Richard and Robert walked with firm steps, regardless of what would happen next.They walked and kept walking through the damp, suffocating corridors.No one intended to speak between them, as if both already understood the questions inside each other's minds.
Upon reaching the door, Richard grasped the metal handle with a sweaty hand.After a moment, he released it, pulled out a handkerchief, and wiped his palm.For a brief second, he stared at the wedding ring around his finger — a faint look of reluctance crossed his face.He removed the ring, and the pale mark on his skin showed that he had never taken it off before.
"Why?" asked Robert, puzzled.
"There must be no weakness visible on us, or he will devour both you and me,"Richard said quietly without turning back, wrapping the ring in his handkerchief before slipping it into his jacket pocket.
Patting his jacket to make sure the ring was there, Richard nodded to Robert and opened the interrogation room door.Inside stood Faisal, facing the wall as if he had been waiting for their arrival.
"Do you know that humans are naïve creatures? They think they have created history — recording this and that, discovering a disease, and somehow, two years later, finding its cure,"He turned around and smiled at them."What do you think? Could that even be possible?" His friendly smile never left his face.
The three of them stood there in silence, staring at one another.The air felt a few degrees colder, and the deafening quiet only made things worse."Well then, shall we begin?" Richard, unable to bear the silence any longer, tried to start the conversation, asking Faisal while walking toward the table, leaving Robert frozen behind him.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable first," Faisal replied politely, gesturing for Richard and Robert to take their seats.Robert, not far behind, also approached, pulled a chair, and sat beside Richard.The two exchanged glances for a few seconds before finally turning their eyes toward Faisal, silently demanding an explanation.
"And before we begin, at least allow me to hear your oaths first," Faisal said while still standing, gazing at them both.
"We came back here to listen to your explanation, regardless of the consequences and risks. You still can't trust us?"Robert raised an eyebrow, looking at Faisal meaningfully.
"If you had lived the same life I have, you'd understand me better — and you wouldn't complain about such things," Faisal replied lightly.
"Let's just get this over with then," Richard interjected, raising his right hand as he intended to start the oath."I, Richard Mayers, hereby swear that—"Before he could finish, Faisal interrupted.
"Nope, hold it right there," Faisal cut him off. Both Richard and Robert stared at him in confusion — veins starting to bulge on Robert's forehead as irritation rose.
"What the hell do you want now?" Richard shot back, frustration slipping into his voice, his fist tightening as if ready to strike the man before him.
"You know that's not the kind of oath I meant, right?" Faisal's eyebrow arched slightly in mild amusement.
"Then just tell us what you want!!" Robert shouted in frustration. His voice echoed through the room and down the hallways. His eyes reddened with fury.If it weren't for Richard's presence, he probably would've torn the man apart right then.
"Just get to the point — what do you want?" Richard tilted his head slightly, looking at Faisal.Unlike Robert, who had lost patience, Richard never lost his calm. His years as a police officer taught him one thing — never lose composure.He knew full well that the man before him was deliberately playing with his emotions, and he couldn't afford to fall for it.
"At least some things haven't changed too badly," Faisal smiled, seeing both of them provoked."You still look calm — just like before — even though I know your heart is racing right now." Faisal's gaze stayed on Richard for a few seconds before shifting to Robert."And you — still the same temperamental man who thinks that just because you're big, you can crush everything in front of you."He paused for a moment, then smiled softly at Robert."But I know the truth — you're trembling right now. You're just a gentle boy who loves animals."
Thump!!
It was like a wooden bat striking an empty barrel — both of their hearts pounded violently.The information that came from the man before them — no one else could have possibly known. Not even their closest friends.Yet he spoke it so casually, as if they'd known each other for years.And the fact that Robert loved animals — only Richard knew that.
"Hey—hey, that's a bit too specific, isn't it?"Robert turned to Richard, hoping to see a smile that would prove this was all a joke, a setup — anything.
But instead of smiling, Richard looked tense — even nervous — glancing back at Robert, clearly sharing the same thought.Their eyes met for a few seconds before Richard finally spoke, explaining:
"Whatever you're thinking about me right now — it's not true," Richard said, as if he already knew what was running through Robert's mind.
Looking away, Richard lowered his gaze toward the table, his mind wandering somewhere far away.The room fell into silence.
Lifting his head again, Richard stared at the man in front of him."This information isn't particularly valuable — but it's incredibly detailed. And the way you said it, it's too specific."He squinted slightly, his gaze sharp, filled with suspicion."You said all of that as if you've lived with us before. Who are you, really? And how do you know all of this?"
"Go on, finish your oath," Faisal replied, ignoring Richard's questions entirely.
Looking back and forth between them, he added,"Stand up, raise your right hand with your palm open, and repeat after me."
His own hand lifted high, waiting for the two officers to follow.
Richard stood up, raising his hand, while Robert remained seated — frozen in place.His large frame nearly swallowed the chair beneath him, making it look as though he were hovering above it.
Richard sighed softly, glancing at his partner.
"Why do you let him boss you around?" Robert asked, sensing Richard's gaze yet refusing to move.
"Come on, the sooner we finish this, the better," Richard replied, losing patience and wanting to end it quickly.
"Okay—okay," Robert finally stood up and raised his right hand into the air."But don't get too happy about it. I'm only doing this because of Richard — not because I'm following your orders."Robert's voice came out strained through clenched teeth, his anger toward Faisal barely contained.
