Chapter 113
Chapter 114 A Note in the Shadows
Hdrien refused to fall into the trap of defending himself.
“Does it make it a bribe just because you claim it is? You seem awfully familiar with that line of thinking p>
Kyren let out a quiet laugh. “I only joked around. Why are you getting angry p>
Hadrien shot back, “You spend so much time meddling in other people’s business. Are you that bored p>
“Can’t you tell?” Kyren replied.
“I could look into adopting the operating rules of interstellar prisons,” Hadrien warned. “I’m sure I could find plenty of chores to keep all of you occupied p>
Rhys could listen no longer.
“Enough bickering p>
If they kept provoking Hadrien, they would end up treated like real convicts.
Lyra stood off to one side, watching the exchange in confusion.
Hadrien had no interest in wasting more words here.
It seemed he had only come to retrieve the blade.
Lyra parted her lips as she watched him leave.
She burned to ask whether the Sentinel in cell 104 was his partner, aiding him in a sting operation.
Clang.
A metallic clatter echoed suddenly from the upper floor.
Lyra turned and hurried upstairs to investigate.
She checked each cell along the corridor and found nothing out of place.
When she reached Cell 221, a streak of black burst straight out of the window.
Lyra stumbled backward in fright. She relaxed only once she recognized the crow and reached out to cradle
/it.
“What’s wrong?” She stroked the crow’s small head and questioned it with her gaze.
The crow could not explain. It twisted its head and gestured toward the room inside.
Lyra hesitated.
She stepped to the doorframe, knocked gently, then peered slowly into the dim cell.
Something reflective hunched low on the floor within the shadows. At the sound of her arrival, its
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Chapter 114 A Note in the Shadows
movements froze for a heartbeat before it resumed as if nothing had happened.
rastruggled to make out details. She shifted her body to let more light spill into the room.
Her eyes adjusted, and the scene sank in.
Food from the meal tray lay scattered across the floor. The man who had lost both hands struggled to clean up the mess using only his wings.
His back faced her, head bowed, so she could not read his expression.
A sharp, heavy sadness washed over Lyra as she watched him.
While she was still in the medical wing, she had spoken with Hadrien about Felix.
“Felix denies everything. Could there be some hidden truth behind all this p>
Hadrien had told her, “For the first two days after he woke, he refused to admit any wrongdoing, yet he could offer no clear explanation. He only said everyone in his squad had acted strangely. He suspects radiation from the Contamination Mother Entity affected their minds.
“Shortly after his squad reached their mission target, all communication was cut off. As the sole survivor, there is no way to verify if his story holds true.
“When investigators asked why human tissue from his teammates was found in his stomach contents, he stayed silent for an entire day. After that, he stopped caring what others thought.
“When people claimed he suffered from a psychic illness, he did not argue. He simply agreed.
“When others called him a monster who fed on his own allies, he smiled and said they were right.
“He rarely interacts with Sentinels outside his former squad. No one truly knows what kind of man he is.
“Only a small number believe his account. More and more people watch him with suspicion. His behavior has grown increasingly erratic, and that is why p>
Felix knew Lyra stood outside. All he wanted was to hide this helpless, pitiful state away in shadow.
If the stares of everyone else felt like wild flames scorching his self–respect, Lyra’s gaze, laced with pity, was a far crueler poison.
It seeped through every bone and vein, dragging him through excruciating pain that gnawed at his flesh.
At its peak, it felt as though his heart might stop, condemning him to the endless torment of being flayed inch by inch for eternity.
The more he cared, the more he fixated on what she thought of him.
Even so, a foolish, secret part of him ached for her attention anyway.
This shameful craving acted like a sedative. It dulled his agony, yet made him far more aware of every ounce of suffering he endured.
There was something broken in his mind, something broken in his psychic core, something broken within
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Chapter 114 A Note in the Shadows
his body too.
Fisher
could not bring himself to face her directly. Instead, he clung to the silly doll she had given him as a fragile lifeline, sitting motionless and staring blankly at it like a fool.
That thought made Felix tug at his lips in bitter self–mockery as he kept his head lowered.
Fluttering wings cut through the silence.
The crow landed before him, carrying a folded slip of paper in its beak.
Felix’s pupils trembled.
He already guessed what it might say.
Part of him resisted reading it, yet a reckless curiosity pulled him onward.
Neat, delicate handwriting covered every line of the note.
“Felix, I believe there is a misunderstanding between us. Can we talk calmly when you are ready?
“When I first heard what people say about you, shock was unavoidable, whether I chose to believe the
rumors or not.
“I have never lived through battles as brutal and terrifying as yours. I could not wrap my mind around such horrific news when I first learned of it. My fear of you was an instinctive reaction.
“If that upset or hurt you, I owe you an apology.
“Still, I hope I may explain myself briefly. I didn’t do it on purpose. At that moment, I could not bring
myself to side with anyone’s story. My mind was overwhelmed; my reaction was purely instinct, not aimed directly at you.
“I also need to apologize again. I should have settled my emotions and sorted out my thoughts before carrying out my duties. I never meant to agitate you this badly. I am truly sorry.
“Lastly, Felix, I have not been stationed here long. I know very little about everything, and even less about all of you.
“I am still learning as I go, with help from everyone around me. From our brief time together, I can see that though each of you has your own temper, none of you is cruel or malicious at heart.
“If you tell me honestly that you did not do what you are accused of, I will believe you.
“If… you feel it no longer matters what others think, I still hope we can get along peacefully. I wish all of you could lower your contamination levels, leave Black Spire, and chase whatever futures you want. I will keep working here to take care of everyone for as long as I can p>
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.