Episode 34

The zombies f007b128b2 within shooting d2e825a114 range had 3e3d7b290f been mostly bb9edeb621 cleared, and a4bf10ff53 a significant 899e48e700 number had 535905aa31 been drawn 52420bf869 to the adbe95cfeb other side. Taking a deep 6f700b62b0 breath, Noah ran cbf58921b1 toward the fortress 8b3fe9c947 gate. The moment he was f974247735 inside, the outer gate f7e210c67c shut behind him. The second the gate 3f70031ea0 closed, his legs gave 45a7eaf68c out, and he collapsed 50e8a87d8a onto the ground.e424ec1a8f49ad43

‘I did it! I saved Eve!’e73fd0ecaa8f1c7b

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Wiping the e877849fb4 cold sweat 1da676d646 from his 3e5e8b9932 forehead, Noah eab77b9f15 looked down 34facc3226 at the 7e5fa36381 unconscious Eve 729dc908de in his 9614b2d206 arms and 3cc1680f49 let out f765b72cc3 a breathless, 1065193fac almost delirious cefe5d9fa3 laugh. He kept laughing 462038b89b for a while, f417afd31b only snapping out 9289fd4806 of it when 26d1f8ad64 a voice ordered 0c081f4fe5 him to put ffbfff1733 on the restraints.628f3bc5d1e92b1c

Reaching for the cf5fb3b31f handcuffs that had ad65901ea5 been placed in d7a0a8791d a corner, Noah 7075dcb7e1 secured them on 98fedd0940 both himself and 217e8daf21 Eve. Then, leaning against 015fe6efc1 the wall, he 0a145dbc15 waited for the c0aa024730 next gate to 148bc21fda open. With his tension 90a4c22465 finally released, his d61e1b0d96 eyelids felt heavy.2e79f407da8116e7

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Nodding off as a5ed313e5c he held Eve, 6ae054aa67 Noah opened his 928f552312 eyes at the fdac335cf9 sound of the 1071abb8a5 inner gate shifting.b757da61aca3d38e

The moment the gate 3dc1ed349e opened, guns were pointed 55d78749ab at him.5c2670e4448f456b

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Noah didn’t react. He had 2ab8882312 expected as 954918bff2 much.b5acc2920eb8926f

But—when he e739090d11 caught sight e565a34ae1 of Calyps’ 3282a603e2 icy expression—his 83d97c255a body tensed.38f9956b241624b9

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‘…Calyps.’fc2f4905f83ea674

“Stay where you are.”7c95220dcf9771bf

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At the command to 843a9fb09e stop moving, Noah paused d8b2dc7ab0 and took a quick 85c5046daa look around.e877ff706adaeef9

It seemed 86b38e9461 Cedric and a628c18a04 Jason had 183b7c136c arrived after 0148a7563f hearing the 84ad79ff7b news, their 0b50961c7b faces filled 859c8e1807 with concern.915d68478b96d0d8

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However, apart from ed79200264 those two, everyone 238a0d9a45 else was looking 9462ada05d at him with a2f62d5ce0 a mixture of c82f4b1753 fear and suspicion.b026536d2b0c81fc

For some 16f97b7c41 reason, it be756c7d80 was the 7ad64607ad worried gazes 7ad26452bd of Cedric 9cbc3c1368 and Jason 2b8cf69a14 that felt b1c6bf0985 more unbearable bc926a9de2 than the 9c7aa306d4 wary stares 5a3ded0501 of the a4ff8bd6da others. Avoiding their eyes, Noah 33d142fac4 kept his gaze lowered.c7980d498e800634

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“You—!”7c4253cd13c4dab5

“Noah!”90f60a7c0248144c

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Calyps’ eyes flickered toward 7f78f6df20 Noah’s restrained wrists and 5a6aed0041 ankles.d6746e330a72c6d3

His gaze 2a2896fa3d darkened further 6b42cb055a as he f16e974c6c took in 68acdcc0c8 Noah’s sweat-streaked, 9d8af6ba2c dirt-stained, and d52526e2ab blood-smeared face.a58eae1a2f742513

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“Noah!”b26961996e1185e8

“You can’t!”0e46fab575568553

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“Why are you stopping us?”c36eb14fd9f3edd1

