Episode 34

The zombies within 75aeea9800 shooting range had 0e4aeac765 been mostly cleared, bb90bb3cdd and a significant fbb074d0d2 number had been 12c3df74ba drawn to the 314acadcf8 other side. Taking a deep 0b28ff90cc breath, Noah ran f9f0c31b92 toward the fortress 4f4ca0668c gate. The moment he was f92695c744 inside, the outer gate fc2a51620f shut behind him. The second 9598ccebff the gate 2480c7d637 closed, his 016c16eb6c legs gave d85d4760aa out, and e590f950b7 he collapsed 71d532104f onto the 239fda6567 ground.99918260d3225546

‘I did it! I saved Eve!’57a0f4360b6ff86c

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Wiping the cold eaeb9f9b4c sweat from his a0a9481239 forehead, Noah looked a4042f53f5 down at the 317fbe63e1 unconscious Eve in bd05000df5 his arms and 5fb9028b5b let out a 1cfa744308 breathless, almost delirious 8ea46acdc3 laugh. He kept laughing 94fb31a571 for a while, 7a650e3ff5 only snapping out 44825a5b5b of it when 4aaa4e7880 a voice ordered 10de31fc72 him to put 121c0cf817 on the restraints.f7669cdf7a78e15a

Reaching for 7e5c0a4226 the handcuffs dfaa4a6b9a that had 57321392b1 been placed 3fc9a24f44 in a bacebf4203 corner, Noah 2a4cfe4243 secured them c211513ea4 on both e9841b4495 himself and 6bac1417b3 Eve. Then, leaning against 71aafba014 the wall, he 876de9a69c waited for the 041435fe9c next gate to d518414f9a open. With his tension finally c71e361c40 released, his eyelids felt 700e885935 heavy.c936d2bc0d18531e

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Nodding off 824b4f0680 as he 3efbbaa63d held Eve, 19e4b002be Noah opened 0be139bad9 his eyes 8988bb7949 at the b3f6648376 sound of 90f0bbfe1a the inner e9265f8239 gate shifting.5c4f1020d3347acc

The moment 1c0c994614 the gate ff4118ca61 opened, guns e25b0860cc were pointed 6dbdfeb777 at him.5198e229efa48fc9

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Noah didn’t react. He had expected as 6aa8e53d69 much.61b8a9f00243204b

But—when he 533e90a3ff caught sight 48d69bb46e of Calyps’ fb6a46d43c icy expression—his 8f781cc8a6 body tensed.d580418d2d4f3904

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‘…Calyps.’5ea120b6747d47df

“Stay where you are.”dfc244725c6cf6d0

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At the 318b96cc34 command to d28bee4a3e stop moving, 1ad036c980 Noah paused 89b1396798 and took a2507638fc a quick 1b6121ef06 look around.b1c14564e4f07a31

It seemed Cedric and 85301be0e4 Jason had arrived after 96ae61a047 hearing the news, their 522d0168e3 faces filled with concern.fbc5c39bfa054aac

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However, apart 3780ec4f71 from those b02b94b320 two, everyone 896e070cec else was e1b06076f9 looking at fdde94c42f him with 5a81d1ebfe a mixture 629751dd33 of fear 94f04de42d and suspicion.05024f275b13ca25

For some reason, it f92c524a6b was the worried gazes 558a3c7e33 of Cedric and Jason 2faffaf062 that felt more unbearable a232326311 than the wary stares bb78c30ff0 of the others. Avoiding their b9eac2f1bc eyes, Noah 59294fca9b kept his de4654e250 gaze lowered.84f27973ab753219

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“You—!”e0c98fdfeef6bcca

“Noah!”bd97eae065683b2c

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Calyps’ eyes flickered 777f1c4292 toward Noah’s restrained 3f3dfd40af wrists and ankles.6291e3f0bb8a4129

His gaze 1965a3f884 darkened further a139ad7144 as he f4b1b6be35 took in 99b996c85d Noah’s sweat-streaked, d0280d6232 dirt-stained, and 981eaf6115 blood-smeared face.121d2ba86834a0ac

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“Noah!”8c04ae73a4a04147

“You can’t!”d4beabc6946f6eac

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“Why are you stopping us?”6d8cf884ec1e8e28

