As he neared a junction in the shaft, footsteps echoed below.
Kaivan froze.
He pressed himself against the metal, muscles locked tight. The steps were light, steady—those of a hunter. A threat. Danger.
They stopped directly beneath him.
He swallowed hard and peered through the vent slats.
No one was there.
Time was running out.
He drew a deep breath and loosened the vent cover. In one swift, silent motion, his body slipped down, landing softly on the metal floor without a sound. Instantly, he sprinted down the winding corridor—his posture low, shoulders leaning forward. A shadow moving between dim lights.
His gaze traced the metal walls until it locked onto a door marked with a glowing red label. He tried to enter.
[RESTRICTED ACCESS]
The warning flashed, followed by approaching footsteps from another direction.
Without hesitation, he turned away, searching for another route. One door opened with a soft click, and he slipped inside just before an alarm could sound.
The air inside was different—cold and sterile, yet laced with a faint floral scent. Pale white light reflected off glass and steel surfaces. The room felt like a private space reserved for high-ranking medical staff.
But it wasn't the interior that made Kaivan stop.
A woman stood with her back to him.
Her long black hair gleamed under the light, cascading softly down to her lower back. She had just removed her lab coat, wearing only a cream-colored inner top. Her porcelain-pale skin reflected the light, almost glowing on its own.
Kaivan froze. His breath caught in his throat.
The woman began to turn—but before she could speak, Kaivan moved.
In a single, swift motion, he appeared behind her and covered her mouth with his left hand.
"Wait," he whispered, his voice rough yet gentle, like a nervous prayer. "I won't hurt you. I just want to get back to my room. Please… don't scream."
The woman went still.
In the small mirror before her, her eyes met Kaivan's reflection—sharp, frightened, yet filled with an honest desperation. Her gaze was not panicked, but analytical. Assessing him.
After a few seconds, she slowly nodded.
Kaivan slowly released his hand, careful and hesitant. His heartbeat thundered in his ears as the world around them fell silent, leaving only the sound of their shared breaths intertwining in the air.
"How are you able to be here… Kaivan, was it?" the woman asked. Her voice was gentle, yet cold—sweet like poisoned honey.
"Y-Yes… I'm Kaivan," he replied quickly. His gaze was honest, weighed down by guilt. "I… wandered in by mistake. I shouldn't be here."
She turned to face him. Her eyes were sharp, her expression calm yet refined. She slipped her lab coat back on, every movement precise and unhurried, the fabric falling perfectly over her slender frame.
"My name is Elara," she said evenly, studying him from head to toe. "Follow me. And don't make a sound."
Kaivan nodded. They stepped out into the corridor, where the air felt colder and the silence deeper. Elara's footsteps were light and exact, like a dancer who knew every inch of the stage. Kaivan felt as though he was following a shadow—one that knew the way home in a darkened world.
As they walked, Elara spoke softly, her tone sharp beneath the calm. "Why are you here?"
Kaivan swallowed. He knew any lie would be seen through. "I… couldn't sleep. I was curious, so I explored."