When I arrived on the first floor's left wing I understood why the Commander wanted us to work on it. It needed full renovation. I didn't believe me and Chase would turn it into something magical but as long as we got those seven days of hell over with, I didn't care about anything else.

I looked at where to begin. The old, white paint turned a dark shade of yellow. Dots of stains protruded under it, spreading like a viral disease. The polished, wooden floor was covered in dust, making it seem like its light gray. I wondered if Chase was even going to show up when I heard a slam of a bucket filled with water and other supplies dropping on the ground.

He was here.

I ignored him. I didn't want to talk to him. Hell, I didn't even want to look at him. I was angry. But most of all I was hurt.

"And people haven't been so easy on you, so I just wanted to help you out."

I thought he finally understood me. I thought that maybe he will finally accept me as a trainer. Oh, how much I was wrong.

Silence was our only company as we began working. I moved to the supplies resting on the ground, taking the two cans of paint; making a second trip to get the brushes and rollers. I retreated to the far corner, starting to move the tool up and down in a single, repetitive motion.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Chase following suit. He moved to the other side of the wing, aware I wanted to be left alone. The brush moving up and down calmed my restless thinking. I surprisingly enjoyed it.

As I mixed the paint in circular motion, I felt a tap on my shoulder. "What?" I snapped, the question coming out harsher than intended as I turned to face Chase.

"You need a primer first. You can't just paint it. You need a base," he explained, casually. "You know that, right?"

I stared at him. It was almost midnight, way past curfew and the dimly lit hallway illuminated his dark, black hair making it a tad lighter. He wore wash off jeans and a white shirt. My gaze rested on the new boot cast and yet all that remorse I felt before for him was fully gone. I couldn't look at him the same anymore. He was dating Kana. The very first person that made my life torture here.

I looked away, swallowing hard. I moved past him, searching for another primer. I wasn't about to take his.

"Do you even know where the supplies are?" He called out, but I continued to walk.

Gruffly, I responded, "I'll find them. Don't worry."

"Whatever you say," he responded, following with, "But it is on the other side, second door to the right. Bring a small brush and another can of paint while you're at it."

If Chase didn't tell me where the closet was, I wouldn't have found it. It was a small room, filled with cabinets of all sorts of things. The room was well organized, so it didn't take me long to find the primer, the paint and the brushes.

I got out, my hands filled. Turning around to head back when my eyes fell upon the door I've never stumbled upon before. It was different from the rest around here. New. Bigger. Locked. But most of all, guarded by security cameras.

What was so special inside?

I peered my eyes away, sorrowfully going back. Whatever it was, it was out of reach. But something small, a tiny whisper urged me to check it out.

Later. It had to wait.

I handed Chase the brushes, my head still recalling the door from before. Maybe he knew something about it. He was the leader after all.

Reluctantly, I asked, "Do you know what's inside that door that was locked?"

"Which door?" He asked, seemingly confused. But I could tell he knew what I was talking about. He was tense, closed off.

I explained curtly, "The door that's locked and surrounded by cameras."

He shrugged, "No one knows except the Commander."

"Can your key card open it?" I looked at his pocket, knowing he kept his card with him at all times.

He finally understood why I initiated the conversation. "No."

"Have you even tried it?"

He gave out a sigh, and brushed away the droplet of paint from his forehead, "Yes, Aliana. I have."

"And you found nothing?" I pressed, needing to know. It all felt suspicious. They were hiding something.

He turned to look at me, his dark brown eyes consequential. "You don't think I know you have a whole map of this place?"

I stopped moving, my arm frozen midair. Paint from the brush started rolling down my arm, dropping to the ground.

"You don't think I know that you've memorized every exit here? You don't think I know you searched this whole building, inch by inch?"

I only managed to give out a whisper, "How do you know?"

He forced a dry laugh, shaking his head. He continued to paint, unaware of my state. "Because I was just like you. I searched this building up and down and I found barely anything."

Barely anything. So he did find something.

"What did you find exactly?"

Questions kept revealing themselves each second. I urgently looked at Chase, awaiting him to answer. Suddenly, he stopped working. His eyes followed a trail of paint gliding down a wall. For a second, a glimpse of hurt crossed his expression. It ended as quickly as it came.

He put his gaze on me and his warning sent a cold shiver down my spine. "I found nothing," he repeated. "It's going to be a waste of your time. So, I suggest you drop it."

A short chapter but mysteries are unraveling. Will Aliana just drop it for the sake of her own good? Will she finally listen to Chase? Find out in the next chapter!

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