The night had settled quietly over the city. Inside Noah's apartment, the lights were dim, casting soft shadows across the walls. The silence wasn't peaceful, it was heavy. The kind that presses down on your chest without making a sound.
Noah sat on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees, fingers loosely intertwined. He wasn't reading. He wasn't working. He wasn't even moving. Just… thinking. Or at least, trying to. Because the truth was, he didn't know what he was thinking about. It was like something sat at the edge of his mind. A shape, a feeling, a half-formed thought that refused to take form no matter how hard he tried to focus on it. Every time he tried to catch it, it slipped. Gone. Leaving behind only unease.
Noah exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through his hair. "What is it…" he murmured under his breath.
His mind replayed things...faces, voices, moments. But nothing stayed long enough to connect. Something was wrong. He could feel it. Deep. Sharp. Close. And yet completely out of reach.
Soft footsteps approached. Evan. He walked in quietly, holding two mugs of coffee, the warmth of it curling into the cool air of the room. He stopped when he saw Noah. Really saw him. The tension in his shoulders. The way his brows were slightly drawn together. The distant look in his eyes. Evan didn't say anything at first. He simply walked closer and held out the mug.
"Here."
Noah blinked, pulled back from his thoughts, and looked up at him. For a second, he just stared. Then took the cup.
"…Thanks."
Evan sat beside him. "Stop thinking so much," he said softly. "You look like your brain is about to file a resignation letter."
A faint smile tugged at Noah's lips. "Can't afford that," he muttered.
Evan nudged him lightly. "Then take a break."
Noah looked at him again. And something inside him softened. Without a word he reached out, took Evan's hand and pulled him gently onto his lap.
Evan let out a small, surprised breath. "Noah—" But he didn't resist. He adjusted himself, sitting sideways on Noah's lap, one arm instinctively resting on his shoulder. Noah wrapped his arms around him. Tight. Warm. Grounding. He buried his face lightly against Evan's shoulder, breathing him in like he was the only thing keeping him steady. For a moment the noise in his head quieted. Evan's fingers slowly moved into Noah's hair. Soft. Gentle. Careful. He ran them through the strands, brushing lightly against his scalp. Noah's grip tightened slightly. He liked that. A lot. It calmed him in a way nothing else could.
"You're overthinking," Evan whispered.
"Hmm."
"You'll figure it out."
Noah didn't respond. But his hold on Evan said enough.
And then...the phone rang...Sharp...Sudden...Cutting through the moment. Noah's body tensed instantly. He pulled back slightly, reaching for his phone. The screen lit up.
Detective Kolon.
At this hour, that wasn't normal.
Noah answered immediately. "Detective Kolon?"
There was no greeting. Just a voice. Low. Urgent. "I found something."
Noah was already on his feet. "What?"
"A lead on Rhea."
That was enough.
"I'm coming."
Within minutes, they were out the door.
Evan followed without hesitation.
"No, you stay..." Noah started.
"I'm coming," Evan said firmly.
Noah looked at him. Saw the determination. The fear. The need. And didn't argue again.
The place was dimly lit when they arrived. A quiet roadside area, a few police vehicles parked nearby, their lights flashing faintly in the distance. Kolon stood near a patrol car, arms crossed, eyes fixed on a screen set up on the hood. He looked up as they approached. His gaze immediately fell on Evan. His jaw tightened. In a low voice, edged with irritation...
"This is an active investigation site, Noah. You don't bring civilians here."
Noah didn't flinch. "Evan is not just a civilian," he said firmly. "He's part of this."
Kolon's eyes hardened. For a moment, it looked like he would argue. But then he exhaled. Turned back to the screen.
"Fine. We don't have time for this."
"Dash cam footage," Kolon said shortly.
"From a building across the road. Not the exact location—but close enough."
The video played. Grainy...Distant...Unsteady. But clear enough to understand. The road appeared empty at first. Then, a figure...Running...Stumbling...Desperate...Rhea.
Her movements were uneven, like her body was giving up but her will refused to. Evan's breath hitched slightly. Noah's fists clenched. They watched in silence. Rhea crossed the frame and disappeared for a second. Then another figure entered. From the shadows. Calm...Controlled. The man bent down, lifted her unconscious body with ease, and carried her toward a car parked at the edge of the frame.
Everything happened quickly. Too quickly. The footage blurred slightly as the car moved. And then, it was over. Silence...Heavy...Unmoving.
Evan's voice came out in a whisper. "…That's her."
Noah didn't reply. His eyes were still fixed on the screen. On that man. That figure. Something about him...something very small...very specific...caught Noah's attention. Not the face. That was impossible to see. But the build. The way he moved. The posture. The way he carried her, like he had done it before. Like he knew exactly how much weight to adjust.
Noah's breathing slowed. Something inside him shifted. That feeling from earlier, the incomplete thought, suddenly had shape. Not clear. Not complete. But close. Too close. His chest tightened.
I've seen this… Where…? His mind raced. Recent. Very recent. That walk. That stance. That...Noah's fingers curled into a fist. A name tried to rise. But he pushed it down. No. No… that's not possible. It didn't make sense. It couldn't.
His throat felt dry. Kolon's voice cut in.
"It's not clear enough to identify him. But this confirms one thing...Rhea was taken alive."
Noah nodded slowly. But he wasn't really listening anymore. Because inside his head, everything was getting louder. Messier. Dangerous.
Evan turned toward him. "Noah…?"
Noah blinked. Looked at him. And for the first time, there was something in his eyes. Something broken. Something desperate. He grabbed Evan's wrist suddenly.
"We're finishing your hypnosis session."
Evan froze."What?"
"You have to remember his face," Noah said, voice low but intense. "No matter what it takes."
Evan stared at him. Shocked. Confused.
But Noah's grip tightened. His eyes filled with something Evan had never seen before. Fear. Not for himself. But for the truth.
Because somewhere between doubt and denial, Noah had just taken his first step toward something he wasn't ready to face.