Sarai knew something was off the moment Virek said, "We're stopping somewhere."
He didn't explain.
He didn't elaborate.
He just said it like it was obvious and kept walking.
"…okay," she muttered, adjusting her bag on her shoulder as she followed him. "That's fine. I didn't need details or context or anything useful."
Virek didn't respond.
Which, at this point, was unfortunately consistent.
The building they entered looked nothing like the one from yesterday.
Less polished.
More lived-in.
Still clean, still structured, but there was movement here. Noise. People talking somewhere deeper inside. A faint smell of food drifted through the air, warm and unexpected.
Sarai paused just inside the entrance.
"…this feels different," she said.
"It is."
"That's not helpful."
"It's not supposed to be," he replied.
She narrowed her eyes at his back.
"…you're enjoying this."
"I'm not."
"You are a little."
He didn't confirm it.
Which confirmed it.
They moved further inside.
Voices got clearer.
Laughter.
Someone arguing about something that sounded very serious and very unserious at the same time.
"…why does it sound like a family reunion in here?" Sarai asked.
Virek didn't answer.
That was her first real warning.
They stepped into a larger open space.
And immediately—
"VIREK."
Sarai jumped.
Actually jumped.
A man appeared out of nowhere from the side, moving fast, too fast for someone his size. He was tall, broad, with a grin that showed all his teeth and absolutely no restraint.
"You've been ignoring my calls," he said, already pulling Virek into a one-armed hug that Virek did not return.
Sarai blinked.
"…oh."
"That's because you call too much," Virek said, flat.
"That's because you don't answer," the man shot back.
Then—
He noticed her.
Everything stopped.
"Oh," he said.
Sarai straightened slightly.
"…hi."
The man stepped back from Virek slowly, eyes locked on her now, his grin widening like he had just discovered something extremely interesting.
"…who is this?"
Before Virek could answer—
Another voice cut in.
"Don't start."
Sarai turned.
A woman leaned against the far counter, arms crossed, watching the scene like she had seen this exact interaction play out a hundred times before. Her expression was calm, but her eyes were sharp.
"He's already starting," she added.
"I'm not starting," the man said, clearly already starting. "I'm observing."
"You're never just observing," the woman replied.
A third voice chimed in from somewhere behind them.
"Is that her?"
Sarai froze.
"…okay," she said slowly. "I don't like how that was phrased."
Someone stepped out from the back.
Then another.
Sarai looked around.
"…why are there so many of you?"
"We work here," the first man said.
"That does not explain the energy," she replied.
The woman pushed off the counter and walked over, stopping just close enough to feel intentional.
"You're Sarai," she said.
Sarai nodded slowly. "And you are…?"
"Lena," she said. Then, gesturing slightly, "That's Marcus. And the chaos behind him is Darius."
"Hey," Darius said immediately, waving like he had been waiting for his moment.
Marcus crossed his arms, still looking at Sarai like she was a puzzle he intended to solve.
"…you don't look like I expected."
Sarai blinked.
"…I don't know how to respond to that."
"It's not an insult," he said quickly.
"That didn't make it better," she replied.
Lena snorted softly.
"I told you," she said. "You never know how to talk to people."
"I talk to people all the time," Marcus said.
"Not successfully," Lena shot back.
Sarai looked between them.
Then slowly turned to Virek.
"…you brought me here on purpose."
"Yes."
She stared at him.
"…to be evaluated?"
"No."
Marcus tilted his head. "Not officially."
Sarai's eyes widened slightly.
"…I'm leaving."
She turned.
Immediately.
Darius stepped into her path.
Not threatening.
Just… there.
"Oh no, you don't get to leave yet," he said, smiling like this was the best part of his day.
Sarai jumped again.
"Why do you keep appearing like that?" she snapped.
"I walk normally," he said.
"No, you don't," she replied.
Behind her—
Lena laughed.
Actually laughed.
"Okay," Lena said, stepping in before Sarai could escalate this into a full exit. "Relax. Nobody's evaluating you."
"That did not feel relaxing," Sarai said.
"That's because Marcus doesn't know how to act," Lena replied.
"I know how to act," Marcus said.
"You don't," Darius added.
Sarai pressed her lips together.
Then—
"…are you all related?" she asked.
Silence.
Then—
"…yes," Marcus said.
Sarai closed her eyes briefly.
"…that makes sense."
"It does?" Darius asked.
"Yes," she said, opening them again. "Because this feels like a family function I was not invited to but somehow got assigned to."
Lena looked at her for a second.
Then nodded.
"…that's actually accurate."
Sarai pointed at her. "Thank you."
Virek watched the entire exchange without interrupting.
Without reacting.
But—
There was something there.
Sarai turned back to him.
"…you deal with this regularly?"
"Yes."
"…that explains a lot."
Marcus stepped closer again, folding his arms.
"So," he said, looking at her. "You're the one they matched him with."
Sarai lifted her chin slightly.
"…unfortunately."
That earned a reaction.
All three of them.
Darius grinned. "I like her."
"I didn't ask," Sarai said.
"That's why it's honest," he replied.
Lena shook her head.
"Okay," she said. "That's enough for today."
"No, it's not," Marcus said. "I have questions."
"You always have questions."
"And I'm going to keep them," Lena said. Then, to Sarai— "Ignore him."
Sarai nodded. "That's already the plan."
Virek turned slightly.
"We're leaving."
"Already?" Darius asked.
"Yes."
Marcus looked disappointed.
"Bring her back," he said.
Sarai blinked.
"…that sounded optional. I like that."
"It's not," Virek said.
She sighed.
"…of course it's not."
As they walked out—
Sarai glanced back once.
They were all still watching her.
Smiling.
Interested.
"…I don't know how I feel about that," she muttered.
"You'll get used to it," Virek said.
She looked at him.
"…I'm not sure I want to."
That faint shift again.
And this time—
she caught it immediately.
"…you're enjoying this," she said.
"I'm not."
"You are a little."
He didn't answer.
Which, again—
answered it.