A surge of panic washed over the confident man as realization dawned upon him, his face contorted in despair. "Oh, shit!" he muttered under his breath, realizing the dire consequences he now faced. With that, the guard continued to drag Ian down the hallway, their footsteps echoing through the corridor, until they reached the waiting room. In one swift motion, the guard propelled Ian inside and firmly shut the door, leaving him alone.
Ian's heart continued to race, his breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps. The weight of fear pressed down on him, causing a frown to form on his face. Am I in trouble? His gaze darted around the room, desperately seeking any sign of familiarity. Where is Adam?
Feeling a sense of vulnerability and isolation, Ian found solace on one of the couches. He curled into a protective ball. He hugged his knees tightly against his chest, seeking comfort in their embrace. With his head resting against his knees, he closed his eyes, attempting to calm his racing heart and trembling body.
As time stretched on, Ian's anxious thoughts gradually settled, allowing a sense of ease to wash over him. Lifting his head, he noticed the table adorned with an array of beverages and snacks. A dry sensation in his throat reminded him of his own thirst. I want water.
Making his way to the table, Ian reached for a bottle of water, unscrewed the cap, and raised it to his lips. The cool liquid cascaded down his parched throat, quenching his thirst in a single satisfying gulp. His eyes scanned the assortment of treats, finally settling on a bag of chips and a juice box. Picking them up, he returned to the comfort of the couch, laying back into its soft cushions.
As Ian nibbled on his snack, his weariness began to catch up with him. When will this day end? The lack of a visible clock in the room only heightened his sense of time slipping away. He glanced up at the camera on the ceiling, a constant reminder of being watched. It’s already afternoon. At this time, we should have lunch and then head to the dome. His fingers absentmindedly touched the collar around his neck. This thing is so annoying. I wish I could use my ability any time I want. Ian let out a frustrated sigh.
Impatience gnawed at him from Adam absence. And where is Adam? Why is he taking so long? Ian's eyes fixated on the closed door, hoping for its imminent opening to reveal Adam's presence.
As the minutes ticked by with no sign of Adam, fatigue gradually overwhelmed Ian. The exhaustion he had been suppressing finally caught up to him. His eyelids grew heavy, and before he knew it, he succumbed to sleep, his body and mind seeking respite from the events of the day.
A gentle touch on Ian’s shoulder, his eyelids fluttered as he stirred from his sleep. Blinking away the remnants of drowsiness, he focused his gaze and saw Adam standing before him.
"Hey," Adam greeted, his voice filled with warmth.
Relief washed over Ian like a wave, and a bright smile spread across his face. "You're finally back!" he exclaimed with genuine joy.
Adam's expression held a hint of surprise, pleasantly taken aback by the radiance of Ian's smile, a rare sight amidst their challenging circumstances. He chuckled softly, his own smile mirroring Ian's. "You sure are adorable, Ian," he remarked, reaching out to gently pat Ian's head.
Surprised by Adam's comment, Ian's cheeks flushed with a hint of embarrassment, and he couldn't help but protest, "Hey! Don't say that, I'm a guy, you know!"
Adam chuckled, his eyes filled with warmth and amusement. "So?" he replied teasingly. "It doesn't mean you can't be adorable. It's part of your charm."
Ian's blush deepened, and he averted his gaze, feeling self-conscious. "Stop that," he mumbled. "Being called adorable is embarrassing."
Adam laughed, finding Ian's reaction utterly endearing. "Can't help it when you make that cute face," he teased.
Rolling his eyes but unable to hide his growing smile, Ian relented. "Fine, I'll allow it today," he said, his tone laced with playful surrender. Their playful banter subsided, and Ian's gaze turned more serious as he recalled Adam's lateness. "By the way, Adam..."
"Hm?" Adam looked at Ian with a curious smile on his face.
"Why were you late?" Ian asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
Adam let out a soft sigh. "They were unusually slow today," he explained with a shrug.
I guess they are low on staff, like those doctors in the restroom said. Ian's mind wandered, and a concerned expression replaced his smile.
Adam noticed the change and leaned closer to Ian's face. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.
Ian met Adam's gaze, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. He nodded slowly. "I'm fine," he replied, his voice filled with a hint of exhaustion. "Today was... a lot." Leaning back against the couch, Ian allowed himself to relax, finding solace in the presence of Adam by his side. He let out a deep breath, feeling a small sense of relief wash over him.
Adam reached for a snack from the table nearby, grabbing a packet of cookies. He turned towards Ian and extended the snack to him. "It's usually like that," Adam explained, a trace of weariness in his voice. "But today, it was a bit more chaotic than normal."
Ian shook his head, a satisfied expression on his face. "Thanks, but I'm good," he said, declining the offer with a grateful smile. "I had a snack earlier."
Adam nodded, understanding Ian's response. He settled back into the couch, opening the packet of cookies for himself.
As time passed, the doctor finally returned to escort both boys for their last examination. It was a brain scanning test that didn't take more than an hour. Once the examination was over, they were brought back to the waiting room, where they changed back into their plain facility clothes.
As they made their way to the first floor, a wave of relief washed over Ian, evident in the stretch of his arms. "Finally... we're done," He sighed with a mixture of exhaustion and satisfaction.
Adam smiled in agreement, the weariness etched on his face.