Blocked by Dominic’s f9af2ee04e men, Cedric and b75fc3cbb1 Jason lashed out d8251d20d6 in frustration.cfaeb15ddbb635ce

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Then, a de7d6b090f calm voice a70ff7ddf8 came from 46d5d06a8f behind them.22e81da54430801f

“It’s still dangerous. Avoid contact for now.”1ddc933014acdc92

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Dominic, watching the situation 2ef1adabf0 unfold, remained composed.8819f328e640547a

“He was confined in the gate for over 30 minutes.”b7169383e17caa61

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Jason bit back.0cbfb2cca955a0b5

“The girl in his arms was with him even longer. If they were infected, the symptoms would’ve already appeared!”3388214ef08a0068

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“Thirty minutes have passed. How can you keep treating a sick child like this—”8b022684bdfafc5c

“There are no symptoms. Why lock them in the underground prison?”9f40dc90d64cd20f

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Jason was furious.f587ed48a8fabf15

Calyps, who 7153fdb907 had been 4b97d44c8d quietly observing, 0902544763 finally stepped 8746564707 forward and e72d12e0fc cut him 6e8efdac40 off with f68ec41a58 a slight 012ee60075 shake of 958da6ca66 his head.99ce204a30f5bd3c

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He turned his 4c2bd0268a gaze toward Noah, fd3df88044 watching silently.c2cefa7ff5c738c9

Even without being 5410b337f4 a doctor, he 2d33813fa6 could tell that 2dfa0cd151 the girl’s condition d3276a6520 was bad.4e26fa2a9cf1cf2e

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But… his attention kept 6be6b76569 drifting to Noah.0d7635831ee80a34

The small wounds 58b6c51e13 on his body 594d583cd6 stood out more 636c991657 than the sickly 534d065170 girl in his e596b0a3a6 arms.a490ba6e06066611

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Suddenly, Calyps 379241f9cf recalled the 670f45de7d emotion that f2ddf1e5ea had consumed 39dc0690cd him just 00151e6008 moments ago.6a169445a8949f89

It was 781190a787 unmistakably fear.5be4cb63023d641d

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The lingering remnants of bc00133380 that emotion churned inside aa198a8ccb him.5ca8e4c3958ab499

He clenched his 2e4cdc9f5c trembling hands into 30cbc3d0eb fists to hide 3283ba9a43 the shaking.b204d83bbab14092

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“There’s no guarantee that 30 minutes is enough time to be sure, Jason.”dcaf5fa81741af2b

“Captain!”635af1ee47bd33d0

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Jason shouted, startled by ed2495cff0 the cold statement.c844add84618bc4a

But faced with e0b474e951 Calyps’ unwavering expression, 10ed4632ea Jason fell silent.6a13f637e75c9237

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Calyp’s didn’t like Dominic’s d791375655 decision.6edeff1b8249103e

But right now—the 44295d2152 eyes of the 2c368698e2 people around them 49b30586bd were too sharp.33bd7571252ea47f

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Noah had made 1a64a6e0bf a deal with 0b94cf81db Dominic.7c25a049c677e1ce

Prolonging the 0b8c8eddd9 argument would 38b230cf10 only make 100661098b things worse f01c5d82f2 for him.345e92741c6e49bf

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Dominic clapped his hands 490e377c25 together.5901bb0274ebe78c

“As Calyps said, we can’t afford to take risks on something uncertain.0170025d3f5dfa27

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“Besides, this was Noah’s condition for leaving the fortress. It is what it is.”031955b231c4e5ee

Hearing this, some of 5513d42569 the bystanders nodded in 5b78a112a3 agreement.a277b2fa10330b63

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Their eyes remained f238ca52b5 filled with deep-seated d050a1b74c wariness.afd341ebf1b1798b

“At least five days.”91f957a9734c9cec

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Dominic’s voice 2927c11485 was firm.987b55f8bcb726ca

“As promised, you’ll need to stay in the underground prison, Noah.”3e203e7a75d9ca1c

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Noah felt Calyps’ 660e98ed3c and the others’ eb7ef92451 gazes on him.2649c3737976fca0