Blocked by dbdfee0628 Dominic’s men, e0f81a7978 Cedric and 2cc678e96b Jason lashed 16e8dad4a0 out in d1e1dfc19f frustration.7327eb5933c4affd

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Then, a be3fc9ae2f calm voice edb106df0c came from 09fa90e8a2 behind them.ec929a91390e5ed2

“It’s still dangerous. Avoid contact for now.”000219c3eeb3242d

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Dominic, watching the c126cea42f situation unfold, remained aab70f61bd composed.7d68be1d2565414d

“He was confined in the gate for over 30 minutes.”f3f34c017039cddb

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Jason bit back.748b9ddbf8dc536e

“The girl in his arms was with him even longer. If they were infected, the symptoms would’ve already appeared!”0d381d771a90db15

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“Thirty minutes have passed. How can you keep treating a sick child like this—”5be6063dccac0d1d

“There are no symptoms. Why lock them in the underground prison?”a96b5687b1b8fc22

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Jason was furious.2b5db8a05a6d9cdf

Calyps, who 7293630c29 had been 1ffa9f517e quietly observing, d9041524bc finally stepped 8847b3d68d forward and 9f2160486e cut him 300f5b749f off with 4cd9719ef1 a slight f7a4dc61d5 shake of 125598c806 his head.d8a1f5aefbd79b01

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He turned his e2d8df6091 gaze toward Noah, 4e7934d008 watching silently.3e92476e2d3f9e36

Even without being 1fe1820a0f a doctor, he 23bae6db92 could tell that 036406cd41 the girl’s condition 51d33c66c3 was bad.9f0a1168aa25c221

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But… his attention 4580a41dc7 kept drifting to d3403748f5 Noah.ffb58b33cd8a26d0

The small wounds 8f4e01c842 on his body f028a97700 stood out more 14e6e8253e than the sickly a2c26564c9 girl in his 72fbbf4462 arms.f461f10592b050c6

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Suddenly, Calyps recalled the 7a9b5350c4 emotion that had consumed 858211ba16 him just moments ago.107422d328c1da87

It was unmistakably e20bc6a187 fear.7093eca3ea81ac27

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The lingering remnants 40bf26ad5e of that emotion a08311c906 churned inside him.aa21dd4bda34df30

He clenched his trembling 885713e051 hands into fists to bdb29b656c hide the shaking.8f5e51dfa98edee9

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“There’s no guarantee that 30 minutes is enough time to be sure, Jason.”fdb707a673bb48f4

“Captain!”c6d87546a44f24df

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Jason shouted, startled 3e46bc95e0 by the cold c42f1f32da statement.5601843c901076d3

But faced with a3f28b8201 Calyps’ unwavering expression, 66ae13626d Jason fell silent.1fdf86f14075cfc7

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Calyp’s didn’t 9f860d8ea8 like Dominic’s 4d883de23d decision.d724d18b64380d16

But right b8bfdaa163 now—the eyes e68df48569 of the e8d2e43526 people around 6af734e459 them were b245376c97 too sharp.aebc41d2092a821f

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Noah had made 002f6bf03f a deal with 8c8610aa39 Dominic.85de75323c0d536a

Prolonging the argument would 9d115d1dd1 only make things worse 19ff316865 for him.ac61a095bc204fab

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Dominic clapped his bbb96503e8 hands together.b5f6760f4b9a496b

“As Calyps said, we can’t afford to take risks on something uncertain.799ff0b13fcfeba9

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“Besides, this was Noah’s condition for leaving the fortress. It is what it is.”2588de3bfdbdf1e0

Hearing this, 14093e5ed6 some of 5b164bbe38 the bystanders f54fe41501 nodded in 82216f97e3 agreement.bc114ddcade05423

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Their eyes remained 79fe39323c filled with deep-seated c5f4000f11 wariness.08292ea740abaedc

“At least five days.”28a55863455a81bd

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Dominic’s voice was 96662ede44 firm.52bc8d16d5b7bec8

“As promised, you’ll need to stay in the underground prison, Noah.”3ffbb6b0182311d2

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Noah felt Calyps’ 51345465e2 and the others’ 6426ac0d7f gazes on him.5579390158b670c4

