Chapter 0006

—Silvio

The loud guy was heavier than he looked. Carrying him through the quiet shallow forest and into the suburbs felt like dragging a bad decision along with me. His breathing was slow but steady, and his last words still echoed in my head.

"Rehire me."

Of all the things to say before passing out.

I entered my house, the glass walls reflecting the city lights. The temperature adjusted automatically as I stepped inside.

I took him to the guest room—not that I ever had guests—and laid him on the bed, pulling the blanket over him. I stood there for a moment, just looking at him. Something felt... off. There was a faint hum in the air, like a vibration between us. He didn’t move or blink. He just lay there, oddly peaceful, though I wasn’t sure if it was because he was comfortable or just that unconscious.

I turned to leave, but as soon as my hand brushed against his, something shifted again. A strange pulse, like static. Faint but noticeable. I knew that feeling, but it couldn’t be what I thought it was. It just couldn’t.

I turned to him, touched him deliberately but felt nothing. This was strange. Who was this guy?

Frowning, I shook my head and walked away.

This wasn’t my concern at the moment. Whatever it was, I was sure I’d find out soon enough.

.....

I glanced down at the glowing screen before me, my jaw clenching. The search had led nowhere again. My fingers tapped idly against the surface as I studied the failed trace on the screen. A dead end. Another one

A footstep caught my attention. I looked up from my study to see the Klein guy standing in the doorway, barefoot, his hair sticking out in all directions like a badly drawn cartoon character. His hospital gown was wrinkled, hanging off him like he’d had a wrestling match in his sleep. He looked annoyingly comfortable.

“Mr. Alvarez?” His voice was hoarse. I met his gaze, silent.

He frowned. “Why am I here? What happened?”

I studied him for a moment, my expression plain. "You don’t remember?"

His brows furrowed. “Last thing I remember… I got stabbed and I—” He stopped, blinking. “Wait. Am I dead?”

My fingers paused over the screen. "Stabbed? Dead?"

He exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple, "How did you know that?" He asked. My frown deepened and I stared at him without a word, waiting for him to make sense.

“Getting stabbed and dying,” he clarified, as though that explained anything. I resisted the urge to scoff. Why would I care?

His next words sent a slow chill down my spine.

“I said that in my head.”

Silence.

I didn’t blink. “You collapsed. I brought you here.” I said, shifting the topic.

Klein’s expression twisted in frustration. “You—? From my house? Do you even know where I live? And if you did, why the hell didn’t you take me to a hospital?”

I ignored him. The fact that he was asking me these questions, when he’d been the one looking for me, was absurd. He was talking too much, and it was starting to irritate me. I returned my focus to the floating screen in front of me, scrolling through data. Another dead end.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something more, but paused. Then he exhaled, shaking his head. “Okay, hold on,” he said, pushing his palm in my direction and briefly shutting his eyes before opening them again.

“Who the hell starts work at 7 a.m.? It’s insane that you expect me to be there that early.”

I didn’t answer immediately. I glanced at the time displayed on one of the screens. “It’s 6:45 a.m.,” I said, as if that explained everything.

Klein’s eyes widened. “6:45?” he echoed. “I’ve been out for an entire day?”

I sighed, already regretting not leaving him in the forest.

“You have less than 15 minutes before you’re unemployed again.”

“Oh, please! I don’t understand why—” He paused, blinking. “Huh?” His eyes widened. “You’re… reemploying me?” he asked, but I didn’t respond.

His hand brushed against the hospital gown, and the realization finally seemed to hit him. “Okay, first of all, I feel like an escaped mental patient. Second, tell me you have a shower.”

I shook my head, expression flat, and gestured toward the hallway. “Third door on the left.” and he was already gone.

I heard the shower turn on, followed by the unmistakable sound of klien sighing in relief like he'd been stranded in the desert for days.

I let out a slow breath, leaning back in my chair. This situation was… inconvenient.

When Klein finally reappeared, he looked fresher...his damp hair sticking to his forehead, his skin still warm from the steam. But the real issue?

He was wearing my clothes.

An oversized blue shirt and white pants hung loosely on him, making him look even smaller than before. I raised a brow.

"I’m ready," he announced.

"Wait outside." I told him.

He opened his mouth to argue but saw my expression and muttered something under his breath as he left.

I shook my head without a word, tapped the side panel on my desk, and the transparent glass walls turned a soft, foggy white. Klein, now a blurred figure beyond the glass, tilted his head in confusion.

I ignored it.

Soon the air changed. A faint, barely noticeable sound filled the room. The space in front of me shifted, twisting and warping until a tall figure emerged, as though a hidden door had just opened in the air.

Luhnax.

His dark eyes flickered to me first, then past me, toward the obscured figure of Klein beyond the glass. His expression darkened.

"A human?"

I gave a single, silent nod.

Luhnax’s gaze snapped back to me, his brows furrowed, his voice colder now.

“Why didn’t you kill him?”