The chaos in the hallway slowly faded.
The shouting turned into scattered voices, and the running footsteps became less frequent.
But the tension in the air didn't disappear.
It just settled… like a storm waiting to break again.
Adam sat on the chair near the door, listening.
Aria paced around the room.
"You know," she muttered, "this situation keeps getting weirder."
Adam nodded slightly.
"Agreed."
She stopped walking and looked at him.
"That's it? Just agreed?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"I don't know," she said, throwing her hands up. "Maybe something reassuring like 'everything is fine'?"
Adam looked at her calmly.
"Everything is not fine."
Aria groaned and dropped onto the bed again.
A few minutes passed.
Then suddenly—
The door handle rattled.
Both of them froze.
The door opened slightly, and one of the guards stepped inside. He looked tired and irritated.
"Food," he muttered, placing a tray on the table.
Two plates.
Two glasses.
And a bottle.
The guard glanced at them once more before stepping back out and locking the door again.
Aria sat up immediately.
"Well… that's new."
Adam walked over to the table and examined the tray.
Bread.
Soup.
And a bottle of something strong.
Aria leaned closer and read the label.
Her eyes lit up slightly.
"…Is that alcohol?"
Adam nodded.
Aria stared at the bottle for a moment.
Then she slowly turned toward Adam.
A mischievous grin spread across her face.
"Adam."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
She pointed at the bottle.
"Get them drunk, bro."
Adam blinked once.
"…That's your strategy?"
"Think about it," Aria said, leaning forward excitedly. "They're already stressed. If they start drinking…"
She made a dramatic wobbling motion with her hands.
"…their brains stop working."
Adam considered it.
Actually… it wasn't the worst idea.
Aria leaned back with a smug look.
"See? Even your big mastermind brain approves."
Adam picked up the bottle and examined it quietly.
Then he said calmly,
"I didn't say that."
Aria pointed at him.
"But you're thinking it."
Adam set the bottle down again.
"I'm thinking."
Aria smirked.
"Same thing."
Adam glanced toward the locked door again.
Guards outside.
Chaos earlier.
Alcohol now.
The situation was slowly shifting.
Aria watched his expression carefully.
"…You're about to do something, aren't you?"
Adam looked back at her.
Then he said calmly,
"Maybe."
Aria flopped back onto the bed with a dramatic sigh.
"Great."
Then she added with a grin,
"This is going to be fun."