"What did I do," I asked, my voice steadier now, "to be called a criminal?"
"And why don't I remember any of it?"
He leaned closer, like personal space was optional.
"Didn't you commit the crime of stealing my heart?" he said, lips curling into an easy grin.
I stared at him.
"…I'm choosing to believe that's not relevant."
"Your loss," he shrugged.
I dragged a hand through my hair, exhaling. "Can you answer properly?"
"Alright, alright." He lifted both hands slightly in surrender, though the amusement never left his face. "From what I've heard, people end up here after doing something big enough to get the government's attention."
"That still tells me nothing."
"That's because no one tells you anything," he replied lightly. "Kind of the theme here."
I frowned. "And the memory loss?"
He paused.
Not long.
Just enough to notice.
"Don't know," he said, a little too casually. "Maybe you hit your head on the way in."
I gave him a flat look. "I'd remember that."
"Would you?" he shot back, a hint of something sharper slipping through.
…Fair.
Before I could push further, a low mechanical hum filled the room.
Both of us glanced up.
The flickering light steadied, buzzing softly.
Then a voice cut through the silence—
"All subjects, proceed to the announcement hall."
Cold. Flat. Not human.
"The first evaluation will begin shortly."
A heavy sound followed.
Metal shifting.
I turned just in time to see part of the wall slide open, revealing a dim corridor beyond.
So that's the exit.
"…Well," he muttered, looking toward it. "That doesn't sound ominous at all."
I huffed. "You say that like you're not included."
He glanced at me, then smiled—easy, unbothered.
"I guess we'll find out."
I stepped toward the opening, then paused. "…You coming?"
"Yeah," he said, falling into step beside me. "Wouldn't want to miss the show."
The show.
That choice of words didn't sit right.
But before I could question it, the corridor swallowed us both.