But he d7ed67bc33 didn’t hesitate.70c33076062e469f

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He simply nodded.63a4bc1030b8a56d

‘I saved Eve. That’s all 44768a5f4d that matters.’c79e827c27caba3f

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As he adjusted Eve 8bb051d492 in his arms, Noah d4e284101e stopped walking.88876e8d6d740427

The sudden halt made 5daab3865d the surrounding guards tense, f68bc1fbf4 their fingers tightening on 04c327ec65 their triggers.0c71c0e3059928a4

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But ignoring d309397713 them, Noah 07c1fa0c03 turned to e98ac5d7e0 Dominic and ad663b11e0 spoke.bb91aae80ecd269e

“Before I go—this girl’s condition is bad. She needs medical attention.”c6d6e902984b29d3

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A brief 4cd05556da silence followed.05d1a4eb559c6631

Then—f2b9dbc858fb5eb5

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“…Once we confirm it’s safe, we’ll call Derek.”534a44c92f08b7af

With that, Noah 88a639b407 was escorted at 1e760aa881 gunpoint to the 3c295742e4 underground prison.dbd00b424317ce7d

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By the time 627b4d027c Derek heard what 915b766781 had happened, Noah 11ffcec686 had already been 4641285e90 locked away.7be92ae4e371f461

Without hesitation, d4ca4ee2aa he rushed 68e5b87646 to the 6effc9a25d prison.92828df80d7d26ac

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But even he was 2c533fd8c3 blocked at the entrance.1e476dd66f561580

“It’s still dangerous.”9010adfb738c0d64

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“He’s already restrained.”c598af79035ae92f

“He is in custody. Once the confinement is fully secured and his safety is confirmed, you may approach.”59d02e6245fe65fa

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Time passed—nearly two 02c7b90d4a hours—before the guards ead38dfa15 finally gave their cd76f03938 approval. Under their 312af66687 watchful eyes, 6a4eb57647 Derek stepped 93964f974b into the c59019929c underground prison.aa8d170efb6fcdcf

Dim candlelight barely illuminated 25cff55868 the dark, damp space.1b8797424d4bc674

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The air was thick fdc4942415 with the stench of 0abc3db34b mold and rusting metal.7b9c3a7adf480746

Aside from Noah and dcf74cb892 Eve, several other detainees—people 91b6bbb24f Dominic found troublesome—were also 6141ac9fb6 imprisoned here.10162806cbf2e309

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Derek wrinkled his 48f27888e9 nose at the 8732427327 foul smell but 1ef6b47740 pressed on.aa0337974340b8f2

Following the faint 9e9fe10a20 sound of quiet 1e2b20f845 sobbing, Derek arrived f3d72bd9fc at the cell f1c37aeb52 where the young c078fa810c girl Noah had 6e02e54c2c brought was being 278561cdb3 held.39042f41d3945595

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At the ce69efb5d7 sight before cd3dd91510 him, he f425f00bc2 froze.3fd8983640f4a6a2

Chained.68818b8b5e216c0a

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The frail child, already c13fca75e4 visibly weak, had thick 6c4465f515 iron shackles binding her 8499bf42c9 small frame.696c3c0046b8d745

For a 611dbd9d32 brief moment, f9f50558d5 Derek felt dcdefca267 something boil cbd22eaadc inside him.06e0328285e27321

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He quickly swallowed 82a9ac4a23 it down.75759423476140de

Suppressing his 6dd8ed46fc emotions, he b9790f618f took out 50ca4f2c30 disinfectant and 58bd0c0128 a clean a474cf9d59 cloth, carefully 6e938c56b0 wiping Eve’s 9972b3e157 body.0226641be74a099e

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There were no ce1325ba62 severe wounds, but c2a2fa26d4 her entire body c43844ada5 was covered in f8f27d8581 small cuts and 89f67021de scratches.06d4c22793b7d806

A history of 318a79b3b1 suffering was written b2e8a4c13a all over her ed9b769da7 skin.ca5aae543664412c

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Derek’s brows 959cccb7c7 knitted together.45c2f90c2bc4c3c6

