Mr. Halver sighed and rolled up the sleeves of his faded flannel shirt.
"Show me where the main line runs. If we don't patch it now, you're going to be hearing that sound at 3 a.m, and trust me, it's worse then."
Rose, still a little stunned, glanced at Dorian and nodded before disappearing into the storeroom.
She returned with an old red toolbox, its lid rusted at the corners and covered with dust.
Mr. Halver took it without a word.
He walked in and crouched by the door, facing the wall where the sounds came from and tapped it once with the butt of a wrench.
"Still the stupid same issue," he murmured, oblivious to Dorian's stare, a sigh then escaped his lips. "Might have to call a plumber again," he said, more to himself than to anyone else.
Dorian watched him like a hawk as he worked, eyes narrowed with an unreadable expression, before eventually turning away to join Rose.
He didn't trust the man, but there was no immediate threat, and for now, cleaning would keep his hands busy.
For the next hour, Dorian and Rose worked in silence, save for the sounds the tools made as Mr. Halver worked.
She wiped the high shelves while he organized the cupboard and repacked the food supplies they'd bought earlier.
The space started looking livable again, and more cozy.
Mr. Halver stood up later with a low grunt.
He wiped his hands on an old rag and accepted the steaming cup of tea Rose offered him before taking a seat in the kitchen by the storeroom door.
"Thanks," he muttered, sitting on the edge of the bean bag with a slow sigh.
"Tastes the same as always. Keeping the family's recipe going, I see."
Rose smiled as she sat across from him, wondering how fast he changed, from the old lanky man, to a large intimidating scarred one.
It had only been two years since she last visited her uncle, her usual.
She would always leave her home miles away, south, to visit her uncle, who also worked in the labs like her.
Specifically, the facility they just escaped from, and she had always looked up to him and admired his work.
Until he died during a test and she replaced him, but seeing what the facility actually did, made her regret ever being so eager to work there.
"My uncle... he really loved the tea," she finally said, ensuring she didn't let her emotions show in her voice.
"Strong, bitter, and always with a little honey. You said you knew him, right?"
Mr. Halver's expression changed for a moment, and Dorian was the only one who picked up on the saddened look in his eyes.
"I only knew he was obsessed with those blasted facilities and the projects," he replied, chuckling softly as he cast a brief glance at Dorian.
Halver took another sip before continuing. "You look a lot like him."
She smiled. "The family's genes are strong."
Mr. Halver nodded, then openly looked at Dorian with a raised brow. "So... what about him? He looks nothing like you, or anyone in your family."
"He's my brother, adopted. He's been through a lot," Rose said softly, her fingers wrapped tightly around her skirt. "We both have, but he's not always like that, just cautious."
"Cautious, huh?" Halver's voice carried a dry tone because he found it hard to believe it was just that.
"I've seen cautious. That kid? He's more alert than a wounded beast." He now looked at her. "Is there anything you guys need? Maybe I could help. Probably call your moth—"
"No!"
Both Dorian and Rose yelled out in unison.
Halver's eyes darted between them, his brows curved upwards. "Okay...? That is suspicious."
Rose sighed. "My mom works in... uhm, the lab now, and calling her would put us in danger."
"I see. Well then, I'll be on my way."
The old man stood up with a grunt and adjusted the bottle tucked under his arm.
"I understand you don't want to involve your parents in whatever this is, but you should really teach that boy some manners."
He looked at Dorian, who only stared back, still doing what he was doing.
"Someone not as patient as I am might not just look past it, alright?"
"I will," Rose promised.
"Alright, you be good kids, and if you need anything, I'm nineteen floors below," Halver bade farewell as he turned to leave.
Rose walked out with him, wearing a polite smile and uttering thank you.
It barely took five minutes, but when she came back into the apartment, her eyes widened and her jaw nearly dropped.
Dorian had finished the rest of the cleaning.
He arranged everything, the bags were unpacked, seasoning and other food items not meant for the fridge neatly stacked.
He was kneeling by the door of one of the rooms, folding the last of the clothes.
She blinked. "Okay," she said softly, "maybe you're not so hopeless."
Dorian didn't look up. "I'm not used to being so idle. It's weird."
Rose nodded and moved to the counter table.
She unboxed one of the landline phones placed in the house and plugged it in, then the screen lit up.
Before she could test it, it rang. Dorian paused, but Rose picked up before the second ring and raised it to her ear.
"Hello?"
"Rose," a very familiar voice came from the other end, but it came with multiple noises, like a generator, radio static, and water pouring.
"Did you get in safely?"
Rose swallowed. "Yeah. We're here. Mister Benson?"
"Yes, it's me," he chuckled. "I had to make sure you got home safely before going back. Is he okay?"
She glanced at Dorian, who just stayed on his knees watching, then she nodded and replied, "Yes, he is." she made gestures at Dorian to relax, "We are fine, so you don't have to worry."
"Okay. I know I said I'd be picking you both up in three days, but the plan changed. I'll be there tomorrow morning, and we'll leave at noon."
"Okay... and?"
"The brown envelope in his cross bag, fourth zipper. I need you to go through it, and both of you should sign if he agrees, and..." he trailed off, his voice straining on the other end like he was reaching for something.
"You should make sure that thing around his neck comes off before it powers on again and before he goes to bed."
"Okay, sir."
She was already moving before the call ended, while Dorian stood and followed silently.
She took his bag from the couch, walked back to the counter, and unpacked everything in it.
Drugs, syringes, blood packs, which were self-explanatory, and several sugar packets.
"What is it?" Dorian asked, stepping closer. Then his eyes fell on the envelope that she tore open and the papers she slid out.
To: Rose Kaiser
Location: Null
Date: [Stamped — Pending Arrival Confirmation]
At first, Dorian thought he might have been seeing things, but the more he looked, the more the dread weighed on his chest.
He watched her with horror-filled eyes as she unfolded the papers, and then he read the heading printed at the top in bold:
PROJECT TEMPEST — CANDIDATE ASSIGNMENT FILE