FLASH BACK
Later—
She tries to stand.
Bad idea.
Her legs shake immediately.
Her balance slips—
Before she can hit the ground—
A hand steadies her.
Fast.
But not rough.
Ethan.
Of course.
Her body reacts instantly.
She pulls back slightly.
Tense.
Ready.
Don't touch—
He lets go immediately.
Like he expected that.
"Careful," he says.
Calm.
No reaction.
No offense.
Jay steadies herself, breathing uneven for a second.
"I'm fine," she says.
There it is.
First time.
The words slip out naturally.
Automatic.
Ethan glances at her.
Not convinced.
But he doesn't argue.
"Sit," he says instead.
"I can stand."
"You can try."
She glares slightly.
Then—
Her legs wobble again.
…traitors.
She sits back down.
"…temporary," she mutters.
"Of course," he replies.
There's a hint of something in his voice.
Not teasing.
Not mocking.
Just… understanding.
And that—
That makes something shift.
Very slightly.
Night comes.
The room is darker now.
Quieter.
The others have left.
One by one.
Until—
Only Ethan remains.
Jay notices.
Of course she does.
"Do you not sleep?" she asks.
"I do."
"Then go."
"I will."
He doesn't move.
She frowns. "Then why are you still here?"
He shrugs slightly. "Just making sure you're okay."
"I'm fine."
There it is again.
He almost smiles this time.
"You say that a lot."
She looks away. "Because it's true."
"Sure."
"Stop saying it like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you don't believe me."
"I don't."
She huffs quietly. "Wow."
Silence settles again.
But it's different now.
Not sharp.
Not heavy.
Just… there.
Jay shifts slightly on the bed.
Her body still aches.
Her mind still restless.
Her eyes move toward the door again.
Always the door.
Always the exit.
"You're not locked in," Ethan says suddenly.
She stiffens.
"I didn't say I was."
"You keep checking."
Her fingers curl slightly.
He noticed.
Again.
"I just like knowing where things are," she says.
"That's fair."
No judgment.
No questioning.
Just—
Acceptance.
She exhales slowly.
"…why are you helping me?" she asks quietly.
There it is.
The real question.
The one she's been holding back.
Ethan doesn't answer immediately.
He looks at her.
Really looks.
Then—
"Because someone helped me once," he says.
Simple.
Honest.
No details.
But enough.
Jay blinks.
That wasn't expected.
"What happened?" she asks.
He shakes his head slightly. "Another time."
She doesn't push.
Because—
She understands that.
Not everything needs to be said right away.
Silence again.
But this time—
It doesn't feel like waiting for something bad.
It just feels…
Quiet.
Jay leans back slightly.
Her body still tense.
But less than before.
Her eyes slowly start to close.
She doesn't mean to.
She doesn't trust it.
But—
She's tired.
Too tired.
And for the first time—
She's not forcing herself to stay awake.
Not completely.
Her breathing slows.
Just a little.
Her shoulders relax.
Just a little.
Ethan watches.
Still there.
Still quiet.
Not leaving.
Not moving closer.
Just… there.
And somehow—
That's enough.
For now.
Morning comes quietly.
No shouting.
No footsteps outside the door.
No sudden noise.
Just light.
Soft.
Unfamiliar.
Jay's eyes open slowly.
For a second—
She doesn't move.
Doesn't breathe properly.
Doesn't trust it.
This kind of silence never lasted before.
It always broke.
Always.
Her body stays still.
Waiting.
Listening.
Nothing.
Still quiet.
Her fingers loosen slightly from the bedsheet.
She hadn't even realized she was gripping it.
Her head turns just a little—
Ethan is still there.
Same position.
Leaning against the wall.
Arms crossed.
Eyes half-open like he hasn't fully slept.
Jay blinks.
"…you're still here," she says.
Her voice is quieter in the morning.
Rough.
Ethan glances at her.
"Yeah."
"You didn't move?"
"I did."
"You're in the same place."
"I like this spot."
She stares at him.
"…that's weird."
"Probably."
A small pause.
Then—
"…thanks."
The word slips out before she can stop it.
She freezes slightly.
Did she just—
Ethan doesn't react much.
Just nods once.
"You're welcome."
No big deal.
No teasing.
No "finally."
Just… normal.
That feels strange.
But not bad.
She sits up slowly.
Careful this time.
Less pain.
Still there—but manageable.
Her feet touch the floor.
Cold.
Real.
Good.
"I can walk today," she says.
More to herself than him.
"Try," Ethan replies.
She glares slightly. "You're very encouraging."
"I'm realistic."
"Same thing."
"Not really."
She pushes herself up.
Her legs hold.
Barely.
But they hold.
She takes one step.
