The television buzzed softly in the background. Protesters screamed outside the White House gates, their voices raw, fists raised. Flames licked up from overturned cars and banners soaked in fury.
The world had found out.
The White Room was no longer a secret.
Inside Raegal's safehouse, all four sat in silence — Kael, Nila, Aira, and Raegal. The TV showed chaos. The truth was out. But so were the consequences. None of them spoke. The air was thick — the kind that settled over your skin like dust after a bomb.
Raegal crossed his arms. His voice was low.
"He's after us."
Nila turned toward him, brows furrowed.
"Who?"
He looked at her like she'd asked the most obvious question in the world.
"The President — he's going to kill us."
Aira blinked. Her fingers clenched unconsciously around the hem of her sleeve.
"Why?"
Raegal's eyes flicked toward Nila.
"You, Nila... you're the main suspect."
"What?"
"You tried to stop the experiment. Got kicked out. And now? The lab is burned. Of course he'll pin it on you."
Nila stood up. Her voice was laced with desperation.
"But the public—look at them! They're angry, they're rioting. We have time. He can't kill us before he stops them!"
Raegal chuckled under his breath, a tired and bitter sound. He'd seen this before. Public rage didn't guarantee safety.
"You know nothing, Nila. He'll dispose of the evidence before calming the public."
Kael's voice cut through the tension like a blade. It was dry, measured.
"We're out of supplies. Ammo, weapons, food. All gone."
Raegal stood.
"I'll get them."
He glanced at Nila and tossed her a pistol.
"Keep the kids safe."
No one argued. There wasn't time to.
---
The doorbell chimed as Raegal entered the quiet corner grocery store. He kept his head low and his eyes scanning. The world was burning outside, but in here — stale air, blinking fluorescent lights, and silence.
He filled his cart to the brim — canned food, bottled water, batteries, anything he could find. His movements were practiced. This wasn't his first time prepping for survival.
The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow.
"Where you takin' all that, sir?"
Raegal forced a smile.
"Camping."
A lie, but one that wouldn't raise alarms.
Just then, the bell chimed again.
Footsteps. Slow. Confident.
Raegal froze. Every instinct flared.
A boy entered — tall, thin, a scar under his eye. Teenager. But there was something in his eyes — sharp, calculating.
Raegal's hand immediately went to his waist.
"..."
He pulled the pistol and aimed. The boy raised both hands casually, unafraid.
"I'm not here to hurt you. Just here to talk."
Raegal didn't lower the gun.
"The President sent you?"
The boy snorted.
"That bastard? He's trying to bury what he created."
"Not kind with your words, eh?" Raegal responded.
The shopkeeper stammered.
"S-Sir, please... the gun..."
Raegal exhaled, lowering his weapon with reluctance.
"My bad."
He picked up the groceries and tossed a thick wad of cash on the counter.
"Keep the change."
The boy followed him outside without a word. Raegal didn't stop him.
---
Back at the Safehouse
Raegal stepped in with arms full.
"I brought somebody."
Everyone stood instantly.
Nila's eyes narrowed.
"Oh god."
Kael didn't move. His gaze was like stone.
Aira's voice was brittle.
"Him?"
The boy smiled faintly.
"It's good to see you, Kael."
He sat on the couch like it had always belonged to him — like they were the guests now.
Click.
Chunk.
Two guns were trained on him.
Kael, Nila.
Aira didn't raise her weapon at first. Her hand hovered—hesitating.
The boy didn't flinch.
"The President ordered me to kill you," he admitted. "But—I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to form an alliance."
"Like we'd believe you." Nila replied moving closely towards him
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"On what terms?"
The boy shrugged.
"You let me live with you."
Everyone froze. Even the TV in the background seemed quieter.
"What?"
"You could've planted a tracker. Or worse — poisoned supplies. Why should we let you in?"
"If I wanted you dead, you'd already be dead."
"I'm not hiding a tracker. I walked into your safehouse unarmed and outnumbered.
it's desperation."
