Step. Step. Step.
Paige walked quickly down the corridor, his steps clipped and tense.
"Where the hell is he when you need him…"
He checked door after door as he moved.
Then he glanced at his watch.
'The session's over.'
Time to pick up Desmond.
He looked at the open letter in his hand.
It was a normal letter — but the stamp on it made all the difference.
Two red letters: SE.
The Se family. And Paige knew only one immortal they were in contact with — Judge Se White.
He glanced at the letter again before turning sharply and heading toward the doctor's chamber.
"…Shit," he muttered, quickening his pace.
Before long, he reached the chamber door.
SHIIK… WRUNG… THUD.
The metal door opened. Inside, Desmond sat on a stool, holding a bloodied kerchief.
He looked up. "You're late—"
But Paige grabbed him by the collar and yanked him out before he could finish.
He was unusually agitated — and Desmond noticed it.
'What happened?' Desmond wondered, momentarily forgetting to return the kerchief.
SHIIK… WRUNG… THUD.
The door closed behind them.
Paige let go of Desmond's collar.
"Walk fast," he ordered, then practically sprinted ahead.
"Hey!" Desmond called out, jogging behind and slowly catching up.
Something flickered — a shadow briefly slipping from Paige's own, then vanishing.
'Why the hurry?' Desmond thought.
THUD.
He bumped into Paige, who had suddenly stopped.
Paige was looking left — toward a door left ajar, its light still on.
He glanced once more at the crumpled letter in his hand, then turned to Desmond.
"Don't try to run. You won't find a way out."
And with that, he marched toward the door.
Desmond nodded slowly, eyeing the letter again.
'Is that what's got him like this?'
He remained behind, but curiosity tugged at him.
'Guess I'm waiting again…' he thought.
But his gaze lingered on the doorway.
That's when he saw it.
Just as Paige stepped through, something peeled off his shadow — slipping into the doorway's own shadow.
Desmond's eyes widened.
'What the hell was that?'
Then Paige disappeared into the room.
Desmond's heart pounded.
He focused on his breathing. Inhale. Hold. Release.
He took a calming breath and whispered, "…Shit," before creeping toward the door.
Slow. Silent.
Just as he reached the edge — voices.
"What do you think is the most sorrowful thing in life?" a voice asked.
A strange question.
'Sorrowful?' Desmond frowned. 'Are they speaking in code?'
Then Paige replied.
"…I don't know about that. But I do know there's a freaking expedition to the East right now."
"I heard," the other voice said.
'That voice… Where have I heard it?' Desmond thought.
"Then… did you prepare anything?" Paige asked. "If they find something, all our efforts will be wasted."
"Don't worry, Paige. I've already taken measures."
"…Will that be enough?"
Paige's voice, usually so relaxed, now sounded worried.
There was a pause.
Step. Step. Step.
The other voice was closer now.
"Us mortals… will win. And Eden will be ours."
Desmond's eyes narrowed.
'What the hell is happening in this prison?'
"…Don't worry."
Desmond carefully peeked around the doorframe.
He saw Paige.
And the man standing in front of him—
A man with half his face made of metal.
'What?!'
Desmond jerked back quickly.
But it was too late.
'He saw me.'
Their eyes had met — even if just for a moment.
"What?" Paige began to turn, but the metal-faced man put a hand on his shoulder.
"If you're still worried, go there yourself," he said calmly. "Check it out — and finish whoever's left."
Paige hesitated — then nodded.
He walked out.
At a distance, Desmond was trying to slow his breathing, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
"Let's go," Paige said, brushing past him.
Desmond followed, but couldn't help glancing back.
The shadow at the door didn't follow.
Inside, the metal-faced man walked slowly to the couch and sat down.
His smile remained faint — until it faded.
His expression turned blank. His head lowered.
He closed his eyes… revealing scarred eyelids.
Eyes that no longer saw — but somehow still gazed outward.
Downward.
Beyond the prison.
Into the Maw.
*************************************************************
Elsewhere…
Yellow hummed his usual tune, soft and eerie.
Then he turned his head.
SHIIK.
The door creaked open slightly.
Rerik stood there, silent as ever.
He didn't move. Just stared — hollow-eyed — into Yellow's blue ones.
Something passed between them.
Yellow chuckled quietly.
"Heh. Follow him there. But don't interfere."
THUD.
Rerik nodded once, then closed the door and vanished.
Alone again, Yellow returned to his humming.
The soft tune echoed across the Black stone.
Down the dim corridor…
And into the dark.
***********************************************************