Chapter 50 - The Thing Inside
Lyra couldn't get the Western Tower out of her mind.
Even after leaving the western side of the academy...
Even after putting several corridors between herself and that place...
She could still feel it.
That pressure.
That suffocating weight beneath her ribs.
She slowed her steps.
Her hand pressed against her chest.
Nothing.
The sensation was gone.
Or at least...
Almost gone.
Lyra took another breath and continued walking.
She told herself it had only been the tower.
The unfamiliar barrier.
The restricted area.
Perhaps exhaustion had made her imagination worse than it actually was.
But deep down...
She knew that wasn't true.
Something had been there.
Something alive.
Something that had reacted to her.
And she had no idea why.
Lyra reached the dormitory corridor.
The familiar surroundings should have made her feel better.
They didn't.
Her stomach twisted again.
She stopped beside the wall and closed her eyes.
"...Not again."
The nausea passed after several seconds.
Lyra straightened.
She didn't want Amy to see her like this.
She didn't want anyone to see her like this.
Especially after the way Black Crest had looked at her.
Lyra pushed open the door to her room.
Amy was already inside.
She looked up from her bed.
"...You're back."
Lyra nodded.
"...Yeah."
Amy's eyes lingered on her face.
"...Are you okay?"
"...I'm fine."
The answer came too quickly.
Amy frowned.
"...You always say that."
Lyra placed her bag beside the bed.
"...Because I usually am."
"Usually?"
Lyra didn't answer.
Amy watched her for another moment.
Then she reached toward one of the bags from their outing.
"...I saved this for you."
She pulled out a small pastry.
"I thought you might be hungry."
Lyra looked at it.
The smell reached her.
Her stomach immediately tightened.
Her face went pale.
She turned her head away.
"...No."
Amy froze.
"...You don't want it?"
"...It's not that."
Lyra swallowed.
"I just..."
The smell grew stronger.
Suddenly—
Her chest tightened.
The same horrible sensation from the tower rushed back.
Her stomach turned violently.
Lyra covered her mouth.
She barely managed to turn away before rushing toward the washroom.
Amy was on her feet instantly.
"...Lyra?"
The door shut.
A few seconds passed.
Coughing.
Then silence.
Amy stood outside.
She didn't knock.
She simply waited.
Eventually, the door opened.
Lyra stepped out slowly.
Her face was pale.
Amy's expression had lost all traces of amusement.
"...That happened before too, didn't it?"
Lyra looked away.
"...Maybe."
"Don't 'maybe' me."
Amy's voice wasn't angry.
Just worried.
"What happened after we separated?"
Lyra hesitated.
The Western Tower flashed through her mind.
The strange pressure.
The conversation with Black Crest.
The certainty she couldn't explain.
"...I went somewhere."
"Where?"
Lyra looked toward the window.
"...The western side."
Amy's expression changed.
"...The tower."
Lyra said nothing.
That was answer enough.
Amy stepped closer.
"You felt something there."
"...Yes."
"What was it?"
"I don't know."
Lyra's fingers tightened around her sleeve.
"But whatever it was..."
She paused.
"...It wasn't supposed to be there."
Amy watched her quietly.
She clearly wanted to ask more.
But she didn't.
Instead, she picked up the pastry and put it away.
"...Then don't eat that."
Lyra glanced at her.
"...Sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?"
"...Because you bought it for me."
Amy sighed.
"Don't think like that"
A tiny smile appeared on Lyra's face.
"...."
Amy smiled back.
"...Get some rest."
Lyra nodded.
But even after she lay down...
The uneasy feeling remained.
Somewhere beyond the dormitory walls...
The Western Tower stood in darkness.
And Lyra couldn't shake the feeling that whatever was inside it...
Hadn't forgotten her.
Later that night...
Three figures moved silently through the western grounds.
Kaelen led the way.
Riven walked beside him.
Erix followed a few steps behind.
The Western Tower rose ahead of them.
Dark.
Silent.
Watching.
Riven glanced at it.
"...You know, this is probably a terrible idea."
Kaelen didn't look back.
"...You're the one who wanted to investigate."
"...I said it was suspicious."
"Same thing."
"...Not even remotely."