"Well, whatever it is — at least we can start now, right?"With his right hand level with his head and his left hand pressed against his chest, Faisal began reciting the oath.
"Repeat after me—'I swear,to guard my brothers' secrets with all my heart.I shall not tell anyone.Because I know, a secret is a sign of trust.'"
The oath wasn't over yet, and the two officers repeated it perfectly — while Richard's voice trembled slightly as he followed along.At that very moment, Robert's body began to shake; his face turned pale, pupils shrinking.He didn't say a word — only tried desperately to recall Faisal's face, but he couldn't.No matter how hard he tried, his memory refused to form an image.
"As brothers under one roof," Faisal paused and turned to Richard, confusion flickering in his eyes.Then his gaze shifted toward Robert — and there, it was clear: Robert's hand was already resting near his waist.
He had opened his holster — ready to draw his gun, prepared for the worst if his suspicions were true.
Seeing this, the corner of Faisal's lips lifted slightly, and he continued his oath.
"As brothers under one roof, I, Reginald Mayers—"
BANG!!
Before he could finish, Robert fired.
Fortunately, Faisal had anticipated it — dodging just in time.Now, both his hands were raised, facing Robert, who was pointing his gun straight at his head.
Richard was too shocked to react — his eyes wide, body frozen — even the echo of the gunshot ringing through the room didn't snap him out of it.
"YOU!! HOW THE HELL DO YOU KNOW THAT NAME!!?" Robert roared from the depths of his lungs.
"Who are you?" Richard finally managed to speak — not with anger, but disbelief.He wasn't ready for the words that had just come out of the man's mouth.
"Tell me, bastard! Where did you hear that name?!"Robert had no intention of letting this go.
Instead of answering, Faisal slowly took off his shirt — turning his back to them.
"You might as well see for yourselves," he said.
His tan, athletic body was revealed — the product of years of disciplined training.But that wasn't what drew their attention.
On the right side of his back, there was a large burn scar — roughly the size of a grown man's head.
"What the hell…?" Robert's pistol slipped from his hand.He covered his mouth, disbelief and shock filling his eyes.
"You're alive…?" Richard finally spoke after being silent for what felt like ages.
"What are you talking about!?" Robert snapped back."This man can't be him! Reg—Reginald's dead!"
Faisal didn't argue.He quietly put his shirt back on and sat down in his chair.
"Who are you? And answer truthfully — because my patience is wearing thin," Richard said coldly, his eyes sharp and unblinking.
"How have you been, my brothers?" Faisal asked softly, his tone so gentle it almost didn't belong in that room.But in the heavy silence, his voice sounded crystal clear.
"Reginald? How are you still alive?" Robert's voice faltered — his certainty now crumbling.He followed along hesitantly, unsure what to believe anymore.
Richard raised a hand, signaling Robert to stop pressing him further.Their eyes met for a few seconds before Richard shook his head.
"How can you prove it?" Richard asked, still skeptical, still caught between doubt and hope.Was this really Faisal — or was it truly Reginald?
"I just showed you," Faisal said calmly, referring to the scar on his back.
"I've read your file — and it mentioned more than once that you used to injure yourself to disguise or assume another identity," Richard replied, tilting his head, voice steady but cold.
"So tell me — how can I trust your words if you don't even have something real to hold onto?"Deep down, Richard wanted to believe.A part of him longed for this man to truly be Reginald — because there were too many things left unsaid between them.
Faisal's eyes wandered upward, toward the ceiling — his mind adrift somewhere beyond the room.He stayed silent for a long moment.The only sound was his quiet breathing.
Then, slowly, he came back to reality.
"Now that you mention it…" he whispered, looking back at them. His smile was gone — replaced by something lost, almost broken."I've just realized… I can't even remember who I really am anymore."He shook his head."I've changed my identity so many times — to hide, to blend in — that I've forgotten which one was truly me."
Robert and Richard stayed silent, listening to every word.They exchanged a brief glance before Robert finally holstered his weapon again.
There's nothing more tragic than a man who has lost his own identity.
"So how do you even know your real name is Reginald?" Robert asked, pulling up a chair to sit again. Richard followed.
No more shouting. No more gunfire.It was as if the chaos from moments ago had vanished, leaving only exhaustion and silence behind.
The room was still, almost peaceful, before Faisal finally spoke again.
"I don't know how," he admitted, "but my memories… they're fragmented — like a shattered mirror. Only a few pieces are still clear to me."
He reached into his pocket, pulling out his wallet — and from it, a small hair clip.
"This… this belongs to Emma."
Robert took the clip with trembling hands, stroking it gently, afraid it might break.
"Why did you burn our house, brother?" Robert asked softly.
Even if they didn't want to believe, the proof was right in front of them.Neither of them had a choice anymore — they had to accept that the man before them… was their brother, Reginald Mayers.
"I know how much you loved us — especially Emma," Richard said, his eyes heavy, voice almost breaking."That's why I can't believe you did it without a reason."
"I did it because I had a reason," Faisal's voice rasped, heavy with guilt.The kind of guilt that had haunted his nights for years.
"What reason?" Richard demanded, his tone trembling but firm."How strong could your reason possibly be — to burn down that orphanage? Even if I didn't care about the place—"
"Even if you didn't care," Robert interrupted, his voice low but sharp, "our sister Emma was one of the victims."
And with that, the room fell silent again.A silence heavy enough to crush the heart.