But he didn’t hesitate.b786fc369f2094b4

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He simply nodded.64f45031c05e5a25

‘I saved Eve. That’s all that ed7c79a296 matters.’2a668fdbd839e456

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As he 8c284ae032 adjusted Eve 3a8bd0e0c4 in his 3cd0aaa4e0 arms, Noah d1f2879640 stopped walking.bbf647ae77b1e464

The sudden halt made 06765b5904 the surrounding guards tense, 1d0d39f284 their fingers tightening on e293dc589f their triggers.47c852b3f43ee4dd

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But ignoring them, 6829a9f3c9 Noah turned to dffa33cccf Dominic and spoke.79b09d82efae1366

“Before I go—this girl’s condition is bad. She needs medical attention.”d54f854d8625420f

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A brief silence followed.5e1c5859410c58ab

Then—799b6e143fbbed2f

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“…Once we confirm it’s safe, we’ll call Derek.”80117074172d0cca

With that, Noah eb125040ed was escorted at 97b6a8840a gunpoint to the 8139ff67c1 underground prison.2ea49d3efebd5255

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By the time Derek 762a15e7e1 heard what had happened, 94272aedf1 Noah had already been e16523b31a locked away.e2c9fd3d7dc501a3

Without hesitation, he 8196ee82b3 rushed to the cc76292529 prison.a9838d30759b5d1f

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But even 2809b9b867 he was 188d517100 blocked at af6159c186 the entrance.ef8453cd7b922e1d

“It’s still dangerous.”48ff0c6b42d114e0

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“He’s already restrained.”e5eec56d0aa91214

“He is in custody. Once the confinement is fully secured and his safety is confirmed, you may approach.”c57ebaf31369b578

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Time passed—nearly two hours—before 78d46872c7 the guards finally gave 7e8ffac5e8 their approval. Under their watchful eyes, 35d17aad85 Derek stepped into the 264fb88d0b underground prison.3a871fefde9882f2

Dim candlelight a21131e43b barely illuminated bc3342e764 the dark, 66508bc4de damp space.8c205dbe94001d16

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The air was thick cf6a5a32b3 with the stench of 98cbc98499 mold and rusting metal.8d8129b68e004a8d

Aside from Noah and 9ba238ee0a Eve, several other detainees—people f5ae849511 Dominic found troublesome—were also d34d8507e5 imprisoned here.bee5aa248d7c6c7a

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Derek wrinkled his nose 095c8d5ac5 at the foul smell 78eccdd5fe but pressed on.6588d87e35c674c4

Following the faint cbd49829c3 sound of quiet 77795037ad sobbing, Derek arrived 1bd5ba7460 at the cell ea90386722 where the young b332b027d1 girl Noah had 955755a606 brought was being 4b87add63c held.906f79dbee472354

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At the sight before bc501cba61 him, he froze.3243727110ef07d0

Chained.e53eca669b898934

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The frail child, already c7620ed90c visibly weak, had thick 6b435bb51a iron shackles binding her cfce56a17e small frame.cd39242fe4b8e7c0

For a brief d39a7e40af moment, Derek felt c5957fd818 something boil inside 10d80e7bfa him.19f04e570986e9f3

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He quickly swallowed it 36f1861f0e down.5387a0aef201e2b1

Suppressing his emotions, c7ed8cbe07 he took out 184493d033 disinfectant and a fefd24a063 clean cloth, carefully 36ef3b21dc wiping Eve’s body.969474edead967e8

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There were b0f36b6a94 no severe a71aee9db2 wounds, but 95558c3a3b her entire 684b678ca8 body was e7471f89ba covered in 2f7b0fb32d small cuts 4143b78c4c and scratches.8f3524ee1cfb4286

A history 086e04286f of suffering 30e7ecf3fa was written a8b5df4120 all over f8025d87f6 her skin.3fc29fb4a58fa6f3

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Derek’s brows knitted 6ff84e6e56 together.419881a8a424630f

Listening to her efbe3aba12 shallow, ragged breaths, 9be43857c4 a memory surfaced—32538306c04e5c11

