The mansion did not sleep.
It pretended to.
Lights dimmed. Doors closed. Guards rotated in silent intervals. But beneath the polished floors and quiet corridors, something restless moved.
Truth had weight.
And now it had a home.
Noah had not slept.
The flash drive sat on his desk like a dare.
He had turned it over in his fingers more times than he could count. Plugged it halfway into his laptop twice. Pulled it back out both times.
Opening it meant crossing something.
Before tonight, he had lived inside questions.
After tonight, there would only be answers.
And answers had consequences.
A soft knock.
He didn't need to ask who.
"Come in," he said.
Aiden entered quietly, closing the door behind him.
He didn't speak at first. He just looked at Noah. At the shadows under his eyes. At the tension coiled in his shoulders.
"You're going to do it," Aiden said gently.
"Yes."
Aiden crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. "Then don't do it alone."
Noah hesitated.
