The door opened without warning.
Aarav didn't turn immediately.
He already knew who it was.
"…You took your time," he said calmly.
Mira stepped into the room.
Her expression was sharper than before.
More alert.
More guarded.
"…They didn't exactly invite me," she replied.
The man across the table stood up slowly.
"…This area is restricted."
Mira didn't even look at him.
"…And yet I'm here."
A brief silence followed.
The tension in the room shifted instantly.
Aarav finally turned toward her.
"…How did you get in?"
Mira crossed her arms.
"…You're not the only one who notices patterns."
Aarav smirked faintly.
"…Fair enough."
The man's gaze hardened.
"…This is not a place for unauthorized individuals."
Mira's eyes moved toward him.
Cold.
Focused.
"…Then authorize me."
Silence.
The air tightened again.
Aarav leaned back slightly, watching the exchange.
"…This is getting interesting."
The man didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he studied Mira carefully.
"…You were present during the anomaly event."
"…Yes."
"…And you remained."
"…Also yes."
Another pause.
Then—
"…Why?"
Mira didn't hesitate.
"…Because he's not normal."
Aarav raised an eyebrow.
"…You keep saying that."
Mira ignored him.
"…And neither are you," she added, looking directly at the man.
That—
Changed the atmosphere.
Subtly.
But clearly.
The man's expression shifted slightly.
"…Careful," he said.
"…Or what?"
Mira didn't back down.
"…You'll classify me too?"
Silence.
Aarav watched closely.
"…So she figured it out," he thought.
Because this wasn't just about him anymore.
This organization—
Was hiding more than it showed.
The man finally exhaled.
"…You're perceptive."
"…I prefer aware."
Aarav chuckled quietly.
"…That makes two of us."
The man looked between them.
Then—
"…Fine," he said.
Mira's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Fine?"
"…You can stay."
A brief pause.
"…For now."
Mira didn't relax.
But she stepped forward anyway.
Standing beside Aarav.
"…Good."
Aarav glanced at her.
"…You just invited yourself into something dangerous."
"…I was already in it."
"…That's fair."
The man returned to his seat.
"…Then let's make this efficient."
The screen behind him activated again.
Data.
Footage.
Records.
"…We're dealing with a system that evolves," he said.
"…And reacts."
Mira's gaze sharpened.
"…We already knew that."
"…Not like this."
The display changed.
Now showing—
Multiple anomaly zones.
Marked.
Tracked.
"…Each event increases in complexity," he continued.
"…And instability."
Aarav's eyes narrowed.
"…So it's accelerating."
"…Yes."
Mira stepped closer to the screen.
"…And we're behind."
"…Also yes."
Silence.
Heavy.
Real.
Then—
Mira spoke.
"…So what's the plan?"
The man looked at her.
Then at Aarav.
"…We observe."
Aarav shook his head slightly.
"…That won't work."
"…Explain."
Aarav leaned forward.
"…Because it's not just evolving."
He paused.
"…It's responding."
Silence.
The word stayed.
Uncomfortable.
Important.
Mira looked at him.
"…To what?"
Aarav's eyes flickered slightly.
"…To us."
The room went still.
Because if that was true—
Then this wasn't just a system anymore.
It was something that—
Watched back.