"Professor Blackwood?"
Damian's voice cut through the sound of gunfire.
Salazar spun around immediately, his expression shifting from anger to something far more complicated when he saw Damian standing there.
Pain, Guilt, Frustration, Sadness…
All of it flashed across his face in seconds before he forced himself to take a deep breath.
"Damian. You're here."
His voice was rough, strained.
He lowered his gun and gestured toward the observation table nearby.
"Come. Sit. We need to talk."
The serious tone made Damian's internal alarms start ringing.
He followed Salazar to the table and sat down across from him, studying his professor's face carefully.
Something was very wrong. And judging by Salazar's expression, it was directly related to Damian somehow.
Salazar sat down heavily, placing his gun on the table between them with more force than necessary.
He opened his mouth to speak several times, then closed it again, struggling with how to begin.
