The room felt wrong before Sarai even stepped all the way inside.
Not because it looked dangerous.
Because it didn't.
She slowed just past the threshold, her sneakers barely making a sound against the polished floor. Her eyes moved slowly, deliberately—corners, ceiling seams, reflections in the glass panels lining the walls.
Too clean.
Too open.
"…this is weird," she muttered, more to herself than anything.
Behind her, Virek stepped in without hesitation, his presence filling the space in a way that made the silence feel tighter instead of safer.
"It's staged," he said, his gaze already tracking the edges of the room.
Sarai glanced at him over her shoulder, then back ahead.
"Yeah," she said. "I figured that part out."
Her attention landed in the center of the room.
A single chair.
She blinked slowly.
"…you've got to be kidding me."
Virek didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
A soft click sounded behind them.
Sarai turned instantly, her hand already lifting slightly like she might catch the door before it sealed.
Too late.
"Of course it did," she said, pressing her palm briefly against the surface before letting it drop.
The lights dimmed just enough to stretch the shadows across the floor. Not dark. Just… controlled.
Footsteps followed.
Measured.
Unhurried.
Sarai turned toward the sound, shoulders tightening as her stance shifted.
Keller stepped into view like he'd been part of the room the entire time.
His posture was relaxed. His expression unreadable. His eyes—
locked on her.
"You're quieter than I expected," Keller said, his tone calm, almost casual.
Sarai let out a small breath through her nose and shifted her weight onto one hip, crossing her arms loosely.
"You're more annoying than I expected," she replied.
A faint change moved across Keller's face. Not quite a smile.
But close.
"Good," he said. "That means you're paying attention."
Virek moved slightly then, just enough to angle himself between them without fully stepping in front of her.
"Say what you need to say," he said, voice low and even.
Keller's gaze flicked to him briefly, then returned to Sarai like the interruption didn't matter.
"I will," he said.
He took a slow step forward.
"Do you know why they paired you with him?"
Sarai tilted her head slightly, studying him now instead of reacting.
"No," she said. "But I'm guessing you're about to tell me."
Keller nodded once.
"You weren't chosen because you'd get along," he said.
His eyes tracked her reaction carefully.
"You were chosen because you improve his outcomes."
Sarai's arms loosened slightly, though she didn't drop them.
"…and that's supposed to impress me?" she asked.
"That depends," Keller replied, tilting his head just a fraction. "On whether you think that's all you are."
Sarai let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head.
"You really thought that was going to hit," she said.
Keller didn't argue.
He just watched her.
Virek stepped forward another inch.
"Get to the point," he said.
Keller's eyes shifted to him again.
"I am," he replied.
He turned slightly, pacing just one step before stopping again.
"You rely on the system more than you think," he said.
Sarai frowned, uncrossing her arms now.
"We don't rely on it," she said. "We work around it."
Keller's gaze returned to her.
"That's the same thing when it starts making decisions for you."
Virek's voice cut in, sharper now.
"It didn't make this decision."
Keller looked at him fully this time.
"No," he said quietly.
"It made you."
That sat heavy.
Sarai's eyes flicked between them.
"…what does that even mean," she asked.
Keller exhaled slowly, like he'd already had this conversation before.
"They didn't give you a partner," he said.
His gaze moved between them.
"They gave you a variable."
Sarai's jaw tightened slightly.
"…okay," she said. "And you're saying that like it's supposed to mean something."
Keller stepped closer, closing just enough distance to shift the tension.
"It means your value isn't in who you are," he said.
A beat.
"It's in what you do to him."
Sarai's posture stiffened.
"…you don't know me," she said.
Keller didn't argue.
"They told me mine would work too," he said.
That changed everything.
Sarai's expression dropped slightly.
"…what?"
Virek stilled beside her.
Keller didn't look at him.
"They said we were efficient," he continued. "Compatible. Predictable."
His voice stayed even.
"They said we would survive."
Sarai swallowed.
"…and what happened?"
Keller met her eyes.
"He killed her."
Silence hit hard.
Sarai turned toward Virek slowly.
"…is that true?"
Virek didn't look away.
"Yes."
No excuse.
No softness.
Just truth.
Sarai held his gaze for a second longer than she meant to before turning back.
"…so this is revenge," she said.
Keller tilted his head slightly.
"That's the simple version."
"And the real one?"
Keller's voice dropped just slightly.
"The system doesn't protect you," he said.
"It just gives you something to lose."
That landed deeper.
Sarai's arms fell fully to her sides.
"…so what," she said. "You're going to prove that by killing us?"
Keller shook his head once.
"No."
A beat.
"I'm going to prove it by making you choose."
Virek stepped forward immediately.
"That's not happening."
Keller's eyes shifted to him.
"It already is."
The lights flickered.
The hum deepened.
Something in the building shifted.
Sarai's chest tightened.
"…what did you do?"
Keller stepped back slowly.
"You're not as unpredictable as you think," he said.
His gaze moved between them one last time.
"But I'm curious to see how long that lasts."
Then he was gone.
Not rushed.
Not dramatic.
Just… gone.
Sarai exhaled slowly.
"…I hate him," she muttered.
Virek's attention had already shifted back to the room.
To the walls.
To the change in the air.
"…he's not done," Sarai said.
"No," Virek replied.
He looked toward the corridor.
"He's just starting."