Kira tried to focus.
She really did.
Numbers filled her screen. Rows, columns, clean balances. Her pen rested between her fingers, steady now, as if nothing strange had happened earlier.
But her heart was still racing.
Every few seconds, she glanced toward Milo's office. The glass was opaque again…closed..distant. As if nothing unusual had happened in the corridor just minutes ago.
Finish your work and go back, Milo had said.
Kira swallowed.
She reminded herself why she was here. She had come only to audit accounts. She did not belong in whatever power games were happening inside this building.
She leaned forward to check another report.
Her desk phone rang.
"Milo here," Milo said. "You may take a break. Return in one hour. For outsiders, the cafeteria is on the ground floor."
The call disconnected.
Kira let out a breath…finally…I can go for a break.
I know I'm from a third-party firm, she thought, but do they really need to call me an outsider every single time?
The word hurt more than she expected.
Her stomach growled.
She was really hungry…..Clearly overdue for food.
She picked up her bag and walked quickly toward the elevator.
Just as she tried to step inside, a group of well-dressed employees entered from the other side. Without even looking at her, they pressed the button. The elevator doors closed right in her face.
Kira stared at the closed doors.
How rude, she thought, irritation rising. As if I don't exist.
"Okay," she muttered.
She turned and decided to take the stairs instead.
She reached the fourth floor…tired. It was silent and empty…dim lights..too quiet.
Then she heard something that did not feel normal.
A sharp crash.
Followed by a low grunt.
Kira froze.
Her heart jumped. She looked left, then right.
The corridor fell silent again. Too silent. Calm and controlled, as if the sound had been swallowed by the building itself.
She hesitated.
Probably nothing, she told herself. Probably security.
Still, her chest felt tight.
Slowly, she moved forward. Her steps were careful. Her shoes made almost no sound.
Then she saw it.
Blood.
Dark red drops splashed across the marble floor, standing out against the polished black surface.
Kira's breath caught. Is that blood? Or am I imagining things?
The drops led toward a side hallway marked RESTRICTED.
Her first instinct was to turn around and leave.
Her second instinct, to go and check, was stronger.
"Oh no," she whispered.
She followed the trail.
The hallway was dimmer and narrower. The air felt heavier. Then she smelled it. Iron…something sharp and wild.
At the far end, a tall figure leaned against the wall.
That guy from our floor… what was his name?
Kobbbi.
His jacket was gone. His shirt was torn at the side and soaked with blood. One hand pressed hard against his ribs. His breathing was rough and uneven.
"Are you okay?" Kira asked softly.
His head snapped up.
For a moment, his eyes were not playful or teasing.
They were warning.
"You should not be here," he said hoarsely.
Kira ignored that.
"You are bleeding," she said, already moving closer.
"I've had worse," he muttered. "You should leave."
"Your blood is on the floor," she replied. "That means it's serious."
He gave a short laugh that turned into a hiss of pain. "You talk too much…and you're nosy."
Despite the pain, he laughed again. "How did Lucas even send someone like you here?"
She knelt beside him anyway. "What do you mean? I was sent here because…"
Kobi looked at her, waiting….
"B…Because I'm good at my job," she said. "I work hard and I..I am smart."
"Sit down," she added…avoiding eye contact.
"I'm fine."
"Kobi," she said firmly, surprising both of them. "Sit. Down."
He stared at her.
Then slowly, he slid down the wall and sat on the floor, jaw tight.
Kira exhaled shakily.
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small first-aid pouch. Cheap. Worn. Something she carried out of habit.
"You carry that?" he asked.
"I'm a little clumsy," she admitted. "I hit corners. I trip sometimes. Hospitals are expensive."
Kobi laughed in disbelief, covering his face with his hand…muttering "Lucas"..
She opened the pouch. Clean cloth. Antiseptic wipes. A bandage roll.
When she reached for his shirt, he caught her wrist.
"Careful," he said softly.
Her breath caught, but she did not pull away.
"You're hurt," she said. "And unless you want to bleed all over Moonlight Corporation's floor, let me help."
Something changed in his eyes.
Slowly, he let go.
Kira gently moved the torn fabric aside. The wound was deep but clean. Like claws, not a knife.
Her stomach turned.
"This needs stitches," she said. "How did you even get a wound like this?"
He smiled faintly. "I heal fast."
She looked confused but still said, "It needs cleaning."
She wiped the blood carefully. Her hands shook, but she did not stop. Kobi watched her quietly.
"Does it hurt?" she asked.
"Yes," he said, playing along so she wouldn't panic.
She glanced up. "Sorry."
He smiled slightly. "Don't be."
As she worked, she noticed other things.
His skin was warm…too warm. His heartbeat was strong and steady beneath her fingers.
Her own heart responded, faster than it should.
When she finished bandaging, she leaned back.
"There," she said. "That's all I can do."
Kobi studied her for a long moment.
"You didn't scream," he said.
She frowned. "Why would I?"
"Most do," he replied.
She shrugged. "You looked like you needed help."
Something unreadable crossed his face as he leaned closer, almost sniffing her.
She shifted awkwardly and smiled. "I…I..hear that often."
"Who did this to you?" she asked.
"It's better if you don't know," he said lightly.
Footsteps echoed nearby.
Kira stiffened.
"We should…" she whispered.
Too late.
Leo appeared at the end of the hallway. His shirt was loose, sleeves rolled up, and Kobi's blood was visible on him.
Kira's mouth fell open in disbelief.
Leo's golden eyes scanned everything in one glance.
The blood.
The bandage.
Kira kneeling in front of his brother.
The air changed.
"Why are you still here?" Leo demanded, his voice low and dangerous. "Didn't I order you to leave?"
Kira stood up in disbelief can't he see..his injuries... "I helped him. He was hurt."
Leo ignored her. His eyes went to the bandage.
Then to Kobi.
"Who did this?" Leo asked, pressing his boot near the bandaged area.
"Aah… careful," Kobi hissed, then smirked. "Your little auditor."
Leo's jaw tightened.
"You brought her into a restricted area," Leo said sharply.
"She followed blood," Kobi replied. "Blame gravity."
Leo turned his gaze to Kira, who was standing like a stone.
"Didn't Milo tell you that you should not be here?" he asked.
Kira snapped out of her trance.
"I know," she said quickly. "I'm sorry. I was going for lunch and heard strange sounds, so I came to look."
Kobi laughed softly.
Leo did not.
"Go back to your desk," Leo said.
"Now."
Kira nodded faintly. "Yes."
She hesitated, then looked at Kobi. "Don't move too much. And press the wound if it starts bleeding again."
Kobi smiled. "You hear that? Doctor's orders."
"Now," Leo snapped.
She turned and hurried away, her heart pounding.
Behind her, Leo watched until she disappeared around the corner.
Then he turned to Kobi.
"You will stay away from her," Leo said coldly.
Kobi leaned back against the wall, eyes half closed. "You're worried."
"I'm responsible," Leo replied.
Kobi laughed softly. "Keep telling yourself that."
Kira washed her hands in the restroom, scrubbing until every trace of red was gone..it has strong smell.
Her reflection stared back at her. Pale. Shaken. Alive.
What are you doing? she asked herself.
She returned to her desk and opened the files again. Her hunger was gone.
Spreadsheets and calculations were the only place she felt calm.
But her thoughts wandered like a lost lamb.
Moonlight Corporation did not just hide money.
It hid monsters.
Were they fighting each other?
Why so violently?
She shook her head.
Enough for one day.
Why am I so unlucky?
Why can't I have a normal job, like a normal human being?