Robert stood his ground, his voice steady despite the storm of tension brewing around them.

  "Sorry," he said, meeting James's fierce gaze. "I came down after I heard the alarm."

  James didn't so much as blink. His skepticism was a living thing, curling around every word as he shot back, "Weren't you two supposed to be in the X-ray room? You've been getting paged for ages, Doctor. Why haven't you responded?"

  Beside him, Doctor Cenilera stiffened. Her eyes widened in sudden realization. "My pager... How did I not notice until now?"

  James's gaze flicked between them, unrelenting.

  "So what are you two still doing together anyway?"

  Cenilera's mind raced. Think fast. She wet her lips, conjuring the first plausible excuse she could. "I came down here to perform... a physical."

  James let out a dry, humorless laugh. "A physical." His voice dripped with disbelief, each syllable thick with accusation. "So, while you two were screwing around down here in secret, the kid escaped! Either that, or you two let him go on purpose. So which is it? Am I turning you in for being just stupid or outright traitors?"

  The weight of the moment settled like lead on Robert's shoulders. He sighed, rubbing a hand down his face as if trying to wipe away the undeniable truth.

  "Well... he caught us," Robert admitted, voice heavy. "No use hiding it now. We really messed up, Lilith."

  James's jaw clenched, his grip tightening around his gun. "So while you were busy with your little rendezvous, Edwin managed to slip right through your fingers. That's your story?"

  "Yes, it is!" Robert pressed, desperate now.

  "Give us a chance to fix our mistake. We'll join you and look for Edwin together. So lower your gun, and let's hurry up already."

  James shook his head, distrust hardening his features. "I can't trust you, Robert. In fact, I never have. You've always been the joker, the nice guy. Honestly, it makes more sense that you helped the kid." His finger hovered closer to the trigger, his resolve as cemented as the walls surrounding them.

  "Enough!" Cenilera's voice rang through the corridor like a whip crack. "Every second we waste bickering is another second Edwin gets farther away. Besides, it's Albert's call to execute us-not yours."

  James exhaled sharply, his frustration a barely restrained flame. His cheeks flushed with anger; she was right, and he hated it. Control was slipping from his grasp the moment Albert's name entered the conversation.

  "Fine," he growled, though it was clear he wasn't conceding-just shifting tactics. "Just so you know, you're both prisoners now. Robert, hand over your gun. If you don't, I'll put a bullet in your head right now and personally report you both to Albert."

  Silence stretched between them, taut as a drawn wire.

  Robert met James's eyes, searching for any trace of hesitation. There was none. Slowly, he unclipped his holster, the weight of the firearm feeling heavier than ever. With measured reluctance, he handed it over.

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  James took it without a word, the steel glinting under the dim overhead lights.

  "Just so you know," James muttered, his voice low and edged with something dark, "Albert is taking out all his rage on me right now. He threatened to exile me to the outer wall." His nostrils flared. "I was supposed to be watching that damn kid, and yet I left him alone with you two." His grip tightened around the gun. "So don't test me. I'm way past my boiling point."

  The unspoken threat lingered between them like the scent of impending blood.

  Then James's gaze hardened. "Listen, Robert.

  We both know something doesn't add up. I may not know you well enough to call you a friend, but I know your work ethic. You wouldn't abandon your post for a quick screw. So tell me the truth—while you still can."

  The tension in Cenilera's throat turned suffocating, the weight of her guilt pressing down on her. She knew deep down, James didn’t buy their story.

  "It was my fault," she admitted, voice quiet but unwavering. "I thought l'd put Edwin under with another tranquilizer shot... but somehow, he woke up. I didn't realize we'd screwed up until the alarm started going off." Her gaze flickered downward, shame coiling in her gut. "I shouldn't have taken Robert away from his post."

  She lifted her eyes, smirking just enough to sell the lie. "But... a woman has her needs."

  James scoffed, disbelief flickering in his eyes.

  Then, to their surprise, the hard lines of his face cracked just slightly-an incredulous, humorless smile ghosting over his lips.

  A tense silence settled between them, stretching uncomfortably in the dimly lit corridor. The walls, once sterile and unremarkable, now seemed to press in, amplifying the suffocating weight of the conversation. Every flickering light overhead cast restless shadows, turning the cold metal beneath their feet into something more treacherous.

  James exhaled, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "Next time, call someone to guard the room, alright? Even if you put him under with another shot, a bit of professional advice: don’t leave a high-priority patient alone. Either of you could’ve called me, and I would’ve guarded the kid while you two did your thing."

  Robert shifted uncomfortably, the accusation heavy despite the casual delivery. He rubbed a hand down his face, his nerves wearing thin. "Enough, please. This is already uncomfortable. Us standing here chatting isn’t helping anything. We need to focus on finding the damn kid."

  James raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth tilting upward in a knowing smirk. "You’re catching up, Robert. Good thing I already know where he is."

  A chill ran down Robert’s spine. Cenilera’s breath caught in her throat, her fingers twitching at her sides. The sudden shift in James’s confidence felt like a noose tightening around them.

  "He’s outside for sure right now," James continued, his voice dropping to a low, calculated tone. "Even if he isn’t yet, he has to go out to escape from Albert completely. We’ve already sent word to all the outposts, alerting them about the escape and to expect a visitor. Albert provided the kid’s picture and sent additional men to the mid and inner wall. I doubt he’s in Midfallen, though. It’s only been an hour since his escape, and we all know he’s unfamiliar with the compound."

  Robert’s pulse quickened. "So, what are you doing down here then?"

  James’s smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with something dark. "Besides looking for you two? I’m planning to use the tunnel to reach the gate he’ll run into. When I find that kid, I’m going to snap both of his legs so he can never run away again."

  Cenilera gasped, horrified. "That’s too harsh, James! The boy has suffered enough already. When he’s caught, his suffering will continue anyways. Why add to his pain?"

  James’s expression darkened, his posture rigid. "Because," he said, voice cold, "someone needs to teach him that he can’t escape. We all saw how quickly he healed. No one can do that. The kid is dangerous. He can handle two broken legs and maybe a broken spine for extra security. You can’t control someone like him without fear."

  Silence fell, thick and suffocating. Robert felt his hands clench into fists at his sides, struggling to keep his anger in check.

  James took a step forward, his presence looming. "It’s time we get a move on. Let’s go get that bastard."

  Robert swallowed hard, forcing his expression into neutrality. "Sorry, uh, I have to run… because I don’t have my armor on," he said, voice strained with forced nonchalance.

  James narrowed his eyes. "Go then. We’ll just be up ahead. Catch up to us in the tunnel or outside. Just be quick. You better not come back armed. I’ll be checking you.

  Robert hesitated. "Wait until I get back. It’s just down the hall."

  James shook his head, impatience clear in his every movement. "We’ll be wasting time. You go get it, then catch up."

  Robert exchanged a glance with Cenilera, silent understanding passing between them. She nodded, just enough to affirm their unspoken plan.

  James, none the wiser, took it as confirmation of Robert’s compliance. "Just be quick, and remember—if you’re planning something, your girlfriend’s within shooting range."

  Robert forced a tight-lipped smile, though his chest burned with barely contained rage. "Got it."

  With one last glance at Cenilera, he turned on his heel and strode away. His heart pounded in his chest, each step carrying the weight of what had to be done. He wasn’t going to let James get to Edwin first.

  No matter the cost.