Rebirth: 100 Days Before Doomsday - Chapter 119

Chapter 119: Rune’s Half-Truth (II)

A deadly silence filled the air. No one spoke, no one moved, everyone just stood there while staring at either Rune or the space where the group of five was standing just moments ago.

The first one to break that silence was none other than Grace. She took a deep breath and turned her attention toward Davian as she spoke, “Let’s end today’s mission here. Open the portal. We are heading back.”

He didn’t contradict, nor asked any questions, just followed her order and immediately opened a portal right there. Noticing that Rune wasn’t moving while the others were already making their way through the portal, Grace walked toward him and took hold of his hand, pulling him toward the portal and walking into it.

Seconds later, they all were back in the living room of Unit 2001. As Davian closed the portal and the silence once again returned, Grace decided to handle the situation. Turning her attention at Davian and others, she spoke, “I need to talk to Rune about what just happened. If you all want some sort of explanation, you will get it once I’m done talking. Please head to your own units for the time being.”

She didn’t have to repeat her words as almost everyone headed toward the door immediately. Davain and Dr. Kian stayed behind for a few seconds just to give her either reassuring glance or squeezes, before the two of them also left.

Once the two of them were alone, except for those who lived in Unit 2001, Grace turned her attention toward Rune and spoke, “Let’s head to my apartment.”

She didn’t wait to hear his response and walked out of the apartment, heading upstairs. Rune followed behind her silently, his face carrying a blank expression that made it hard to guess exactly what was going on in his mind.

Once they were inside Grace’s apartment, she locked the door and turned to face the man, finally asking the question – “Why did you do that?”

Rune finally looked up, focusing his gaze on her face, but his expression was still as blank as before. For a few moments, he was completely silent, but then he finally spoke, “I thought they were weird.”

He barely spoke that sentence and Garce had a sharp dagger pointing against his throat while she pushed him against the nearest wall. Her gaze was as cold as ice as she glared at him, making it pretty obvious that she wasn’t going to buy his nonsense.

“Enough of your nonsense, Rune. I have given you more than enough time to reveal your secrets, and yet, you have been keeping me in the dark. Don’t you dare tell me any lies because I hate that. Don’t test my patience anymore.” Her words were just as cold as her gaze, there wasn’t even an ounce of softness in them.

Instead of looking scared, Rune just stood there while looking at her. For a second, a certain emotion flashed past his eyes, but it was gone just as quickly as it came. He neither fought back nor tried to step away from the dagger that was just a breath away from piercing the skin of his throat.

“I’m not lying. They were indeed dangerous.” He spoke while keeping his gaze fixed on her.

“You know them.” Grace stated, not making her words sound like a question as she already knew the answer. And when he didn’t deny, it only confirmed her guess. “Now, tell me again – why were they dangerous?”

Once again, he didn’t answer immediately. “Because they weren’t from this world.”

“They were from yours.” Grace said as realization dawned over her. “Why would you think the people from your world are dangerous?” She asked another question, not lowering her guard yet.

“Because they will come after you once they will get to know about your bracelet.” He answered, but it wasn’t what she was waiting to hear.

“You said will. It means they still don’t know about my bracelet. Then did you kill them just because you believed they will come after me? Your words are hard to believe.” Garce didn’t lower her guard, knowing that it would be a big mistake.

The tension in the air between them was palpable, almost like the charged moments before a storm. Grace’s dagger stayed firmly pressed against Rune’s throat, her grip was steady despite the storm of emotions swirling within her. She couldn’t afford to show weakness – not when her one wrong judgment could put everything at stake.

“Answer me, Rune,” she demanded, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Who exactly were those people? Why did you kill them? And don’t you dare lie to me.”

Even though she wanted to sound serious and calm, something in her tone or the look in her eyes might have given away the anxiety she was battling deep in her. She was less interested in the truth, and more desperate to confirm that she wasn’t wrong about trusting him.

Despite the mysteries, weirdness, and unfamiliarity that surrounded Rune, she went ahead and put her trust him even when he was that one person around her whom she knew the least on personal level.

Rune’s blank expression finally shifted and his gaze softened, just slightly. “I’m not going to hurt you, Grace.” He whispered in the softest voice she had ever heard him using since the moment she had known him.

Grace narrowed her eyes. Though all she was seeing in his eyes was truth, she just couldn’t make herself accept his dismissal of her questions. “You aren’t helping here, Rune. What I want to hear is completely different from what you are saying.”

Rune’s jaw tightened at her words. For the first time, there was a flicker of frustration in his otherwise blank expression. “Because the less you knew, the safer you are. You think I wanted this? To kill them in front of everyone? I was trying to protect you, to protect all of us, damn it!”

“Maybe the one I need protection from is you, Rune.”