girl who had become her pulse.
Her chest tightened.
Her body moved before her thoughts could catch up.
Kai rose abruptly and headed for her room.
Teanguan followed quietly, unaware that her silence wasn't focus...
but fear.
Flashback End.