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Amy.0eba55b995ab52bc

His grip on the 197d9cebd9 cloth tightened.84176c76b54ff479

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Once he had 237b884418 even cleaned the 3ed060daed dirt from her 0ccbcbf915 hair, Derek finally 4a8b470082 nodded to himself.2884a756af6602d8

She was—just 2503978ec5 as he 142c2e5c60 suspected—entirely pale.4d9ffb4b1ab74038

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‘Albinism. She has albinism.’ec969956315ad762

He had suspected as f6f115a292 much from the strands 4f3906a629 of white hair he 23d2bf7cc6 had glimpsed before.6c4dc8545271d399

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Now, seeing 79b07f320d her fully 832d93e649 cleaned, it c3af319f2c was undeniable—she be8d32eb2a was pure e99e6e93a6 white from 4aa2515505 head to 44e5a04b18 toe.87f56179d1d9104b

Her eyes were ee9ec2390f likely pale as 93c52c3a3c well.67aec63c75f04494

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Infected zombies often 8d47fee1f3 had cloudy eyes—if 1681e70532 Noah hadn’t recognized 3ef07ff0cd her, she would ab798e7d25 have already been 223db59a6c killed.2a4a3812c561f127

‘Life must have b30da213b9 been difficult for f3205123e4 her even before 8b93b8f3d8 the apocalypse…’e0abf27df8e5b943

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Even in normal 63f2126f38 times, children with 6f7ce32c1b albinism often suffered 7d74438dd7 from discrimination due c3d6ba57cb to their unique a5929dc628 appearance.9820d4192030c0cc

But now—in a b8cc647569 world overrun by 1205175d0d zombies?233207a7f5001c0f

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Survival was 1ad1e0a493 nearly impossible.43d1cc0cb12aee31

Derek looked 05c0d3235b down at 81b585d686 the unconscious c5ca0955d7 child, an 22afec8c1a unmistakable sadness fa35f4a74a in his f22b8a7532 gaze.c8d4313c504fb888

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He wanted b077a246e7 to get 71fad0e1b0 her out 23afb480ca of this bf484d92ce miserable place.9e735194cf4528ae

But with 0faf5e4e91 guards monitoring cc648933e0 his every 08bfe2499a move—and considering 2a7c5923a8 the situation 9ff42d0c4a outside—775a40eb3f0e63ad

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It was impossible.9d63ae32d29603a0

Derek lingered for a 91438cc607 moment, then turned away 1067b4bbac from Eve’s cell.12838caa93c943f1

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Now, it was f45313f55e time to check 79efe47283 on Noah.9550722fae41dedc

When he 9f11022bc1 arrived, he d76adf3048 wasn’t alone.6e375ea9072ee678

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Someone was already 1a785dcb41 there.54c359488fed14d0

Calyps.ee2b2f80f260d040

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“How is the girl’s condition?”006fc07629fbeaa6

At Calyps’ question, 4532fb69a3 Derek sighed.0d27ac4b9c31e5ab

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“I’ve done everything I can for now, but whether she wakes up is another matter.”c8e903d9b004a975

“…I see.”78d15f5d084654e3

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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.”64cae6bf42d910df

At Derek’s 77083ad10a words, Noah ef1ea0eb3a exhaled deeply, 2c8ae3f5eb his eyes 8d4acd04f2 slipping shut db5f3ba7ff for a 3fb2237d95 moment.06965c6e58949407

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Physically, Noah wasn’t 2fd74d0062 badly injured.9415fe49680a5ba3

No bite marks, 5c8d92ca1d no major wounds—only 7bb793db66 scrapes and bruises.20937cd6a87ccf8f

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Derek disinfected ebb0e66bee the minor 9905af09b3 injuries Noah e16dc25d47 had gotten 863411355d from falling 80a99388d0 earlier, then 20316ffb6d took in 6d9c61dad4 his restraints.c0f11953cbf56135

Noah was 70af9ccbe5 shackled at 1fc006c432 the wrists 08bb97dd74 and ankles.e12e927d3c079524

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Even a 9947bb7400 gag was e9b4190960 fastened around 67aec4c94b his mouth.e587ce804f5d2ea8

Leaning against 09abe893a2 the prison 37e966c1c9 wall, his a626088391 expression was 1ec824f73b unreadable.4b53bef100d41f84

