The hallway had grown quieter.
Too quiet.
Adam stood near the door, listening carefully. The earlier chaos had settled into tired voices and slow footsteps. The guards sounded exhausted.
Perfect.
Aria sat on the bed, spinning the bottle between her hands.
"You're thinking again," she said.
Adam nodded once.
"Yes."
She sighed dramatically.
"Of course you are."
Adam looked at the bottle.
Then at the door.
Then back at Aria.
"Bring that."
Aria raised an eyebrow.
"The alcohol?"
"Yes."
A slow grin spread across her face.
"Oh, we're really doing this."
Adam moved toward the door and knocked twice.
Not too loud.
Just enough.
A few seconds passed.
Heavy footsteps approached.
The door opened slightly and a guard peeked inside.
"What?"
Aria quickly stepped forward, holding up the bottle.
"Hey," she said casually. "We're not trying to cause trouble."
The guard looked suspicious.
"So?"
Aria shrugged.
"You guys look stressed."
She lifted the bottle slightly.
"Take it."
The guard frowned.
"Why would you give us that?"
Adam spoke calmly from behind her.
"Because if you're relaxed, you're less likely to panic."
The guard stared at them.
Then at the bottle.
Then at the hallway behind him.
He hesitated.
Finally, he grabbed the bottle.
"…Idiots."
He shut the door again.
Aria turned to Adam with a huge grin.
"You just bribed a kidnapper with alcohol."
Adam sat down calmly.
"People under pressure make poor decisions."
Aria crossed her arms.
"And drunk people make even worse ones."
Time passed slowly.
Ten minutes.
Then twenty.
The hallway grew louder again.
Laughter.
Slurred voices.
A bottle hitting the floor.
Aria looked at Adam.
"…Oh wow."
Adam stood up and walked to the door again.
This time, he didn't knock.
He gently pushed the handle.
Click.
Unlocked.
Aria's eyes widened.
"No way."
Adam opened the door slightly.
Outside, two guards were sitting against the wall.
One of them was half asleep.
The other was laughing at something that clearly wasn't funny.
Neither of them noticed the door opening.
Aria stepped beside Adam and whispered,
"…You actually did it."
Adam stepped into the hallway.
"Come on."
Aria followed him quietly.
Behind them, the guest room door slowly closed.
For the first time since arriving at the station—
They were no longer prisoners.
They were escaping.