The hall was still alive.
Still full of noise.
Still pretending nothing could go wrong inside it.
Leah stayed close to Izana.
Closer than before.
His hand never left hers.
Not once.
Dante was somewhere behind them.
Elias had already disappeared into the crowd.
Too many people.
Too many openings.
Izana didn't like it.
He didn't show it.
But he felt it.
Something off.
Something shifting.
A servant passed too close.
Leah adjusted slightly.
Izana's grip tightened instantly.
Not harsh.
Just immediate.
"…Stay close."
Low.
Only for her.
"…I am."
But even as she said it—
the crowd moved again.
Just slightly.
Just enough.
Leah felt a hand brush past her shoulder.
Guiding.
Not forceful.
But intentional.
She frowned.
"…Excuse me—."
The person didn't respond.
Just kept moving.
Too smoothly.
Too rehearsed.
Leah took one step—
and the space behind her closed.
Izana turned instantly.
"…Li."
But she was gone from his line.
Not far.
Not long.
Just enough.
Enough to break sight.
Enough to break control.
His expression didn't change.
But everything inside him did.
Leah blinked once.
The hallway was different.
Quieter.
Less light.
Less people.
Her hand went to her stomach immediately.
"…This isn't right."
No answer.
The air felt wrong.
Like it had been emptied on purpose.
Then—
a voice.
Calm.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
"…You shouldn't have followed."
Leah froze.
Slowly turned.
Kairo.
Standing still.
Not rushing.
Not angry.
Just present.
Like he had been waiting there the entire time.
Leah stepped back instantly.
"…Where is everyone?"
Kairo tilted his head slightly.
"…Far enough."
A pause.
"…Far enough to not interfere."
Her breathing tightened.
Both hands moved over her stomach now.
Protective.
Immediate.
"…Move."
Kairo didn't.
Didn't even shift.
Just looked at her.
Measured.
"…You still do that."
Leah frowned slightly.
"…Do what."
"…Protect it first."
Silence.
Leah's voice stayed steady.
"…Leave."
Kairo's expression barely changed.
"…You think he'll stop it if you ask him nicely?"
Her grip tightened.
"…I didn't say that."
"…No."
A step forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
"…But you think he can stop everything."
Kairo raised his gun and pointed at Leah.
Leah stepped back again.
Back hit the wall.
No exit.
Inside the hall.
Izana stopped moving.
Completely.
Dante noticed instantly.
"…What."
Izana didn't answer.
Already turning.
Already leaving.
Dante followed immediately.
"…Where are you going?"
No response.
Izana's pace increased.
People moved out of his way without being told.
Without being asked.
Just instinct.
Something had changed.
Something had broken alignment.
Dante's eyes sharpened.
"…It's her."
Izana didn't slow.
Leah swallowed.
Kairo was closer now.
Not fast.
Just inevitable.
"…He always chooses control over people."
Leah shook her head slightly.
"…You don't know him."
Kairo let out a quiet breath.
"…I know enough."
A pause.
Then—
he raised the weapon higher.
Not dramatically.
Not rushed.
Just enough for the air to change.
Leah's breath caught instantly.
"…Don't."
Izana reached the corridor.
Empty.
Too empty.
His eyes moved once.
Sharp.
Focused.
Then—
he saw her.
Leah.
Kairo.
Distance.
All wrong.
Everything wrong.
He moved instantly.
No hesitation.
No pause.
Just forward.
"…Leah."
Her head snapped slightly at the sound.
Relief and fear at the same time.
"…Iz—."
Kairo turned slightly.
Saw him.
Smirked faintly.
"…Right on time."
Izana didn't stop walking.
Didn't slow.
Just stepped into the space between them.
Instantly.
Completely.
Blocking her.
Leah was behind him now.
Protected.
Like it had always been meant that way.
His voice was low.
Final.
"…Step away from her."
Kairo's eyes flicked down slightly.
"…Still doing that."
Izana didn't move.
"…Don't talk."
Silence stretched.
Leah's hand grabbed the back of his jacket lightly.
"…Iz…"
He didn't look back.
"…Stay behind me."
Kairo tilted his head.
"…You know what I came for."
Izana's voice dropped further.
"…You'll leave without it."
Kairo exhaled slowly.
"…You think you decide that?"
Izana stepped forward half a step.
Now closer.
Too close.
The air between them collapsed.
"…Yes."
Behind him, Leah's grip tightened.
"…Don't."
Quiet.
Barely a whisper.
Izana didn't turn.
Didn't break line of sight.
But his voice softened just slightly.
Only for her.
"…Don't look at him."
Kairo raised the weapon again.
This time steady.
Intentional.
