Chapter 10: Three Billion Reasons
Alex kept thinking about what Elliot had said. Over and over again.
It wasn't just the usual Elliot stuff, loud, reckless, half-baked theories that ended in a shrug or a fight. No, this time, the words felt different. Heavier. Like they carried something else... like there was a code in them.
"They're always watching."
"You're disturbing their system."
"You're a possible prey."
What the hell did he mean by that?
The way Elliot said "theirs" still echoed in his head. It wasn't fear that followed, it was confusion, curiosity, and something deeper that he couldn't name.
"..."
And as the week started, Alex found himself walking into Raymond's building again, only this time, something was off.
He noticed the stares first.
Not the polite, indifferent glances he was used to... but stares. People whispering. Shuffling papers they weren't really reading. A few paused amid their conversations as he passed, eyeing him like some puzzle they were trying to solve.