HLMBIWP 34

34.

“I checked the back door when we came in earlier,”
Zaka whispered as we slipped out of the room and moved deeper into the hallway, avoiding people passing by.

“So we can escape whenever we need to.”

I thought he might object.
Until now, he had always said there was no need to take risks or rush for results today.

But this time, Zaka didn’t refuse when I suggested we spy around, even though it meant we could get caught.

“Should we check the kitchen or the food storage first?”

“Better to watch how people move. Find the places with the most guards or the tightest security.”

We started down a narrow corridor meant for staff, walking quietly.

As I followed behind him, I found myself studying Zaka again.

The way he hid quickly in empty storerooms when someone passed, or pressed himself flat against the wall in blind spots—he was too good at it.

But maybe he wasn’t used to moving with someone else. He’d pull me a little too late, or press my head down so suddenly that, if I were still growing, I might have stayed short forever.

Crouching behind him, I muttered under my breath.

Then, by chance, I looked back—

—and froze.

Someone was standing at the end of the hallway.

I silently grabbed Zaka’s collar.
“There’s someone there!”

But something was off about the person.

They were just… standing there.
Their forehead was pressed against the wall, not moving at all.

Zaka and I exchanged glances and slowly approached.

A horrible stench of alcohol hit us first.
The man’s eyes were wide open, unfocused, staring at nothing.

And he kept muttering in a slurred, trembling voice:

“I’m… I’m not stupid. Brother, you’re the one… you’re the one who’s unworthy…”

I instinctively stepped back.

Wait… I know this.

He looked just like that man from the hunting festival—
the one who’d suddenly gone wild, eyes rolling back before attacking us.

I was about to whisper this to Zaka when voices came from the stairway just around the corner.

“So the one from before said it worked?”

“Of course. Think of it like a health supplement. It calms the mind, builds confidence…”

A slick, confident tone—paired with another, hesitant but curious voice.

Then, from the other end of the hallway, came a burst of noise.

We were trapped—front and back.

At that same moment, a strange gleam flickered in the drunk man’s eyes, and suddenly his gaze sharpened.

Zaka cursed softly, yanked me away from him, and without hesitation lifted me into his arms.

He moved fast—too fast, and eerily quiet, not a single sound of footsteps as he climbed the stairs.

I clutched my cane and stayed still in his arms.

Behind us came a roar, the man screaming as he lunged at someone, then the familiar sound of trained men restraining him.

A short, sharp scream followed.

I tugged on Zaka’s sleeve.
“We should follow them—see where they take him.”

But the ones who’d caught the man began moving our way.

When they started up the stairs, we had no choice but to rush higher and find somewhere to hide.

Luckily, we found an empty room.

But the moment Zaka set me down, we both froze.

The room was… wrong.

On one side, shelves piled high with glass bottles—
the same kind as the one I’d been keeping in my coat.

On the other, open ledgers and notebooks, as if someone had just been reading them.

And along the walls—rows of well-maintained weapons.

Clearly, this was a guard or staff room for whoever ran this place.

The footsteps outside stopped right at the door.

Zaka and I glanced at each other—then silently opened a small inner door we’d spotted in the corner and slipped through.

The instant we closed it behind us—

Bang! The outer door burst open.

The man who had been raging was dragged in, still struggling. Then, suddenly, all went quiet.

“They… didn’t kill him, did they?”

Zaka didn’t answer. His brow just furrowed deeper.

“This prototype isn’t stable. Strong addiction doesn’t matter if it ends like this.”

“Exactly. If the side effects can’t be reduced, what use is it, even for converts later?”

My stomach turned. I covered my mouth with my hand.

Zaka touched my hand, realizing how cold it was, and held it tightly. His palm felt burning hot.

Right now, what mattered most was this—
if they found us, we’d both be dead.

I’d dragged him into this because I didn’t want him to go alone.
But if I’d known things would turn out like this, I might’ve told him to run.

The small storage space was cramped, just big enough for us to crouch together among the shelves.

We could hear the guards outside talking for a while, then leaving the room.

But Zaka and I didn’t move.

He could tell, just like I could—

Those guards weren’t gone.
They were standing guard right outside, watching the only exit.

My legs were getting stiff, so I carefully sat down on the floor.

“You sit too.”

I whispered it softly, but he understood. He shook his head.

“I’ll stay standing. You should stretch your legs, my lady.”

“I’m fine.”

I tugged at his sleeve until he sighed and sat beside me awkwardly.

We had to stay perfectly still—any sound, even a shelf creaking, could give us away.

After a long silence, I finally whispered:

“Why are you so good at this?”

“At what?”

I squinted at him.

“You’ve done this before, haven’t you?”

He didn’t answer.

“Never mind. I don’t even want to know.”

“Why ask if you don’t want to know?”

“Would you tell me if I did?”

Zaka frowned slightly. Then, after a pause, said quietly:

“I ran away a lot.”

His voice was so soft, but in the silence it sounded close, clear.

“Did you ever succeed?”

He looked at me for a moment, then smiled faintly.

“If I told you I never once did, would you believe me?”

“Of course. Who else is there to believe but me?”

“If there were someone else here, would you believe them instead?”

“Do you want me to trust you no matter what happens?”

“That’d be impossible.”

I crossed my arms.

“True. That’s a hard thing to promise.”

“I know. You don’t make promises unless you’re sure. You’re not the type to lie for comfort.”

Zaka gave a small shrug, as if he had never expected otherwise.

“But I know what it feels like to want it badly.
The one person I wanted to trust me… never did.”

“…”

“So just once—if no one else believes you, I will.”

When I turned to look, he was smiling faintly.

“You really think I’ll believe that?”

“People lie all the time. But who you choose to believe… that’s up to you.”

“Not trusting anyone isn’t always bad either. If you don’t expect anything, you can’t be betrayed.”

“Why? Are you afraid I’ll be the one to betray you?”

“You won’t feel betrayed,” Zaka said quietly.

“Because you don’t love me.”

For a moment, I didn’t know what to say.
Then I replied, calm and certain:

“You won’t always be right about that.”

It was the only truth I could promise him.

A truth that would, without doubt, come someday.