Chapter 6

The lock clicked.

27 didn’t move right away.

Her body reacted first, heart picking up, breath catching slightly but she forced herself to stay still this time. Forced the reaction down before it could reach the surface.

Control.

She held onto that word like something solid. Like it meant something.

The door opened. Only one set of footsteps. Lighter.

Elara.

27 looked up slowly.

Elara stepped inside, closing the door behind her with a soft click, but not locking it immediately. That was new.

She leaned back against it for a second, like she was in no rush at all, eyes adjusting to the dim light before settling on 27.

“There you are,” she said lightly.

Her voice felt louder than Viv’s.

Warmer.

More… present.

27 didn’t respond.

Elara’s gaze moved over her slowly, taking in everything, the faint tear marks still barely visible, the way she held herself tighter now, the controlled stillness that didn’t quite hide the tension underneath.

“You look worse,” Elara said.

A pause. “Which is saying something.”

27’s jaw tightened. Elara smiled faintly.

In her hand, A bottle of water.

Not a glass this time, and something wrapped loosely in paper.

27’s eyes flickered to it.

Then away.

Faster this time.

Elara noticed.

Of course she did.

“Relax,” she said, pushing off the door. “I’m not going to make you beg for it.”

She stepped closer.

Slow.

Deliberate.

The chain shifted softly as 27 adjusted her position without thinking, just enough to face her more directly.

Elara stopped just outside its reach.

Held the bottle up slightly.

“You’re doing better,” she said.

27 frowned slightly.

“That’s not what you said yesterday.”

Elara’s smile widened just a fraction. “Yesterday you were crying,” she said simply.

Silence.

27’s fingers curled slightly against the mattress.

Elara tilted her head. Watching closely. “There it is,” she murmured. “Still don’t like that part, huh?”

27 looked at her.

Really looked this time. God, she’s beautiful.

“You came alone,” she said.

It wasn’t a question.

Elara’s brows lifted slightly.

“Nothing gets passed you, huh,” she said

A pause.

“Don’t tell Viv. She’s busy with work.”

The words were light. Almost joking, But something underneath them wasn’t.

27 caught it.

“You’re not supposed to be here alone,” she said.

Elara let out a soft laugh. “And you’re not supposed to talk unless you’re told,” she shot back.

A beat.

“Looks like we’re both breaking rules.”

Silence settled between them.  Different from before.

Closer.

Elara stepped forward again. Just slightly. Close enough now that the distance felt intentional.

Measured.

She crouched, lowering herself to 27’s level. Held out the bottle. “Take it.”

27 hesitated.

Not as long as before, But long enough to feel it.

Then she reached forward.

Their fingers brushed.

It was brief.

Accidental, But it lingered anyway.

Elara didn’t pull back immediately.

27 did. She took the bottle, unscrewing it quickly, too quickly, and drank.

Slower than before.

But not controlled.

Not fully. Elara watched her the entire time. Quieter now. Less teasing.

Something else settling in her expression.

“You were talking to yourself,” Elara said suddenly.

27 froze.

The bottle paused halfway back down.

“…what?”

Elara smiled. “I could hear you,” she said.

A pause.

“Not everything. Just enough.” She lied

27’s chest tightened. “You were trying to figure it out,” Elara continued. “Control. Reaction. All that.”

Silence.

27 looked away.

Elara leaned in slightly. “You weren’t wrong,” she added softly.

That made 27 look back.

“Then why,” she started.

She stopped herself. Too late. Elara’s smile returned instantly.

“Go on,” she said.

27 shook her head slightly. “No.”

Elara hummed.

“See, that’s the problem,” she said. “You stop yourself right when it gets interesting. Keep in mind that we like interesting. You’d hate to see what would happen when we get bored with our pets.”

A pause.

She reached out, Then stopped. Her hand hovering just short of 27’s face. Like she was considering something.

She pulled it back. “Viv wouldn’t like that,” she murmured.

The words were light, But her tone wasn’t.

27 watched her carefully. “You care what she likes,” she said.

Elara’s gaze snapped back to her. Sharp.

“Careful,” she said softly. “She’s my wife.”
A pause. “You’re getting bold again.”

But there was no real warning in it.

If anything, there was interest.

27 shifted slightly, the chain dragging softly. “You came down here alone,” she said. “Brought extra.”
Her eyes flicked to the wrapped food. “You stayed.”

A beat.

“That’s not about her.”

Silence. Elara stared at her for a second, longer than before.

She laughed.

Soft.

Genuine. “Oh,” she said. “You really are dangerous.” She placed the food down within reach. “Eat,” she added.

27 didn’t hesitate this time, but she didn’t rush either.

She picked it up more carefully. More aware.

Because now,  This wasn’t just survival. This was something else.

Elara watched her for another moment., then stood. “You’re right,” she said casually.

27 looked up, Elara met her gaze.
“This isn’t about Viv.”

A pause.

Her smile sharpened slightly. “It’s about you. Our pet”

The words lingered.

Heavy.

Then she turned, walked toward the door. Stopped just before opening it. “You should keep talking to yourself,” she added lightly.

A small pause.

“I like hearing what you sound like when you forget we’re listening.”

The door opened. She stepped out. Without looking back,  “Don’t get used to this.”

The door shut.

The lock clicked.

Silence returned, But it felt different now. 27 sat there for a long moment.

The bottle still in her hand.

The food half-finished.

Her thoughts sharper again.

More focused.

She knew something she didn’t before, Viv controlled the rules.

But Elara bent them.

And, That was something she could use.