The air in the underground sub-basement was suffocatingly silent, broken only by Noir's heavy, ragged breathing. Kaelith helped her lean against the wall, anxiety written all over her face as she glanced at Specter and Orion, who were arguing nearby.
Orion spoke first, his voice sharp.
"We can't go back! In Noir's condition, we can't take that risk. If we fail trying to save them, who's going to save us?"
Specter tightened his grip on the communicator, a cold blue glint flashing in his eyes.
"But if we leave them, those people being experimented on will continue to be torn apart by VOID. Do you think Noir would forgive us for turning our backs?"
Orion frowned, the blood-stained blade in his hand clanging against the floor as he slammed it down.
"Don't forget—Noir just made it back to us. That matters more than anything."
"We can't gamble away this chance for something we might not even be able to save!"
At that moment, a hoarse, weak voice cut through the tension. Noir opened her eyes, looking at all three of them. Her red-and-blue gaze flickered in the darkness.
"I'll find a way… we can't just ignore that… they need to be freed too…"
Kaelith froze, her heart tightening painfully.
Specter lowered his head, lips pressed together, while Orion let out a sharp breath through his teeth, his eyes wavering.
From the earpiece, Aurel's voice suddenly cut in, urgent over the rapid clatter of typing.
"I heard everything. Noir's right—VOID isn't only targeting you, but dozens… hundreds of others. But if you go back now, the chance of getting captured is extremely high. Think carefully. Don't let emotions lead you!"
The room sank back into conflict and tension. Though weak, Noir's gaze remained unwavering—like a blade pointed straight at each of their hearts.
Eventually, the group managed to bring Noir back to the hidden shelter of Aurel and Ari. Rows of monitors flickered with green light, signaling that part of VOID's system had been blocked—Aurel had succeeded.
He removed his headset and let out a breath, sweat rolling down his forehead.
"They won't be able to trace this location. You're safe for now… but don't let your guard down."
Noir leaned back in her chair, her body still heavy from days of torture. Her two-toned eyes swept across every face in the room. When they landed on Kaelith, they sharpened noticeably.
No questions. No accusations.
Just that gaze—piercing deep, as if stripping away every layer of thought.
Kaelith stiffened. The hand holding a cup trembled slightly before she looked up. Her clear eyes met Noir's directly—no avoidance, no fear. There was guilt piled within them, but also a plea… and determination.
No words were spoken. But Noir understood.
She tilted her head slightly, withdrawing her gaze, her voice hoarse yet firm.
"You should go rest."
The room fell silent. Orion frowned, Specter clenched his fists but said nothing.
Kaelith lowered her head, replying softly, almost a whisper.
"I understand… Noir."
No one spoke again. Only the steady hum of Aurel's machines remained, like the tense heartbeat of an unseen battlefield in the dark.
Specter sat before the main screen, eyes fixed on the endless stream of data. Suddenly, a different string of code appeared. He leaned in slightly, murmuring.
"Here… a sub-branch in the system. If we exploit this right, we might be able to trace VOID's central core."
Orion rested his chin on his hand, a tired smile forming—mixed with faint hope.
"So we finally have a way in, huh… coffee boy?"
Specter gave a slight nod, though worry still lingered in his eyes.
"They'll detect this breach very quickly."
Meanwhile, Noir sat in silence for a long time, her eyes like cold, bottomless voids. Then suddenly, she spoke, making everyone in the room freeze.
"Kaelith."
The girl looked up, startled. Noir stared straight at her, her voice sharp as a blade.
"I want an explanation. Why did you betray us?"
The air dropped heavy. Specter let go of the keyboard. Orion fell completely silent.
Kaelith clenched her hands, her eyes glistening, but she forced herself to stay composed. Biting her lip, she answered in a trembling voice.
"My parents… they took them. They were tortured brutally, covered in injuries. I had no other choice…"
"They brought me back to VOID's main facility… trained me every day in a harsh environment to become an insider… it hurt so much…"
Noir slowly closed her eyes, using what little strength she had to listen.
Kaelith continued.
"Then… when they realized you were beyond control… they said… if I just tracked you, reported your location… my parents would stay alive."
Noir opened her eyes and looked at her for a long moment. Then quietly asked:
"And then…?"
Only the faint buzzing of machines filled the room.
Kaelith continued.
"They're still… neither alive nor dead…" She tightened her grip on her clothes.
Orion's expression darkened, unable to keep watching, he turned away. Specter and Aurel exchanged a look of understanding. Kaelith broke into sobs.
"I didn't want to… but I did it. I know you'll hate me. I just… wanted to keep the last bit of hope for my family."
Noir's gaze didn't waver. But when Kaelith lowered her head, Noir let out a quiet breath—so faint it was almost inaudible.
"…Got it…"
No blame. No condemnation.
Only a calm, cold acceptance that made Kaelith's chest tighten even more.
Specter looked at Noir, seeing something vague deep in her eyes—not quite forgiveness, but not rejection either.
Ari stepped forward, sensing the tension, and gently helped Noir up.
"Noir… let me take you inside. You need to rest."
Noir said nothing, only forced herself to stand despite the pain as Ari supported her.
Specter and Orion wanted to help, but Ari stopped them with a look.
The silence that had already settled now deepened further—like sinking into a bottomless abyss.