He struggled until he finally managed to pry her hands away… and was met with Sera's tear-soaked face, mascara streaked black down her cheeks.
Her tears and snot streamed from both her eyes and nose, her whole face flushed red, including the bridge of her nose.
This—this was the look of someone genuinely terrified. Paralyzed by fear. No acting, no overreaction—just raw, overwhelming panic.
Mickey had no idea Mr. Brown was such a devastating weakness for her.
"Hic… hic…"
Sera stared at him with eyes full of betrayal. And then, she snapped—screaming with all the fury she had left in her trembling chest.
"Why!? Why would you do something like this to me!? Hic You asshole! Why does it have to be you!?"
Believe it or not, Sera cried out at full volume, her tears falling onto his hands.
"Hhhuaaaah… hic… aaah… hic... I've got nothing left!!! My dignity's gone!!! Everything's gone!!!"
"Sera… you're losing control—"
"Why did you do it!? Did you get your damn satisfaction, dick head!? Snifflehic hic..."
She screamed until her throat gave out.
"Uugh... sob I wanna die!!! I just wanna die!!! Kill me already! Do it! Just kill me!!! I've got nothing left…"
She hugged her knees, buried her face in them, and kept crying—like a little schoolgirl.
Mickey now realized he'd gone too far. What started as a petty prank had crossed the line—she wasn't just startled by Mr. Brown… she was genuinely terrified.
He had no idea what to do. Not the faintest clue.
"What's going on over there?"
A female research agent poked her head around the corner.
"Oh? Mickey? Thought you were the janitor. What happened?"
"Nothing."
He turned back and looked at Sera… still curled up, still not okay.
"…Come on. Let's get you up…"
He touched her shoulder, trying to lift her. But she didn't move. It was like her body had short-circuited from the trauma—shut down completely.
"Come on, don't be dramatic—"
The moment he said that, she shoved him hard, knocking him flat on his back.
"Don't let me see your face again!"
And she collapsed into her knees again, sobbing even harder.
"HHUUAAAAHH… sniff… sob… sob… I've got nothing left!!!"
Mickey was lost. He needed help.
Only one person came to mind—Roxxy Barrett.
He pulled out his phone and checked the time.
9:30 PM.
Without wasting a second, he called her.
—
Meanwhile, Roxxy had been lying on her bed for over two hours since borrowing her brother's shirt, thoughts swirling about Sid and the American girl.
Her phone buzzed.
"…Mickey? What is it?"
"…."
"…."
"WHAT!?!?"
—
Back with Mickey.
"Yeah… that's basically what happened."
[And what now???]
"She's still in the same spot…"
[Tsk… Okay. Shut up. Don't say anything. I'm coming right now.]
—
Whish!Ding!
Roxxy burst out of the elevator and scanned her fingerprint to unlock the lab.
She found Mickey standing there dumbfounded and a female research agent watching Sera, who was still curled up on the floor, hiding from reality.
"Sera???"
Roxxy dropped to her knees and cupped Sera's face.
To Sera, her voice was like the voice of God descending from the clouds. She flung herself into Roxxy's arms, clinging tightly like a drowning child finding a lifeboat.
"HHUUAAAAAHHHH!!!"
"Ugh—!"
Roxxy nearly toppled from the strength of the hug. Sera wouldn't let go.
So she gently patted her back and looked up—dead at the accused.
"Mickey! What the hell were you thinking?! Cockroaches?!"
"…It's just a bug, isn't it?"
"No! It's not just a bug, Mickey! If someone has a phobia, they can literally lose it! If that door wasn't fingerprint-locked, she would've broken it down!"
She scolded him harshly.
"…Sera… can you try to stand? You okay?"
"Here, will this help?"
The female researcher handed over a large coat. Roxxy draped it over Sera, down to her knees—anything to help her feel protected, hidden, safe.
It worked. Sera shakily followed Roxxy to the elevator.
"Let's go, Mickey. Time to be responsible. If this were anyone else, I'd be filing a report for tampering with specimens."
"…."
Mickey said nothing, but followed.
—
Back at the dorm floor, Roxxy peeked out of the elevator… no familiar faces in sight.
Good.
The last thing Sera needed right now was to run into Sid. She was already mentally wrecked—seeing her brother might finish the job.
She rushed Sera into her room. Mickey slipped in after.
Only three people knew what happened.
That was probably for the best.
"…Sera? Hello…"
Good thing she wasn't crying anymore. Now she just sat in a stunned, silent slump.
"… sniffle…"
She took the tissue Roxxy gave her and wiped her face. Black eyeliner smeared across her cheeks, mixed with tears and snot.
"…Haaa…"
Roxxy sighed deeply.
"Okay… tell me everything. What the hell happened?"
—
"Unbelievable…"
Roxxy clutched her head.
"Mickey… we've got a mission tomorrow. And you pull this crap today?! That wasn't funny!"
"…."
Mickey stayed silent.
He walked over to Sera and gently poked her shoulder…
Only to get shoved hard.
Sera lunged and pinned him down, fists flying with all the rage she had left.
"Sera!"
Roxxy grabbed her arms and pulled her off.
She didn't say a word. Just breathed hard through clenched teeth, glaring daggers at Mickey.
His face was blank. No sign of remorse.
Anyone would've been furious.
"…Mickey, just go. Leave. Now."
"…."
"And don't tell anyone. Okay?"
"…Yeah, I get it."
Mickey got up, brushed himself off, and walked out.
Obedient… but way too late.
"…Bastard…"
Sera muttered, wiping the edge of her eye.
Roxxy wasn't good at comforting people… she didn't know what to do.
All she knew was that now her white shirt was smudged with Sera's makeup—and it was her brother's shirt too.
"…Ugh…"
Whatever. Not important right now.
"…Are you okay…?"
Sera gave a tiny nod. She spent the next ten minutes or so slowly regaining her composure.
She was furious.
She had never been this angry in her life.
In all 18 years of her existence, this moment now stood as the number one thing she'd never forgive.
Right now, on this earth, no one made Sera want to commit murder more than Mickey Mannix.
"…Thanks… Roxxy…"
"…Mm."
"I'll stop bothering you now…"
"…."
Whish!Clunk!
"…Seriously, what the hell is going on tonight…"
Roxxy scratched her head.
Yet another problem.
And tomorrow's mission? How the hell was that going to go now?