Zhao Li Xin's hand was still gripping hers, but his knuckles were bloodless. The muscles along his jaw twitched as if he were forcing himself not to react. His eyes, sharp, dark, and hinting with panic and anxiety, as his eyes locked on the hologram next to Lory.
Jay looked up from his tablet, his voice heavy. "Pretty much so,"
The quiet that followed was unbearable. Jay avoided eye contact altogether, his brow furrowed in concentration that barely masked his anxiety.
Clift's usual composure had vanished, replaced by the tightness around his mouth and the restless tapping of his foot. Even Samuel, looked quite tense after hearing the fact.
Amidst all that tension, only Lory remained unnervingly calm. Her voice, when it finally broke the silence, was quiet but steady.
"Jay," she said, leaning slightly forward, "Is there a time limit for this thing to blow up?"
