Morning came too early.
Or maybe it never left.
Lillian couldn't tell anymore.
The office lights flickered on one by one.
Soft.
Automatic.
Cold.
She was already there.
Sitting at her desk.
Phone in her hand.
Screen lit.
Same messages.
Same silence.
Four days.
Four days of nothing.
No calls.
No texts.
Not even read receipts.
That part bothered her the most.
Unread.
Not ignored.
Not missed.
Unread.
Her thumb hovered over his name.
Didn't press call.
Not yet.
She had already called.
Too many times.
Still nothing.
Footsteps approached.
Quick.
Familiar.
"…You've been here all night, haven't you?"
Chloe.
Lillian didn't look up immediately.
"…No."
A pause.
"…I came in early."
Chloe didn't move.
Didn't buy it.
"…Right."
Silence stretched between them.
Then Chloe stepped closer.
Leaning slightly against the desk.
"…You didn't sleep."
Not a question.
Lillian exhaled quietly.
"…I tried."
Chloe softened slightly.
"…Any word?"
Lillian shook her head.
Slow.
Small.
"…Nothing."
Chloe frowned.
"…That's not normal."
"I know," Lillian whispered.
Her grip tightened around her phone.
"…He wouldn't just disappear."
Chloe crossed her arms.
Thinking.
"…Unless something's wrong."
The words landed heavy.
Lillian didn't respond.
Because she was already thinking it.
Already feeling it.
Her eyes dropped back to the screen.
"…He always answers me."
Quiet.
Certain.
"But he's not," Chloe said gently.
Silence.
Lillian swallowed.
"…If he doesn't call me by lunchtime…"
Her voice steadied.
Firm now.
"…I'm going to Washington."
Chloe blinked.
"…You're serious?"
Lillian finally looked up.
Her eyes were clear.
Determined.
"…Yes."
A pause.
Then Chloe nodded once.
"…Okay."
Lillian frowned slightly.
"…Okay?"
Chloe pushed off the desk.
"…I'm coming with you."
Lillian shook her head instinctively.
"…You don't have to—."
"Yeah," Chloe cut in.
"…I do."
Firm.
No hesitation.
"…If something's wrong, you shouldn't go alone."
Lillian hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
"…Thank you."
Soft.
Real.
Chloe gave a small shrug.
"…Don't thank me yet. Let's just hope we're overreacting."
Lillian didn't respond.
Because she didn't think they were.
Darkness.
Still there.
Still heavy.
Sebastian didn't know how long it had been anymore.
Time had stopped making sense.
Minutes.
Hours.
Days.
They all blurred together.
He was still in the corner.
But not the same way.
His body had shifted.
Slumped slightly to one side.
Shoulder pressing into the wall.
Head tilted forward.
Breathing uneven now.
Not controlled anymore.
Not steady.
He shivered.
Small.
Uncontrolled.
The floor was cold.
It had been cold the entire time.
But now his body felt it.
Too much.
His fingers curled slightly against the ground.
Weak.
Slow.
A cough broke the silence.
Sharp.
Rough.
It echoed in the small space.
He flinched slightly at the sound of it.
Like it didn't belong to him.
Another cough followed.
Worse this time.
His chest tightened.
He inhaled sharply.
Too sharply.
The air felt wrong.
Too thick.
Too little.
"…stop…" he muttered weakly.
But nothing stopped.
The door opened.
Light flooded in.
He didn't look up this time.
Didn't have the energy.
Footsteps.
Same as before.
A plate hit the floor.
Closer this time.
"…Eat."
Sebastian's lips parted slightly.
It took effort.
"…water…"
Barely audible.
A pause.
Then—
"You've been given enough."
Flat.
Dismissive.
The door shut.
Darkness returned.
Immediate.
Heavy.
His hand twitched.
Moved slightly toward the plate.
Slow.
Dragging.
He didn't reach it fully.
Didn't have the strength.
His head dipped forward.
Chin nearly touching his chest.
His breathing grew heavier.
Uneven.
Another cough.
Weaker this time.
"…Lillian…"
The name slipped out.
Quiet.
Fragile.
His eyes closed briefly.
Then opened again.
Still dark.
Still alone.
New York—
Time moved too fast.
And not fast enough.
The clock on the wall ticked louder than it should.
Lillian noticed every second.
Every minute.
Her phone never left her hand.
Chloe stayed close.
Quieter than usual.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…What time is it?" Lillian asked.
"…11:42," Chloe replied.
Lillian nodded slightly.
Too slowly.
"…Okay."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Then—
"Call him again," Chloe said gently.
Lillian hesitated.
Then nodded.
Her thumb pressed his name.
The ringing started.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Voicemail.
Again.
She ended the call.
Faster this time.
Her chest tightened.
"…This isn't normal," she whispered.
Chloe nodded.
"…No. It's not."
Lillian looked down at her phone.
Her reflection stared back at her from the screen.
Tired.
Worried.
Different.
"…He would've answered."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"…He always answers."
Chloe stepped closer.
Placed a hand on her shoulder.
"…Then we don't wait."
Lillian inhaled slowly.
Trying to steady herself.
Her eyes flicked to the clock.
11:58.
Two minutes.
The room felt too quiet.
Too still.
The seconds stretched.
Longer than they should.
Darkness.
Sebastian's head dipped lower.
His body heavier now.
Harder to hold upright.
His hand lay still on the floor.
Just inches from the plate.
So close.
But unreachable.
Another cough.
Weak.
His breathing stuttered slightly.
"…Lillian…"
Barely a whisper.
New York—
12:00.
The clock ticked.
Lillian's eyes fixed on it.
Then she stood.
Immediate.
Decisive.
"We're going."
Chloe didn't hesitate.
Already grabbing her bag.
"…Good."
Lillian grabbed her things.
Phone.
Bag.
Keys.
Her movements quick now.
Focused.
No hesitation left.
"…We'll book the next flight," Chloe said.
"Private," Lillian replied instantly.
Chloe blinked.
Then nodded.
"…Right. Of course."
They moved toward the door.
Fast.
Purposeful.
No more waiting.
No more silence.
Darkness.
Unmoving.
Unforgiving.
Sebastian barely stirred.
His breathing shallow now.
Uneven.
His body weak.
Heavy.
Cold.
"…don't…"
The word slipped out.
Broken.
Unfinished.
His head leaned fully against the wall.
Still.
Miles away—
Lillian rushed forward.
Phone clutched tightly in her hand.
Heart racing.
Moving toward him.
Without knowing what she would find.
The doors of Sovereign opened.
Lillian and Chloe stepped out together.
Fast.
Focused.
Unshaken now.
Lillian didn't look back.
"…We're coming," she said quietly.
And this time—
she didn't mean maybe.