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đź•· KIERAN đź•·
She didn't hit the ground, Kieran caught her before she could. Her head fell against his chest, completely limp.
For a split second, the corridor was silent except for her uneven breathing. Then, footsteps approached from the far end of the hall.
Kieran lifted his gaze slowly. The nurse stood there, breath uneven but trying to appear composed. Her gaze flicked from Lyra in his arms to his face.
He shifted Lyra slightly, holding her with one arm while his eyes settled fully on the nurse.
"You injected her." he said. It wasn't a question.
The nurse swallowed, trying to appear steady. "She saw the storage."
She dropped to her knees when she felt Kieran's stare.
"I was doing what needed to be done," she said quickly. "For the students. For the system. She...she has a rare type," the nurse continued, words tumbling over each other now. "I knew the moment I saw the sample. Even before the results came back. The scent was stronger."
Her pupils shifted unnaturally in the dim light.
"Even with my diminished senses," she whispered, shaking, "I could smell it. It's potent and fresh. It would sustain them longer. You know that. The high-class dorm...you...they need stable supply. You know how unstable the others have been."
A look of relief swarmed her face, in hope that she'd been able to convince him.
"She could be useful," the nurse insisted. "More than the rest. We would regulate it and...no one would know."
His fingers tightened slightly against Lyra's shoulder.
"I was protecting the balance," the nurse said, tears mixing with fear now. "You understand that. You of all people-"
"I don't," Kieran interrupted quietly. The nurse froze. "I don't care what you were protecting. If I wanted her used," he continued, voice level, "you would have been informed."
Her breath hitched.
"I would kill you," he added, almost conversationally, "but Sebastian is already handling three bodies this week. Another would be… noticeable. Stand up."
Relief flickered across her face for half a second as she stood to her feet. It vanished when he stepped closer.
"Look at me." His voice lowered. His dark eyes dipping red as they locked on hers. "You will forget about her. Forget the closet was opened. You will record her results as ordinary. And you will believe you made an error in dosage. Nothing more."
"I will forget about her. The closet was never opened. Her results are ordinary. And I made an error in dosage. Nothing more." She repeated, her expression emptied.
"Good." She blinked once, confused, as if waking from a dream. "Return to your station," he said.
She walked back down the corridor without another word. Only when she disappeared around the corner did he look down at Lyra.
He brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead, expression unreadable.
"Rare," he murmured under his breath.
___
🪷 LYRA 🪷
Lyra woke with a sharp gasp, sitting up so fast her head spun. The ceiling above her was familiar. Slight crack near the corner, faint glow from the hallway light slipping under the door.
She blinked, disoriented. She was at her room. But how...she remembered she was almost cornered by the nurse and then...Kieran!
"Lyra!" Sienna rushed towards her, hair slightly messy like she'd been pacing. "Oh my gosh, you're finally awake." She hurried to the bed and grabbed Lyra's shoulders. "Are you okay? You literally scared me to death."
Lyra looked at her, still trying to piece things together. "What happened?"
"You fainted," Sienna said quickly. "The nurse said you got dizzy during the process. They told me you were fine, just needed rest and I freaked out. I wanted to stay with you but they told me to leave that you were staying the night to be under observation."
Lyra stared at her. Observation? The nurse chased her like some crazy person. How was that observation.
"And then," Sienna continued, lowering her voice dramatically, "guess who brought you back?"
"…Who?"
"Kieran." Sienna leaned closer, eyes bright. "Like, actually Kieran. From the high-class dorm. I almost thought I was hallucinating."
Lyra's fingers tightened slightly in the sheets.
"He just walked in here like it was nothing," Sienna went on. "Carrying you. I swear if people had been awake it would've caused a whole riot. Imagine them seeing him in the normal dorms? At night?"
"Did...he say anything?"
"He didn't say much," Sienna added. "Just that you fainted and needed rest. Then he left. So calm. It was kind of creepy."
Lyra's mind replayed back to her. He had somehow saved her.
"Do you know him?" Sienna asked suddenly, narrowing her eyes.
"No." Lyra didn't hesitate.
"Hmm." Sienna studied her for a second longer. She leaned back. "Weird though. Why would he care enough to bring you himself? He could've sent someone."
Lyra didn't answer. Her head still felt slightly heavy, her body weaker than usual.
Sienna squeezed her hand lightly. "You sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," Lyra said quietly.
"You should rest," she said softly. "You still look pale."
Lyra lay back down, staring at the ceiling again. Her pulse hadn't fully settled.
Wait, why had he been there?