The clock ticked past midnight.
Aira and Akil sat hunched over her small coffee table — laptops, printed screenshots, and a scribbled map of LeGaled headquarters between them.
Akil pointed at the security layout he remembered.
"There's a side entrance. No camera, just a code lock. They probably think no one would dare break in."
"You remember the code?" Aira asked.
"I'm good at remembering numbers," he replied, shrugging — like it wasn't impressive.
Aira rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth twitched.
Just a little.
"Okay," she said, taking a breath. "We go in. We grab documents from the second floor Then we get out before anyone notices."
"You say that like it's easy," Akil muttered.
"You're the one who said we needed a plan," she shot back.
He stared at her for a second — that fire in her eyes.
He didn't know whether to be impressed…
or terrified.
"We'll need disguises," he said.
Aira nodded. "And gloves."
"And maybe a miracle."
---
The car outside
Unbeknownst to them, a glint of metal shifted outside her window.
A figure in black leaned against the railing of the building opposite — eyes locked on her apartment.
A slow smirk.
Phone in hand.
> "They're preparing something. Inform the Director.and they have our counterfeit documents..i'll break in and bought them back there"
---
Inside the Apartment
Aira stood and grabbed a small backpack.
"You should go home. Come back at—"
A sudden soft knock cut her off mid-sentence.
Three knocks.
Precise.
Cold.
Akil and Aira froze.
Her stomach dropped like a stone.
Akil's voice turned to steel. "Don't open it."
Another knock — harder.
Aira's breath shook.
"That's… how they knocked on the room door last night."
Akil rose silently, stepping between her and the entrance.
He gestured — lights off.
Darkness swallowed them.
A shadow stretched under the door—
Two shadows.
Akil's pulse hammered, but his voice remained calm.
"Call the police."
"They won't believe me," she whispered.
"Call anyway."
Before she could reach her phone—
The doorknob clicked.
They had a key.
Aira's scream stuck in her throat.
Akil grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward the kitchen.
Her breaths came fast — panic rising like fire.
He pressed a finger to her lips — eyes sharp, focused.
Stay quiet.
The lock turned.
The door creaked open—
Footsteps.
Slow.
Searching.
Aira's heart raced so violently she thought they'd hear it.
Akil leaned close, his breath ghosting her ear.
"When I say run… you run."
Her fingers clung to his jacket before she realized it.
He didn't pull away.
"Whoever's there," Akil called out suddenly — strong voice filling the room — "Step back. NOW."
Silence.
Then…
A sickening chuckle.
A voice like oil:
"Room 107. The girl with the knife. We remember you."
Aira's knees buckled.
Akil's grip tightened.
The intruder stepped farther in — only a silhouette, but monstrous.
"You weren't supposed to leave," he said. "We have new terms."
Aira shook her head wildly, tears spilling now.
Akil stepped forward, blocking her completely.
"You're not touching her," he growled.
"Oh?" the intruder chuckled. "And what will you do, boy?"
Akil grabbed a heavy glass vase from the counter — without thinking — and hurled it.
CRASH.
The intruder cursed, stumbling back.
Akil didn't wait.
He grabbed Aira's hand —
"RUN!"
They sprinted out the back door, down the stairs, into the night—
Aira dragged breath after breath, feet barely keeping up with him.
Only when they reached a deserted alley did they stop.
Aira collapsed to the ground, sobbing — officially breaking.
"I can't— I can't do this—" she gasped. "They're everywhere. They'll kill me. They'll kill my brother—"
Akil knelt in front of her, cupping her face with trembling hands — not to hold her close…
…but to hold her together.
"Listen to me," he said, voice fierce, raw.
"As long as I'm here, they will not touch you. Not one hair. Do you hear me?"
Her tears slowed.
She stared at him — truly stared — seeing the fear in his eyes too.
Not for himself.
For her.
"But why?" she whispered brokenly.
He couldn't answer.
Not because he didn't know…
…but because the truth terrified him.
He looked away, voice barely louder than a breath:
"I don't want anything bad to happen to you."
Aira's chest ached.
She believed him.
For the first time…
she believed him.
---
The Pact
Aira wiped her eyes and stood shakily.
"We break into LeGaled tomorrow," she said. "We finish this. No more running."
Akil nodded.
And in that ruined moment
under a cold streetlight
two enemies…
two strangers…
became something like allies.
Something like hope.
Something dangerously close to fate.