Then another.
Slow.
Careful.
Her balance shifts—
But she steadies herself.
"I told you," she mutters. "I'm fine."
Ethan watches.
Doesn't say anything.
But there's that look again.
That quiet I don't believe you, but I won't argue look.
She ignores it.
Focus.
Step.
Step.
She reaches the door.
Stops.
Her hand hovers over the handle.
Her chest tightens slightly.
Just a little.
Open it.
It's just a door.
Just a door.
Just—
She exhales.
Then opens it.
The hallway is… normal.
Too normal.
Jay steps out slowly.
Her eyes move instantly.
Left.
Right.
Corners.
Windows.
Exits.
Always exits.
Voices come from somewhere ahead.
Loud.
Messy.
"—I'm telling you, that was NOT my fault!"
"That was absolutely your fault!"
"Okay but hear me out—"
"I don't want to hear you out!"
Jay pauses.
Her eyebrows pull together slightly.
What is—
She walks closer.
Carefully.
The voices get clearer.
"…if you didn't touch it—"
"I didn't touch it!"
"You literally touched it!"
"Okay, maybe I touched it a little—"
"That's not how that works!"
Jay turns the corner.
And stops.
Daniel is standing in the middle of the room, holding something broken.
Cora is glaring at him like she's about to throw him out the window.
Luna is standing between them, trying—and failing—to stop the argument.
Alex is sitting nearby, completely calm, like this happens every day.
Which… it probably does.
Jay just stands there.
Watching.
"…you broke it," Cora says.
"I didn't break it, it broke itself."
"That's not a thing."
"It is now."
"Daniel—"
"I'm just saying, maybe it was already broken emotionally."
Cora stares at him.
"Emotionally."
"Yes."
"It's a knife."
"Knives have feelings too."
Jay blinks.
Once.
Twice.
"…what," she mutters.
All heads turn toward her.
Great.
Perfect.
Attention.
Exactly what she didn't want.
Luna's expression softens instantly. "Hey… you're up."
Jay nods slightly. "Unfortunately."
Daniel grins. "See? She's funny."
"I'm not trying to be."
"Even better."
Cora crosses her arms. "Can you walk?"
Jay stiffens slightly at the question.
"I could yesterday," she says.
"Barely," Cora replies.
"I'm walking now."
Cora looks her up and down.
Judging.
Analyzing.
Then—
"…fine," she says. "Don't fall."
"I won't."
She almost does.
But she doesn't.
Barely.
Ethan steps out behind her.
Close enough to catch her.
But he doesn't touch her.
Just… there.
Ready.
Jay notices.
She doesn't say anything.
But she notices.
She moves further into the room.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Every step still feels unfamiliar.
But less than before.
"Sit," Luna says gently.
Jay hesitates.
Then sits.
Because honestly—
Her legs are about to betray her again.
Daniel leans forward slightly. "So, do you remember anything?"
There it is.
That question.
Again.
Her body reacts instantly.
Small.
Quick.
Her fingers tighten slightly.
Her shoulders stiffen.
"I remember how to walk," she says.
Deflection.
Clean.
Daniel nods slowly. "Good start."
Cora watches her closely.
Too closely.
Jay looks away.
Focus on something else.
Anything else.
The table.
The walls.
Not them.
Definitely not their eyes.
"You don't have to answer anything," Ethan says.
From behind her.
Not loud.
But enough.
Jay exhales quietly.
Just a little.
Luna smiles softly. "Yeah. No pressure."
"No pressure," Daniel repeats. "Just intense curiosity."
"Daniel," Alex says calmly.
"Okay, okay—I'll stop."
He doesn't look like he wants to.
But he stops.
Silence settles again.
But it's not bad.
Not sharp.
Just… there.
Jay sits there.
Still.
Listening.
Watching.
No one is yelling.
No one is coming toward her.
No one is—
Her thoughts stop.
Because for the first time—
There's nothing to prepare for.
No next hit.
No next command.
No next—
Nothing.
Her shoulders drop slightly.
Just a little.
"…this is weird," she says.
Daniel raises an eyebrow. "Which part?"
"All of it."
"Fair."
Cora nods once. "It is."
Jay glances at her.
Surprised.
"You agree?"
"I'm always right."
"That's not what I asked."
"Still applies."
Jay almost smiles.
Almost.
Ethan steps closer.
Not too close.
Just enough.
"You'll get used to it," he says.
Jay looks at him.
"…I don't think I want to."
"Why?"
She hesitates.
Because—
Getting used to something means trusting it.
And trusting it means—
It can break.
"I just don't," she says.
He nods once.
Like that's enough.
Like he doesn't need more.
And that—
That makes something shift again.
Very small.
But real.