Listening to her 4523aa21f8 shallow, ragged breaths, 3497823ddc a memory surfaced—9f5b5068db2184f3

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Amy.8e70ff3cf865dde1

His grip on 29ce2be195 the cloth tightened.880f800749d3d9d5

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Once he had 4aa89af7f4 even cleaned the ab720de516 dirt from her 7b5f5dd0d7 hair, Derek finally 2df0840196 nodded to himself.560908e2ae804f28

She was—just as he 61546cb70b suspected—entirely pale.99773cb582289dab

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‘Albinism. She has albinism.’7b5b38fea8fe2bfe

He had suspected as 7ef08c6881 much from the strands 72709cacae of white hair he c90a547635 had glimpsed before.4eac53b2232728bc

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Now, seeing her fully 3704f6ce85 cleaned, it was undeniable—she 41f7a650e7 was pure white from e28096d833 head to toe.847b0a719120b681

Her eyes were likely bc3d7e504b pale as well.1c9c756ca1d4047b

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Infected zombies often had 36553028a8 cloudy eyes—if Noah hadn’t 75828ca6eb recognized her, she would b5c5cc7fb4 have already been killed.56d413dea70ea220

‘Life must a42d98e2aa have been 493b7992a6 difficult for 974599c9cc her even c1dfcc6495 before the 2550a84862 apocalypse…’50e33a1859ca3ab1

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Even in normal times, 6941ba685c children with albinism often e26f34ddf3 suffered from discrimination due fe1d0efbad to their unique appearance.e018b7e3289c9353

But now—in a 94c7a3e820 world overrun by 108bd45c03 zombies?021f8e145d2c504c

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Survival was nearly impossible.2392b790492fe0c1

Derek looked down at 639ba2b13a the unconscious child, an 6bf6ab2c06 unmistakable sadness in his c6ede9e53d gaze.c9719b51bf0367ea

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He wanted to get b87baffb57 her out of this f5c1d8ca53 miserable place.6e077e410dd2426b

But with guards monitoring 370eb46eeb his every move—and considering 8cd7aa82aa the situation outside—f2889c65a5844477

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It was impossible.aea0bfd23efad8c5

Derek lingered 6bdcc1e103 for a e81f18ee2e moment, then 25b5a5c3dc turned away 29ecfc2538 from Eve’s 91a140dd10 cell.280796a4ccbb809c

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Now, it was e6415c3aaa time to check 937a811ec1 on Noah.1edaa3dc3ba1e0a5

When he 97af70c7f4 arrived, he 9cd3db1fa5 wasn’t alone.e9e68ce8fd24ef8c

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Someone was 9ac6d28825 already there.7ad555dcc429e158

Calyps.9992be22c5af732c

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“How is the girl’s condition?”504580e3b79bb89f

At Calyps’ question, d261a3644d Derek sighed.46ec2b4e979d8c85

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“I’ve done everything I can for now, but whether she wakes up is another matter.”701614ccf2ace7af

“…I see.”7c7d6118f075e07c

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“Yes. She’s covered in wounds, but there are no bite marks. From what I can tell, Noah was right—she isn’t infected. The immediate danger has passed, but we’ll have to wait and see.”5d958e3714be8721

At Derek’s 7a00f99327 words, Noah a9aecb9a26 exhaled deeply, ec428c2270 his eyes b7028b3beb slipping shut 125a83ab65 for a dcafd5f06f moment.1517d08a074041ac

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Physically, Noah wasn’t eb42d9a35a badly injured.746fd1e50be843e3

No bite marks, no 4b4fb8b478 major wounds—only scrapes and ce86729c06 bruises.eceb93a4c089f792

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Derek disinfected 61648cd022 the minor cb8a54d269 injuries Noah 27789c411b had gotten 04b031bc59 from falling be60e6ac6b earlier, then 431b39d4db took in 1b032b1569 his restraints.29b8b9fdaf0a3ac0

Noah was 20142fe456 shackled at cc446df491 the wrists 37451daa94 and ankles.fc3d2457d7e41b7d

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Even a gag f803384962 was fastened around 34c87971ca his mouth.7cf326217515fd5b

Leaning against the prison 413bfdb0b1 wall, his expression was 9c4fca0305 unreadable.f2c4375eb99994ad