"…Let's see if you're still that predictable."
The moment stretched.
Too long.
Too still.
Then—
everything broke.
Two sharp sounds.
Movement.
Izana shifted instantly.
Fully in front of Leah.
Wrapping his arms around her to shield her.
No hesitation.
No space left open.
The impact hit.
He staggered half a step forward.
But didn't fall.
Didn't move away.
Still standing.
Between her and everything.
Leah's breath stopped.
"…Izana!"
Her hands grabbed his back immediately.
He didn't turn.
Didn't collapse.
Just stayed there.
Still blocking her.
Still shielding her completely.
"KAIRO!"
Dante's voice cut through the corridor like a blade.
Fast footsteps followed.
Immediate.
Dante appeared from the side entrance—
and saw everything.
No pause.
No hesitation.
He moved instantly.
Kairo tried to shift—
but Dante was faster.
He hit him hard.
Knocked him down cleanly.
Weapon gone in seconds.
Pinned immediately.
Dante's knee pressed into his back.
Arm locked.
Cold voice.
"…Don't move."
Kairo struggled once.
Only once.
Dante leaned closer.
"…I said don't move."
Security rushed in behind him.
Everything locked down instantly.
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Wrong in a different way now.
Leah was still in front of him.
Still holding his hand.
Until it slipped.
Not pulled away.
Not let go.
Just… gone.
Her breath caught instantly.
"…Iz?"
He didn't answer.
That was the first real crack.
Leah moved closer immediately.
"…Hey—look at me."
His shoulder shifted slightly.
Like his strength was no longer staying in place.
Her expression changed.
"…Iz."
He dropped to one knee.
Fast enough that her heart stopped—but not far enough for her to react in time.
"…No—."
Dante turned sharply.
"…Shit."
He was already moving in.
But Leah moved faster.
She dropped down beside him instantly.
"…Iz, look at me."
He tried to straighten.
Tried.
But his body didn't follow properly.
Leah didn't hesitate.
She guided him carefully—
pulling him closer—
until she had him in her arms.
"…I've got you."
Her voice shook, but her hands didn't.
She supported his weight against her, keeping him from falling further.
Izana's head rested briefly against her shoulder.
Still conscious.
Still trying.
Leah's grip tightened slightly.
"…Stay with me."
His hand moved weakly.
Found her arm.
Held on.
Just barely.
Then her hand shifted instinctively against his back—
and she froze.
Her breath caught instantly.
Something was wrong.
Her eyes widened.
"…Iz…"
Her voice dropped.
Barely audible now.
"…You're—."
She couldn't finish it.
Dante was at their side in seconds.
His expression changed immediately.
"…We need him moved. Now."
Leah shook her head once.
No.
Not moving.
Not letting go.
"…No."
Izana tried to speak.
But it came weaker than before.
Leah leaned closer instantly.
"…Don't talk. Just stay with me."
His eyes were on hers.
Still focused.
Still him.
But fading at the edges now.
"…Li."
She shook her head quickly.
"…I'm here."
A pause.
His grip tightened slightly on her sleeve.
Like he was making sure she was real.
"…Take—."
Leah cut him off immediately.
"…Don't you dare finish that sentence."
A faint pause.
Then—
he didn't argue.
That was worse.
Dante crouched again, voice low but urgent.
"…He's not stable. We move him now."
Leah didn't look at him.
Her focus stayed on Izana completely.
"…Can you stand?"
She asked it like she already knew the answer.
He tried.
He really did.
But his strength gave out mid-motion.
Leah caught him instantly.
Without hesitation.
She pulled him fully into her arms again.
Holding him upright against her.
"…I've got you."
Her voice broke slightly now.
"…I've got you, okay?"
Izana didn't respond right away.
His breathing slowed.
Too much.
Leah felt it immediately.
Her grip tightened.
"…No, no—stay with me."
His hand slipped in hers.
Not gone.
Just weakening.
Leah's eyes widened.
"…Iz?"
Nothing.
Just silence.
And then—
his weight shifted completely.
Gone from resisting.
Gone from holding on.
Leah froze.
"…Izana…"
She tightened her hold instantly.
"…Hey—no, no, no…"
But there was no response.
His head rested fully against her now.
Still.
Too still.
Leah's breath shook as she held him tighter.
"…Don't do this."
Dante's voice cut in again.
Strained now.
"…Move him. Now."
Leah didn't let go.
Not even when others stepped closer.
Not even when the world around her started moving again.
She just stayed there.
Holding him.
Refusing to let him fall any further.
"…You said you wouldn't leave me."
Her voice cracked completely now.
But he didn't answer.
And that silence—
was the loudest thing in the entire room.