Scene 4
Benjamin burst into Gilben’s office, lifting the disk like a trophy.
Gilben looked up with a pleased smile, raising his hands for him to toss it over.
Benjamin did. Gilben caught it cleanly. “Excellent work!” he exclaimed.
“As always,” Rose added, stepping in just behind Benjamin.
He moved aside to let her pass—more than necessary.
She noticed.
For a moment, her smile threatened to fade, but she forced it to hold.
“And… what did you need it for?” Benjamin asked.
Gilben slid the disk into his computer. “Answers,” he said. “A group of idiots tried to pin something on me. Though… I’m not sure that’s quite the word.”
Benjamin blinked. “Pin something on you?”
“About this—about you, actually.”
Rose folded her arms. If he went down… they went with him.
“Do we have something to worry about?” Benjamin asked.
“All those facilities I had you destroy? Each one had a backup stored on this disk. That abandoned warehouse held the last copy.”
Benjamin pointed toward the computer. “That one?”
Gilben fixed him with a look.
“…Right,” Benjamin muttered.
Rose stepped closer to Gilben, her eyes locked on him—hungry for answers, her entire body trembling with a restless tension.
Gilben looked up at once.
She raised her hand.
A flicker of pink flared against his forehead.
There was no time to react—
Gilben was already on his feet. In the next instant, Rose’s hand was slammed against the desk, pinned in place. His gaze had gone cold, perfectly lucid.
“What were you about to do?”
“I…” Rose couldn’t move her hand—he had her firmly restrained.
Benjamin tried to step forward.
His legs wouldn’t obey.
“What were you about to do?” Gilben repeated.
“I’m…” Rose turned her gaze away, helpless. “I can’t go back to prison, Gilben.”
“I have it under control, Rose,” he said.
But did he?
What if he didn’t?
Rose’s eyes darted, unable to settle.
“Calm down, please,” Benjamin urged, his hand raised toward her.
She felt her body give, sinking under the weight of it. “I’m sorry…” she whispered.
Gilben released her. She staggered back a few steps, head lowered.
“Don’t let it happen again. For God’s sake,” Gilben said. “I’ll make sure nothing happens to you.”
Benjamin exhaled.
The walls seemed to close in. The air felt thin.
He glanced at the door.
Then back at them.
Gilben had already returned to his seat, his attention back on the screen.
“You’re dismissed. I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
By the time Rose turned again, Benjamin was gone.
A crooked expression pulled at her face.
She couldn’t bring herself to look at the spot where he had been standing.