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Derek let out b7af8a784a a short sigh.4bb1323b7c268568

“Calyps aside, Noah, you should start taking better care of your body.”393800fc85b96bd3

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At Derek’s 5fe9a8cee1 concerned words, 0f099a114d Noah pressed c7afdabc41 his lips c7f4d3fe41 together tightly, df680bb01a remaining silent.751993a0d8e123a6

Derek could only 9a5d0b3b72 sigh again.0000c79d4d371d74

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After confirming Noah had 5266865c5f no serious injuries, he f25d7781da left to check on 7c26374a3f Eve once more.11b46691917ae3c6

With Derek gone, 3c5a4c47f2 the prison was e7dda85b72 silent.966cc14caa1b5d1b

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The first b84b0d93a5 to break a53af72206 it was 34e4696456 Calyps.4fc66b600fe8a9cd

“…Why would you go that far?”909ffd2812093146

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At the question, Noah 135afff9e4 swallowed dryly.9aa2b3f3f28667a4

Nervous, he 9ef789e255 looked up d9a432e4ef at Calyps—c80a278b6b6655a0

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And met b9b53e9abc his steadfast, 96b5752178 silver-gray gaze.b041c7e42262e68b

His eyes, b3660c0adb usually so d14aab4c09 unwavering, flickered 59e74a21c6 with something a4344fcbef unreadable.ecf5a94c0b4fca3a

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Noah hesitated.2d64e42b631a7ec6

His lips parted, then 278c3717ca closed again.5b1fd72328b1133b

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After a long pause, 0aa64a81f6 his voice came out 0a01eedaf5 quietly.2114132a1e6e4fae

“Because she was… still alive.”d4d0e029b0955186

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I couldn’t just leave da468bd080 her.c957b30a9b657013

The words felt c03065af13 hollow.72dd9d34cae6f7c6

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Even Noah thought 5a71004594 they sounded like 7784fd540f a weak excuse.289ff57f7aab99f9

But he couldn’t 6956e08128 tell the truth.444fa5b25fa09c17

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Avoiding Calyps’ gaze, 478882a0c0 Noah let the 157cc681fb words hang.2f53c0c1d96744bf

“Ha.”da2f328967e8a313

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A dry laugh.44d745000d76a839

Noah flinched.e1abc3d6a39b764b

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“Whatever the reason, Noah Valencia—”ba4c80bb0960970d

Calyps’ voice turned d81ec48087 sharp.55007cf08b0244f5

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“Your actions were reckless.”4d9b8f69bda45634

The cold words 6ebb2656b1 struck Noah like dfb706414d a blow.91a907cea644ed8c

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And then—Calyps 9413dea605 delivered the 5544e4dff8 final cut.8730065fb7435e72

“At the very least, you should have waited for me.”e61f6945718af170

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Noah’s breath hitched.32df484b24d88cbb

For a brief moment, 4e95370e6e his mind flashed back.bf8d1ae9fe1a8acc

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If Calyps had been d8180e84f3 there—b85e22c15be300ca

If he had 81350171f2 arrived even a 38f077da25 little sooner—4e082715b8fc9152

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Would he 12d3e00671 have thrown 3f5222744d himself into 576a4870b5 danger, just 6246cebe41 as he 98e0b11051 had for c1f46a2448 Sienna?54439e986d9e2b75

‘I’m not Sienna.’d41612d512422c51

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“…What about you?”9cbb08000c651271

Noah’s voice was quiet.be8e3fc81b7573ed

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“What?”12389fd054a41c2b

“You. Why would you go that far?”5dc123fed94774af

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At that, Calyps’ 377e265aef expression hardened.f9cc5ceaf3d312af

Even in 7827966caf the dim fdfa6ef25f prison light, 6d72fdf649 his sharp, dbd4eec5d9 tense features f9be55cb96 stood out.2d70ad36f6922014

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Something cold and unreadable 6c51fc8e0a settled in his gaze.c0fa1a84c5941f69

Noah, watching the c8353c9d4f change, felt a 7befc98c28 sudden, unfamiliar sense 1aa8d7547d of unease.9eb497383ec12b5c

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He swallowed hard.6bc3a87f91db14c2