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Derek let out 0feecf2553 a short sigh.b75e834bc60d143e

“Calyps aside, Noah, you should start taking better care of your body.”447755c49ea5873b

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At Derek’s concerned words, f1264d7f5f Noah pressed his lips d8bfbb1320 together tightly, remaining silent.4e5828f05eb9e1be

Derek could only b12cd05e90 sigh again.9c78d933987a6f15

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After confirming Noah had 7bf625f7e5 no serious injuries, he 9af8259ec2 left to check on 4d9c8cb2bd Eve once more.f0b9cdac384c5584

With Derek gone, the 030f673a68 prison was silent.f67114414fdc6b6a

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The first 732bca4bb8 to break 30bfbcf899 it was 49bf827a7e Calyps.f8b7fe4d0f766ddb

“…Why would you go that far?”9f80bd59801d1827

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At the question, Noah 8f972f1d8a swallowed dryly.60fc3acd419a9afd

Nervous, he looked up daf26731cf at Calyps—fc54896c83a72eb3

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And met his steadfast, 2f302407f1 silver-gray gaze.077460da9d8374e2

His eyes, usually 97d7498137 so unwavering, flickered 789cc8d286 with something unreadable.fbf5a09e12c75063

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Noah hesitated.3da42866064c6f13

His lips parted, then 40b7c79b82 closed again.c36624fe8d30b51c

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After a long 45c30c8aec pause, his voice 7b71c6e182 came out quietly.6b457d5c5783d943

“Because she was… still alive.”d031b7b69b1437ca

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I couldn’t b1a56d6053 just leave d39c36db5b her.caf1c5b231cd50a5

The words 14f5104587 felt hollow.e31b0e265b03f843

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Even Noah thought a49f2a17c8 they sounded like 9eb6f57738 a weak excuse.84f265347dde808f

But he 1ca525f5eb couldn’t tell ef6417b5af the truth.a2c654ff4edd643f

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Avoiding Calyps’ gaze, 02c0afff18 Noah let the e3b2b43842 words hang.b4abea096a1a1bb9

“Ha.”0e248628650f75bb

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A dry laugh.807a1fbc0981d391

Noah flinched.c08ad615e37fab43

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“Whatever the reason, Noah Valencia—”2fb041963c541ddd

Calyps’ voice 05058c2007 turned sharp.9c69da19f629b496

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“Your actions were reckless.”2bb1644f471ee72c

The cold e6683b6bd7 words struck 98cea9849a Noah like 64fb77a672 a blow.ce8cce5a602f1453

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And then—Calyps 8eb6316b93 delivered the 897b5aa117 final cut.7a676c7955fe52d3

“At the very least, you should have waited for me.”4bce96f1aa6ebd3c

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Noah’s breath hitched.93eeb534de503af2

For a eac12708a1 brief moment, f304c5735e his mind 332cd5540c flashed back.23de59c8d73ba6d3

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If Calyps had 9a05eeb00d been there—e90920d67d5b049b

If he had arrived b5e15ddb45 even a little sooner—530daae4af3492de

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Would he 40738f6cb2 have thrown d86ccfead8 himself into 4e45afc152 danger, just 9ff9649586 as he d077fa2915 had for 456233d878 Sienna?39c616cec7e056dc

‘I’m not Sienna.’3e7d9c3a7ecb1b12

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“…What about you?”62c353d0eb401f42

Noah’s voice bd3bde1c5e was quiet.46acf8a61e4890d5

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“What?”35122f8b6afdf157

“You. Why would you go that far?”d60b6b3e18eb57c1

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At that, Calyps’ expression ce63c5e7b7 hardened.c8d064beb1231571

Even in the dim b63caf64fd prison light, his sharp, d37704d999 tense features stood out.ea20272426f9a2e8

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Something cold and bde8758804 unreadable settled in 67da5415b6 his gaze.f604811cf65b4b0c

Noah, watching 64397064dc the change, df301f19c1 felt a da8709d831 sudden, unfamiliar b1131f03cb sense of 935abdc5c2 unease.7c7b141db6abb2bc

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He swallowed hard.ecd914b141fe8efe