A suffocating silence settled over the office.
Ward didn't move.
Didn't breathe. "…What exactly is a Variant Fallen?"
Ryan stopped pacing.
Then dropped back into the chair.
"Trouble."
The word landed flat.
Heavy.
Final.
Ward stared at him.
"…That's not an answer."
Ryan exhaled slowly through his nose.
"It's the only one that matters."
That didn't help.
Ward's jaw tightened.
"How much trouble, Ryan?"
Ryan leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on his knees.
"Variants are… mutations."
"Same origin as the Fallen—but something changes."
"They adapt."
"They evolve."
He ran a hand through his hair, slower this time.
"And just like humans… the more mana they absorb, the stronger they get."
Ward didn't interrupt.
Didn't blink.
"It won't be easy to find it," Ryan continued. "Especially not this early."
A beat passed.
"For now… we focus on limiting opportunities."
Ward's fingers twitched slightly against the desk.
"Meaning?"
"No one alone."
"Not for any reason."
"Groups. Always."
"Central sleeping."
"Rotations on watch."
Ryan's voice remained steady—but there was something underneath it now.
Something colder.
"If it wants to hunt… we make it work for it."
Ward swallowed.
Ryan could see it now.
The tremor in his hands.
Subtle.
Controlled.
But there.
He couldn't blame him.
An enemy you couldn't see…
Didn't fight fair.
Didn't announce itself.
It waited.
Watched.
Picked the weakest.
And when it moved—
It ended things before anyone could react.
Ryan leaned back.
"…That's all we can do for now."
Ward nodded slowly.
Not convinced.
But accepting.
"I'll get people moving."
He pushed himself up from the chair.
A little too fast.
The desk creaked as he steadied himself.
Ryan stood as well.
"I'll walk with you."
Ward didn't question it.
The hallway felt worse this time.
Quieter.
Like the building was holding its breath.
Their footsteps echoed—too loud, too sharp.
Ward spoke first.
"Simon's already going to push back on this."
Ryan didn't look at him.
"I expect him to."
Ward let out a short breath.
"He's calling himself the mayor now."
Ryan's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"Confident."
"He gathered most of the food yesterday," Ward continued. "Locked it in one of the storage rooms."
"Posted guards."
"He's rationing everything."
Ryan nodded once.
"That tracks."
Ward glanced sideways at him.
"I could take it back."
The words came out slower.
Measured.
"But that means force."
Ryan finally looked at him.
"And you don't want to cross that line."
Ward didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
[Can you blame him?]
[It's only been a day.]
Ryan's gaze drifted forward again.
And people are already starving.
And something is hunting them.
And he's still thinking like this is temporary.
We don't have that luxury.
"Well," Ryan said lightly, "then we don't take it."
Ward frowned. "…What?"
Ryan raised a finger.
"He may control what's already here…" A faint smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. "…but he doesn't control what's outside."
Ward slowed his steps.
"You're talking about scavenging."
"I am."
"That's dangerous."
Ryan gave a small shrug.
"So is doing nothing."
Ward let out a quiet breath.
"…You're not wrong."
By the time they returned to the gym, the mood had shifted.
Word spread fast.
Too fast.
People were already moving.
Gathering.
Dragging blankets, bags, whatever they had.
Closer.
Tighter.
Eyes flicked toward the dark hallways every few seconds.
No one wanted to be near the edges anymore.
Good.
Ryan scanned the room once before moving toward his group.
They had already settled into one corner.
Naturally.
Without being told.
People nearby had done the same.
Not too close.
But close enough.
Like animals inching toward a fire they didn't understand.
"It seems we've become popular," Marcus muttered, lowering himself onto the floor.
He wasn't quiet.
He never was.
Several people glanced over.
Elena's elbow found his ribs instantly.
"Subtle," she said flatly.
Marcus winced. "I am being subtle."
"You're whispering like you're announcing something."
"Oh come on," Marcus shot back. "We all know they feel safer near us."
"As much as someone feels safer stepping in dog—"
"Finish that sentence," Marcus said, turning toward her with a grin.
Elena's eyes narrowed. "—I will actually throw you."
Alice's laughter broke through the tension.
Clear.
Bright.
Too loud for the room.
A few heads turned.
But the sound lingered anyway.
Ryan felt it too.
That small shift.
A crack in the pressure.
Even he let out a quiet chuckle.
"Since you two get along so well," Ryan said, "you can handle the first scavenging run tomorrow."
Elena turned toward him slowly.
That same look.
Sharp.
Deadly.
"You're joking."
"I'm not."
Marcus grinned like he'd just been handed a gift.
"See? Leadership recognizes talent."
Elena didn't even look at him.
Her gaze stayed locked on Ryan.
"You're sending us out… now?"
Alice leaned forward slightly.
Her expression had changed.
"You want to bring in more supplies… so you can distribute them yourself?"
Ryan met her eyes.
Soft.
But certain.
"Exactly."
A pause.
Then—
A low ripple of laughter spread through the group.
Marcus leaned back, shaking his head.
"So basically… you're going to strip that guy of the only thing keeping him relevant?"
Ryan's smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
"I don't like people who hoard power."
A beat.
"Especially when others are starving."
Alice studied him for a moment longer.
Not questioning.
Not agreeing.
Just… watching.
Trying to understand where that line sat for him.
Across the gym—
Something shifted.
Not movement.
Not sound.
Just—
A feeling.
Ryan's head turned slightly.
His gaze slid toward the far wall.
Dark.
Still.
Empty.
But for a fraction of a second…
He thought—
No.
His eyes narrowed.
Nothing.
Just shadows.
He didn't move.
Didn't react.
But his voice dropped slightly.
"Tonight… no one leaves this room."
The laughter died instantly.