Nathan and Joy are in the lab. Nathan places Guilt into the containment chamber. The pod beeps as it seals, locking Guilt inside.
"Alright, let's head back," Nathan says.
Joy nods, and they leave.
"What's taking them so long?" Sera mutters as she heads toward the lab. "Did something happen?"
A soft red glow passes through the hallway to her left.
Sera freezes.
"It's Love."
She hesitates. Should she wait for Nathan?
But what if they lose them?
"It's better if I follow. I'll call Nathan and tell him to hurry."
She pulls out her phone.
"Hello?"
"Yeah, what's up?" Nathan answers.
"I found one of them. It's Love."
"Okay. I'm on my way."
"I'm near Supply Room 16. It just left."
"Got it. Be careful."
"I will."
She hangs up.
Nathan turns to Joy. "Sera found Love. Let's pick up the pace."
"Oh… she did?" Joy says.
Nathan glances at him. "Something wrong?"
Joy shakes his head. "It's nothing."
—......—
Sera follows at a distance, careful. She doesn't want to end up like Nira.
Then she sees clearly.
Love looks different.
"No… it can't be."
Sera can believe her eyes.
She just isn't sure Nathan can.
Her phone starts ringing.
Nathan.
She silences it instantly and slips behind the wall just before Love turns.
"Hello?" Love calls out softly. "Who's there?"
Sera peeks.
Love is still looking.
Their eyes meet.
Sera ducks back.
"Sera?" Love's voice sharpens slightly. "Why are you hiding?"
Sera steps out slowly. "I wasn't hiding. I was just… looking for something."
Love squints. "Really?"
"…No."
"Obviously."
"I just didn't want to get too close," Sera admits. "I thought you might start destabilizing."
"I was," Love says.
A pause.
"But I'm fi—"
Her voice fractures.
Her form glitches violently for a split second, bright red light tearing across her outline before snapping back into place.
Silence fills the hallway.
"I'm fine," she repeats, more firmly.
Sera says nothing.
"I'm going to look for Nathan," Love says, turning away.
"Wait," Sera calls, hurrying after her. "Why are you looking for him?"
Love pauses. The red glow flickers faintly.
"You don't need to know."
She walks faster.
"Why not?" Sera presses. "Just tell me. At least let us stabilize you."
Love stops.
Slowly, she turns.
Her eyes lock onto Sera's.
A sharp red distortion radiates from her form, intensifying with every step she takes forward.
"I already told you I'm fine," she says, her voice tightening. "But no, you still want to help."
Sera steps back carefully, trying to maintain distance.
"Hey, calm down. I'm just trying to—"
"I said I'm fine!"
Her form glitches again, more violently this time. The hallway lights flicker with the pulse of red.
"Sera, are you there?" Nathan's voice echoes from down the hall as he runs into view.
"Sera," Joy calls behind him.
Nathan stops.
He sees her.
His breath catches.
Love's distortion vanishes instantly.
The red glow softens.
She turns toward him.
"Hello, Nathan," she says softly.
Not again.