Evah slipped into the laboratory, pausing at the door to check if Erion was anywhere in sight. Once sure he wasn't, she pushed it open fully and stepped inside, clutching her personal tablet to her chest as though it were treasure.
Her table looked normal, undisturbed. Across the room, Doctor Riko was half-hidden beneath one of the massive machines, gloves on, goggles in place, focused on his work.
Evah released a quiet breath. Safe. Or maybe not.
"Evah!" a bright voice called.
She flinched, then turned to see Mika, one of her colleagues, waving her over.
Evah forced a smile and nodded. She began with hesitant steps, then walked at a steadier pace.
The air was thick with the sterile, almost metallic scent of medicine—not unpleasant, but sharp, like a hospital ward. Around her, monitors beeped steadily, and hushed discussions blended with the whirr of machines. Everything seemed normal. Busy. Ordinary.
Did they hear me shouting at Erion this morning? Her chest tightened. She glanced around, but no one looked at her oddly. Still, the knot in her stomach wouldn't loosen.
Setting her tablet down on the table beside her, within arm's reach, she managed a smile.
"Can I help?"
"Yes, please! I owe you again." Mika clasped her hands together like a child asking for candy.
"Don't worry about it," Evah replied, trying to bury the anxiety still prickling beneath her skin.
But Mika's next words froze her.
"You worked at Newfangled, right?"
The name crashed into her like ice water. For a second, everything inside her stopped. That word rang in her ears, louder and louder.
No one knows. Don't worry. She remembered Erion's words
She forced the mantra in her head like a lifeline. They don't know. They don't know.
Hearing her own breathing in her ears, felt suffocating. The word echoes like something underwater.
Mika leaned closer, oblivious. "So, do you think it's possible?"
Evah blinked, realizing she hadn't heard a thing. "Sorry… what was that?" She folded her arms, holding herself tightly, as if bracing against the weight pressing down on her.
"Oh! Sorry, I was talking too fast." Mika pulled out a blue folder and spread it open. Procurement papers. Evah recognized the type—they usually came from Operations.
"There's this new tester Newfangled released. Look!" Mika flipped to a page, eyes shining. "It's like magic."
Evah's stomach sank as her gaze landed on the image.
A coin-sized device with a glowing red ring.
"You need just a few drops of blood and—"
"It shows your poison," Evah muttered flatly, the words slipping out before she could stop them.
Mika gasped. "You know about it?!" She beamed, leaning closer. "Of course you do—you're the originator! I can't believe it finally got released this year."
Evah's throat tightened. She said nothing, staring at the photo while Mika flipped eagerly through the specifications.
"Not just poison! It can detect deficiencies, toxins, anything wrong with the body. Even if your minerals drop dangerously low, it tells you. Isn't that amazing?"
Evah wanted to feel the excitement too, the same enthusiasm that once drove her to create it. But all she felt now was heaviness.
"What do you need it for?" she asked quietly.
Mika sat down, tilting her head like she was asking for a favor. "Emergency kits. For the Ardents in the hospital. Just a few would save lives." She held up a hopeful finger. "Even ten would help."
Evah clenched her fist behind her back. Helping people—that had always been the point. But hearing Newfangled's name attached to it poisoned the joy.
"So you think you can get some?"She leaned forward to Evah like a kid begging for candies.
"I'll… try. No promises," she said, the words stabbing sharper than she expected.
"Thank you! You're the best!" Mika grinned, completely missing the shadows in Evah's tone.
Before Evah could answer, a calm voice interrupted.
"Miss Mika, don't force Miss Evah."
They turned. Doctor Riko stood there, smiling gently.
"Yes, Doctor!" Mika bowed quickly, flashing Evah an apologetic look before hurrying away.
Evah shook her head, raising her hand faintly. "No, it's fine. I'll get back to you."
But when Mika left, the weight in her chest only pressed heavier.
Riko's footsteps approached softly. "Let me guess," he said, clicking the fidget pen in his hand. "Terrible boss? Too much overtime? No pay?" He sat in Mika's chair, elbow on the table, the pen spinning lazily in his fingers.
Evah looked away. Even Riko didn't know. Just me and Erion.
"Don't force yourself," Riko said, his tone warm, lifting a weight from her shoulders.
"I…" Her lips parted. He looked at her then, full attention, waiting.
"I can make one of those," she whispered at last.
Riko's eyes widened. "I knew it." He stood suddenly, startling her. "I told them we could develop it in one or two years, but higher-ups said it wasn't worth the time since it already exists. They'd rather just buy." He tucked the pen into his pocket and leaned closer, lowering his voice. Shaking his head in disapproval.
"Don't worry. Miss Mika's reliable. Let her handle it."
He smiled, gave a little wave, and returned to his station.
Evah stood frozen, her heart still heavy, though a flicker of relief warmed her chest.