Erix ignored them.
His eyes remained fixed on the tower.
"...Lyra was certain."
Kaelen nodded.
"...She was."
Riven's usual grin was gone.
"...She didn't even know what was inside."
"Exactly."
Erix's gaze narrowed.
"...That's what bothers me."
They reached the reinforced barrier.
Kaelen examined it carefully.
"...Someone strengthened this recently."
Riven frowned.
"...For a research facility?"
"Apparently."
Erix looked toward the tower.
"...Or whatever they're keeping inside."
A metallic sound echoed from within.
Clink.
All three stopped.
Riven's expression changed.
"...That wasn't us."
Another sound followed.
A slow scrape against metal.
Kaelen raised a hand.
They waited.
Nothing.
Then—
The side door opened.
A man stepped outside carrying several files.
He froze when he saw them.
"...Students?"
Riven gave him a small smile.
"...Researchers?"
The man stared at him.
"...You're not supposed to be here."
Riven glanced at Kaelen.
"...Everyone keeps saying that."
Kaelen ignored him.
"...Who are you?"
The man sighed.
"...Rowan Veyce."
He adjusted the files in his arms.
"...Assistant researcher."
Erix looked toward the tower.
"...What are you researching?"
Rowan's expression immediately changed.
He glanced behind him.
"...You should leave."
Kaelen didn't move.
"...We're aware something was transferred here."
Rowan said nothing.
"Something from the expedition."
Still nothing.
Riven crossed his arms.
"...You know what it is."
Rowan looked at him.
"...Knowing something was transferred and knowing what it is are two different things."
Kaelen's gaze sharpened.
"...Then tell us what you know."
Rowan hesitated.
A faint metallic vibration came from inside the building.
His fingers tightened around the files.
"...It was brought here for research."
"Research on what?"
"...Its behavior."
Erix's eyes narrowed.
"...Monster?"
Rowan remained silent.
That was enough.
Riven's expression lost its usual amusement.
"...So it is a monster."
Rowan looked toward the tower.
"...It was supposed to be sedated."
Kaelen's gaze sharpened.
"...Was?"
Rowan didn't answer.
A heavy sound suddenly echoed from inside.
Bang.
The reinforced door trembled.
Rowan went pale.
"...That shouldn't be happening."
Another impact.
This time harder.
Riven took a step back.
"...How secure is this place?"
Rowan stared at the reinforced entrance.
"...It should be secure."
Kaelen caught the wording.
"...Should be?"
Rowan swallowed.
"...The creature was calm when it arrived."
Erix looked at him.
"...And now?"
Rowan's eyes remained fixed on the door.
"...Now it keeps reacting to something."
Silence.
Kaelen's expression hardened.
"...Something?"
Rowan nodded slowly.
"...We don't know what."
Another impact.
Something scraped violently against the other side of the door.
Riven's hand moved toward his weapon.
Kaelen immediately stopped him.
"...Don't."
Riven looked at him.
"...I wasn't going to attack."
"...You were thinking about it."
"...Maybe."
Erix kept his eyes on the door.
"...Has it ever tried to break out?"
Rowan hesitated.
"...Not like this."
That answer was worse than anything else he could have said.
Kaelen stepped toward Rowan.
"...Why wasn't this reported?"
Rowan's expression tightened.
"...Because Professor—"
He stopped.
Kaelen waited.
Rowan looked away.
"...Because the research team believes the behavior is manageable."
Riven scoffed.
"...And you don't."
Rowan didn't answer.
Another deep sound came from within the tower.
Then—
Silence.
Complete silence.
Everyone waited.
Nothing happened.
Riven slowly lowered his hand.
"...Is that good?"
Rowan stared at the door.
"...No."
Erix looked at him.
"...Why?"
Rowan's voice dropped.
"...Because it means it's watching."
The three exchanged glances.
Kaelen looked back at the tower.
Whatever had been transferred here...
They still didn't know exactly what it was.
They didn't know why it had been brought inside the academy.
And they certainly didn't know why it had suddenly become restless.
But one thing was becoming clear.
The Western Tower wasn't simply a research facility anymore.
Something inside it was awake.
And whatever it was...
It was becoming harder to contain.