Noir stepped inside, trying—and failing—to hide the nervous hitch in his breath. The door slowly closed behind him, not by itself, but by Arora's hand. She turned the lock with a soft click.
The sound echoed in Noir's chest like a threat.
Arora finally faced him.
Her expression was unreadable, but the room suddenly felt smaller… heavier… as if the air itself bent under her presence.
"I gave you a simple task," she said, walking toward him slowly. "Find the file."
Noir swallowed.
"I–I did. It was buried under the older logs, so it took time, but—"
Arora held out her hand.
"The phone."
Noir hesitated for one heartbeat.
Just one.
Then he placed it in her palm.
The moment she touched it, her eyes narrowed.
"…Why is it rebooting?"
Noir's breath froze.
He tried to smile. It trembled.
"Oh—maybe it restarted by itself. Android phones do that somet—"
Arora stepped closer.
Too close.
"Don't insult me, Noir."
Her voice was soft. Deadly.
