"Alan… you were the only one there. Everything you saw—except the possessed—was an illusion," Clyde said, his voice worn thin.
"You're saying…" My throat tightened. "He wasn't there?"
"I don't know who—or what—you saw. But it had to be something personal. That's how this ability works. None of us see what you see. We only watch your reactions…" He paused. "Who was it, Alan? Who stopped you like that?"
"He wasn't there…" I repeated. The words felt wrong. чужими. "He was an illusion…"
No.
That couldn't be right.
I smelled it.
The blood.
The damp air.
I felt her weight on my back.
I talked to them.
Heard them.
That wasn't something you could fake.
"That's bullshit," I said hoarsely. "You're lying."
"Look at the monitor," Clyde said quietly. "Look—and tell me I am."
I turned.
One of the screens showed Torrent.
The sound cut in—
clear.
"What kind of crap is this? I dragged all three of them here—wasted all that effort—and now they can't pass?!"
Robert stood there—
arms crossed—
nodding toward empty air.
I froze.
Then he tilted his head—
like someone had answered him.
"How much? …Yeah. That's enough."
"If you don't pass alone right now, you fail. Your employer will be penalized and pushed to the brink of expulsion."
"You hear that?" Robert grinned, speaking to no one. "My potential employer will be just fine without the academy. Hell, she didn't even need it. But these guys?" He jerked his chin. "They'll die here. And you heard the price, right? Sorry—but I'm walking out with them."
He moved.
Fast.
Attacked the guards.
Forced his way through—
like he was leading someone behind him.
I stared.
Couldn't move.
Couldn't—
process it.
The moment he reached the gate—
I ran.
Burst outside—
just as Robert turned back—
grinning.
Victorious.
"What the—?!" he barked.
Nothing.
No one behind him.
Empty space.
"Robert Torrent is eliminated," a Special said flatly.
"You idiot!" Kristina snapped, slapping him hard and dragging him away. "So that's what you think of me?!"
Robert didn't even resist.
Still stunned.
I took a step after them—
but Clyde's hand stopped me.
"Leave them. The results will be announced soon. Robert was the last."
"…Who passed?" I asked.
"Only you and Hudson."
"Hudson…?"
"From our academy. The Grandina candidate was killed by the possessed."
"And Matthew?"
"He made it through too. With the ones he thought he was saving."
A hollow laugh slipped out.
Dry.
Ugly.
"So me and Hudson…" I said quietly. "We're the only ones who left people behind to die."
"Hudson didn't hesitate," Clyde said calmly. "He finished first. Didn't try to save anyone. Don't compare yourself to him."
"But I did!" I snapped. "I thought they were real—and I still left them!"
The words hit harder once they were spoken.
I shook my head and turned away.
Back into the tent.
I needed to calm down.
The fire inside me—
was getting harder to hold.
The results were announced over video.
Just like before.
Hudson and I stood beside Director Gordinstreet and Clyde while the hosts filled the air with forced excitement.
I felt none of it.
The fact that I had passed—
made me sick.
Yes.
I reached my goal.
But at what cost?
Was it worth it?
Or had I been stupid enough to believe this rotten system could be changed?
A hand landed on my shoulder.
Firm.
"You made the right choice," Clyde said.
Like he knew.
Like he understood.
I said nothing.
Because if I spoke—
I wasn't sure what would come out.
"Today was long—but tomorrow will be even more exciting!" Bolton announced brightly. "Only two candidates remain! For the first time, the final trial will feature just two participants—but only one will take the grand prize!"
"And what will the winner choose?" Marta continued. "Money? Freedom? A place among the elite?"
"You have twelve hours before the final round. Place your bets!"
On the way back—
I sat next to Robert.
Kristina refused to sit anywhere near him.
Blocking didn't even look at me.
For once—
I was grateful.
"Women…" Robert muttered, glancing sideways. "Why are they so damn complicated?"
"You sold her out for an illusion," I said flatly.
"I didn't know they weren't real!" he snapped. "And the money was insane! Who would say no? Besides—Kristina didn't even need me to win!"
"That's not the point," I said. "It's how easily you chose it. Do you really care that much about money?"
"Coming from someone who never had to go without it."
"I'm poorer than all of you right now," I muttered.
He snorted.
"Money matters, yeah. But if Kristina's life was on the line—I'd walk out alone without thinking. Alan… don't tear yourself apart over this. Your situation was different."
"…What makes you think I am?" I asked quietly.
"I know you," he said. "And I can see it—you're tearing yourself apart over that choice. But your case was different. The stakes were way higher. Not everyone will get it—but the ones who understand… won't judge you."
I turned to the window.
He was right.
But not in the way he thought.
I didn't care if anyone understood.
What made me sick—
was that I made that choice at all.
I chose distant possibilities.
Hundreds of strangers.
Over the people right in front of me—
who needed help now.
"Is it always like this?" I whispered. "Life."
"You made it like this, Holivan," Robert said. "And you know what? That's exactly why I respect you. That's why I followed you. Not Silius. Not justice."
He smirked.
"You."
"For what?" I asked.
"To cover your ass when everything goes to hell."
For the first time that day—
I smiled.
Just a little.
I wasn't alone.
The smile faded almost immediately.
Because—
I was lying to them.
All of them.