Entering the dining room, Ian's gaze swept across the space, noting the absence of other children. Only a few staff members occupied the space. He turned to Adam with curiosity in his eyes. "Are the others not done yet?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
Adam nodded in response. "Our group always finishes first. The others will start showing up soon," he explained, trying to ease Ian's worry.
Ian's thoughts shifted to Zack, realizing his absence. "What about Zack?" he asked, his tone tinged with concern.
Adam's shoulders shrugged slightly, his worry mirroring Ian's. “That, I don’t know," he replied.
They sat at their usual table, patiently waiting for Saffi and Luca to join them so they could have dinner together. Soon enough, the signs of the other children started trickling into the dining room. Fatigue was evident on their faces, and some of them struggled to walk, clearly in pain.
Finally, Saffi and Luca made their way to the table, their tired expressions contrasting with the smiles they exchanged with Ian and Adam. However, Zack never made an appearance throughout the entire day.
The group ate their dinner in relative silence, their exhaustion weighing heavily on them. After finishing their meal, they decided to retire to their rooms early, seeking much-needed rest. As they made their way to the third floor, Ian walked alongside Adam, his steps slowing as they approached his room. Hesitant, Ian's gaze turned to Adam, a plea hidden within his eyes.
Adam noticed Ian's hesitation and spoke up, concern coloring his voice, "Ian?"
Ian muttered softly, almost to himself, "I don't want to be alone..."
Understanding Ian's fear, Adam sighed softly, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "Do you want to sleep over in my room?" he offered, his voice comforting.
“Huh?” Ian's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected invitation. "Are we allowed?" he asked, voicing his concerns.
Adam shrugged, uncertainty tugging at his features. "I don't know," he admitted honestly. "I don't remember any rules saying we have to sleep in our own rooms." He paused, placing a hand on his chin as he tried to recall any relevant information. Then, turning back to Ian, he posed the question, "So, do you want to stay over in my room tonight?"
Ian couldn't help but smile in return, a sense of relief washing over him. He nodded, mustering the courage to take a step forward. "Oh, but the bed is only for one person," he pointed out, his voice tinged with hesitance.
Adam chuckled, acknowledging the cramped sleeping arrangement. "Yeah, it's going to be a tight fit," he agreed. "But I'm fine with it if you are."
Ian finally agreed to stay in Adam's room for the night, feeling a sense of security and comfort in the presence of his friend.
As Ian stepped into Adam's room, he noticed the familiar layout, similar to his own. However, one thing caught his attention—the sketches adorning the wall next to the bed. Intrigued, he approached them, his eyes scanning the intricately drawn faces and scenes.
"Did you draw these?" Ian asked, his gaze shifting towards.
“Hm?” Adam turned his attention towards Ian, closing the door behind him. “Yeah…” he replied.
Ian's eyes remained fixed on the detailed artwork. "That's impressive! I didn't know you could draw. Are these people from the facility?" he inquired, his admiration evident.
Adam's expression softened as he looked at the sketches, his mind seemingly drifting away. "No," he replied, his voice carrying a tinge of melancholy.
Ian’s gaze shifted back to Adam. “Who are they?” He asked.
“I don’t know… They're faces that pop up in my head and my dreams, so I drew them,” Adam replied.
Intrigued, Ian tilted his head “Could they be people from your past?” he asked.
Adam's smile carried a tinge of pain, but he quickly brushed it off, attempting to change the subject. "Perhaps," he said, evading the question. "Let's go wash up so we can get some rest. It's been an exhausting day for all of us. I'll bring you something comfortable to change into."
Ian nodded, then looked at his daily facility clothes. I usually just sleep in what I'm wearing and change the next day, I guess I’ll just change tonight.
After entering the bathroom and freshening up, Ian heard the door open behind him, and Adam walked in, holding out a change of clothes. "Here you go," he offered, his tone tinged with sarcasm. "Feel free to enjoy the utmost privacy in our not-so-private bathroom."
Ian chuckled, rolling his eyes playfully. He appreciated Adam's humor, a small respite from the reality of constant surveillance. "Thanks," Ian replied, accepting the clothes.
Ian swiftly changed into the provided tank top and shorts, stealing a quick glance at Adam who was doing the same. Adam's physical appearance was undeniably attractive, with features that could easily be mistaken for those of a beautiful female. However, despite his allure, Adam exuded a masculine presence with his tall stature and well-defined muscles.
As Ian's eyes traveled over Adam's body, his gaze fixated on multiple faint bruise-like marks on the lower part of Adam's back, which seemed to be in the process of healing. Did they hurt him while doing the examination? No, it looks like it’s healing… but I don’t remember Adam getting hurt in the past week… He furrowed his brow with concern. Yet, Ian decided to hold back from asking about it, not wanting to invade Adam's privacy.
Once dressed, Ian playfully leaped onto the bed, quickly claiming the inner corner next to the wall, while Adam settled closer to the edge. The initial awkwardness of lying so close to each other quickly dissipated as they engaged in light-hearted conversation and shared jokes.
Despite the undeniable tightness of the bed, offering little space for them to stretch out, Ian found himself surprisingly at ease. As the weight of the day lifted from his shoulders, a soothing tranquility washed over him. The weariness in his body was replaced by a welcomed serenity. With each passing moment, Ian could feel himself slipping into a state of deep relaxation.
As exhaustion took hold, he drifted into a deep and restful sleep. Wrapped in the cocoon of Adam's presence, he slept soundly throughout the night, his dreams free from the shadows that had haunted his thoughts.
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