"I heard the president having a conversation with a guard."
"He plays a recorder from a device and tosses it on a ground."
--
"Kill the boy, after he completes the mission."
"Got it sir." A guard replied
--
"He's not lying, It's his voice." Nila replied
He leaned forward.
Then he pointed.
"You — Raegal. Come with me."
Raegal stiffened.
"You killed his family."
The silence snapped like glass.
"What are you talking about?"
The boy didn't blink.
"The Ryuzaki Family. 2055 Incident."
Raegal's face darkened.
His voice dropped, raw.
"Shit."
"Look, I didn't know," Raegal muttered, eyes distant. "They were armed. Every one of them. Even the kids. What the hell was I supposed to do?"
The boy's voice was colder now.
"Because of that... your family's now the target."
"The President doesn't want justice. He wants revenge. You gave him the excuse."
The weight of it hit — hard. Raegal lowered his head. Hands curled into fists. He was shaking — not from fear, but from something deeper.
Regret.
--
The mission was supposed to be clean. In and out.
Raegal stood at the edge of the estate — a fortress disguised as a mansion. Blood-red carpets, reinforced doors, the air thick with the scent of wealth and paranoia.
He adjusted the rifle across his chest as the comm buzzed.
"Visual?"
"Affirmative. All targets confirmed inside."
"One shot. Make it count."
"Copy."
The front door exploded inward.
Gunfire. Screams. Chaos.
Raegal moved like a ghost — trained, mechanical.
He fired.
BANG.
A man fell.
BANG.
A teenager raised a weapon, too slow — gone in a blink.
"GO GO GO!"
"PROTECT THE FAMILY!"
Raegal turned the corner—just in time to see a small figure burst out of a side hallway.
A child. No older than ten.
Hands shaking. Eyes wild. A pistol clutched in both palms.
For a second, Raegal froze.
"I'm not afraid of you!"
BANG.
The bullet grazed Raegal's shoulder. He grunted, staggered. Reflex took over.
BANG.
The child dropped — hard — the gun skittering from his hand.
For a moment, the only sound was Raegal's ragged breathing and the gentle clink of a marble rolling out of the boy's pocket.
It spun in a slow circle… then stopped.
Raegal lowered his pistol, staring at the still form.
He didn't speak. Didn't move.
There was no triumph.
Just silence.
--
Kael said nothing.
Nila looked sick, her eyes hollow.
Aira gasped softly, hand to her mouth.
Raegal stared at the floor. He wasn't looking for forgiveness. He knew he didn't deserve it.
---
Later That Night
The others had gone to sleep. The house was finally silent, but sleep never came easy for Kael.
He stood at the edge of the hallway, arms crossed, watching the dim light from the living room flicker over Alex's face. The boy who once tried to kill him now sat on their couch, under the same roof.
He walked in.
Alex looked up from the couch, eyes heavy, like he hadn't rested in days. Maybe years.
Kael didn't sit. Didn't blink.
"First you tried to kill us..." Kael said coldly.
"Now you want to help?"
Alex's lips parted. No defense. No excuses. Just the truth.
"I was wrong."
His voice cracked a little.
"The lab… it brainwashed me. I didn't know what was wrong or right anymore."
"I'm sorry."
Kael exhaled slowly — not forgiveness, just exhaustion. He didn't trust apologies. He trusted actions.
He stepped closer. His tone sharpened.
"Don't get ahead of yourself."
A long silence stretched between them. It wasn't hostile — just brutally honest.
Then Kael turned, half-shadowed by the doorframe.
"I'll keep an eye on you."
Alex nodded.
"I understand."
"By the way." Alex said
"..?" Kael
"Dont trust Aira." Alex
"W-what?!"
"What the hell are you saying?"
"She and Raegal are the reason I am alive!" Kael responds
"I don't get it."
"Let's talk tomorrow."
"I'm sleepy."
"A-alright." Kael responds