Scene: Room 11B – Vornyx & Sereth
The steel door slammed shut behind Vornyx, his jaw clenched tight.
Across the room, Sereth was already sitting on her cot, sharpening a combat knife even though her ankle monitor ensured it wouldn't matter.
"You're late," she muttered, eyes never leaving the blade.
Vornyx ignored her and peeled off his coat, throwing it carelessly on the floor. "Didn't know I had a curfew."
"You do when you're a leashed dog," she snapped back, her tone icy.
He turned slowly, eyes narrowing. "And what does that make you? Loyal mutt?"
That finally made her glance up. Her silver eyes burned with restrained fury. "At least I remember who I owe my life to."
Vornyx's face darkened. "You mean Xerath? That parasite who killed my family? Wake up, Sereth. You're defending a corpse wrapped in delusion."
Sereth stood, blade still in hand. "You think just because you're angry, it makes you righteous? We all lost something. You think you're the only one?"
"I lost everything because of him," Vornyx hissed. "And you still kneel at his ghost."
"I didn't kneel. I survived."
They stood there, tense, both tethered by their ankle monitors and the weight of their shared past.
The silence crackled.
Then Sereth scoffed and sat back down. "Whatever. Just don't talk in your sleep."
---
Scene: Room 9A – Elian & Lyra
Lyra lay curled on the bed, tangled in sheets, smiling softly.
Across the room, Elian leaned against the wall reading a data-pad, but his eyes kept drifting back to her.
"You're staring again," she said playfully.
"Can you blame me?" Elian murmured.
Lyra sat up, pushing her hair behind her ears. "It's weird, right? Being in this bunker. So many shadows. So many ghosts."
"We survived," he said, setting the pad down. "We still have each other."
Lyra's smile faded slightly. "But for how long?"
Elian crossed the room and knelt in front of her. "As long as it takes."
She leaned forward, brushing his cheek. "You're so different now."
"And yet, I still can't beat Vornyx in a blade match."
Lyra smirked. "You beat him where it matters."
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
She leaned in and whispered, "Here."
Their lips met, soft and fleeting. A rare moment of light in a world choked by darkness. Their lips locked for quite a while but was eventually broken by Lyra.