Chapter V - By tending to my old wounds, you became the creator of new ones.

The strong morning light filtered through the powder pink curtains, brightening the spacious room. Ignacy gently opened his eyes, staring at the figure of the young man, curled up in the soft bed sheets. Sunbeams cast golden reflections on his pale skin and tangled brown hair. Ignacy turned onto his side, resting his head on his left hand, watching the teenager lost in sleep. With each breath, his lungs rose and the air escaping his lips sounded quiet and peaceful. Ignacy saw something endearing in him, perhaps it was the slightly oversized clothes, worn in places where numerous scars showed, or maybe the fact that Jaśmin now looked so innocent, as if he had nothing to do with what had happened. The golden-haired boy smiled, but then his face stiffened. He realized what he was doing and immediately shook his head, trying to break free from the state he was in. Ignacy leaned back on the pillow, continuing to observe the sleeping boy. Then, a vision of the bloodied teenager, fleeing in panic, appeared before his eyes. He swallowed and turned his gaze toward the window, trying to shake off the memory. The sun was shining brightly, blinding him. He squinted, wondering how early it must be. He got up, approached the window, and moved the curtains slightly, trying not to wake the stranger. He sighed. It was unusually quiet. Usually, at this hour, he would see flying vehicles cutting across the sky, but now-nothing. Fatigue still weighed on him, and he rubbed his eyes before yawning. Half-conscious, Ignacy left the room, gently closing the door behind him. This time, he did it exceptionally quietly-only the creaking of the hinges echoed down the empty corridor. Next to him was another solid pair of oak doors. The man pressed the handle and entered the adjacent room. It was different from the cozy, French hotel room he had been in earlier-the interior exuded raw elegance, with cool, minimalist tones. The focal point of the room was a gigantic white bed, taking up much of the space opposite the door. On it lay an unusual stuffed animal-a miniature model of a Maybach, wrapped in dark beige bedding. The soft folds of fabric contrasted with the hard metal decorative elements, giving the room a unique character. Across from the bed was an elaborate wardrobe system, creating a walk-in closet. The simple, minimalist form perfectly complemented the other elements of the decor. On one wall, there was a long white desk with a laptop on it. If turned on, it would transform into an advanced programming tool. On either side were two desktop computers. The walls, covered in concrete and metal decorations, emphasized the industrial nature of the space. Large cabinets, reaching to the ceiling, served both a practical and decorative function. Some of them had glass doors, forming a mini-library with documents. The room felt cold, almost sterile, devoid of any personal touches. Ignacy looked around the interior. Exceptionally well-lit by the ceiling-mounted system and a single lamp, the room was almost blindingly bright. He opened one of the tall cabinets, pulled out some clothes and underwear from the bottom basket, then closed the cabinet doors. Not closing the door behind him, he went out into the corridor. He passed the opposite door, which seemed to lead to the bathroom. After a moment, the sound of a shower turning on came from behind the door.

***

About thirty minutes later, the red-haired boy came out of the bathroom, crossed the threshold into the living room, and found the rest of his siblings. A red-faced Teodor sat opposite his sister, resting on a green chair. Wet Ignacy, wiping his head with a towel, glanced between his sister and his brother. The girl seemed particularly shaken. Every second, she opened her mouth, as if wanting to say something, but the words slipped away. She looked at Teodor, who, upon making eye contact, immediately lowered his head and nervously cleared his throat. Ignacy continued to wipe his reddish-camel-colored hair, then threw the towel onto the green sofa. He walked past his siblings and leaned against the kitchen island. The girl still seemed to be trying to say something, while Teodor fought to catch his breath.

- What's going on? - Ignacy asked, finally unaware of the situation, walking toward one of the kitchen cabinets. He opened it, took out a white mug, and poured himself some freshly made lemon water. He took a sip, moistening his lips. - Do you want something? - he repeated the question, placing the mug on the counter.

- Didn't you forget something? - Teodor, as red as a beet, spoke up, staring at the wooden table.

- You slept with the kid! - the girl, dressed in a white summer dress and long white ankle-high socks, suddenly exploded, jumping up from the table. She rushed toward Ignacy, losing one of her red slippers along the way. Both brothers exchanged looks, and Teodor didn't know what to do; he immediately broke eye contact with Ignacy. Ignacy felt her small fists clench around his freshly put-on pale turquoise shirt.

- You idiot! - she shouted, trying to yank him. - Sleeping with a minor is forbidden!

Ignacy looked down at her as if he didn't entirely understand her anger.

- Calm down, - he said after a moment, gently removing her hands from his shirt. But Nulla was shaking with rage. She wasn't going to let it go.

- Calm down?! - her voice was full of disbelief. - You slept with a minor in our parents' house! In their bedroom! How could you be such an idiot?!

Teodor, who had remained silent up until then, trembling, finally mustered a weak protest.

- It's... not like that, - he stammered, not looking at his sister. - It's not his fault...

- Shut up! - she snapped at him, turning toward him for a moment, but she didn't stop yanking Ignacy's shirt.

- Let it go, - Ignacy repeated, removing her hands from his shirt a second time. He took the opportunity to distance himself from her as much as his courage allowed. - You're sensitive, that's why I'm letting you do this, - he called from the other side of the couch, trying to calm her down.

- I'll kill you, - Nulla hissed through her teeth, all trembling. - You'll lose your circles! - she shouted, and Teodor immediately turned toward her, worried.

- Circles? - he asked, confused, looking at the albino girl.

- Didn't you know? - she replied, her voice carrying something ominous. - We could all lose them!

Teodor paled. The thought of the consequences made him dizzy. He began biting his nails, feeling the growing fear.

- Stop overreacting, - Ignacy interrupted, still trying to stay calm. - It's not what you think.

- I told you not to trust him! We don't even know him! - Teodor yelled, his voice trembling with nerves.

- Great! Not only did you sleep with a minor, but with a stranger too! - Nulla was getting angrier and angrier.

- I didn't sleep with anyone, - Ignacy protested. - We don't know him, so I made sure he didn't do anything last night, - he explained, looking at his furious sister.

- Made sure? - she repeated sarcastically. - You slept like a baby when I came back!

Ignacy remembered what he had forgotten. The kid had completely forgotten to close the door to their parents' bedroom. His frustration at his own stupidity made him grab his head and sit down on the green couch. At the same time, thousands of thoughts were piling up in Teodor's mind. Visions of therapy, forced confessions, and difficult consequences tormented him. "What if they find out I lost my memory?" he thought, feeling the growing panic. Both men, lost in their own thoughts, stopped listening to Nulla's ranting.

- I came back around two in the morning, that idiot, - she pointed at Teodor. - He was in the shower when I couldn't... - her voice slowly faded into the background of Ignacy's thoughts.

- You took a shower? - Ignacy interrupted her, bewildered. - At two o'clock? - his eyes went wide like saucers.

- I felt dirty, - Teodor replied, lowering his gaze. - And I couldn't sleep.

The two brothers exchanged a brief glance that spoke louder than words.

- I understand, - Ignacy replied quietly. His gaze moved to his reflection in the black TV screen.

- Anyway, - his sister continued, - I was looking for you, and when I went into your room, it was empty. Then I saw that the parents' bedroom door was slightly ajar, and when I went in... - Nulla struggled to speak. - I saw you... hugging that... that stranger, - she blurted out, collapsing in exhaustion. She leaned against the kitchen counter, and the room fell silent.

- Who is Adam? - Teodor asked, breaking the silence. Ignacy raised his head, and his gaze rested on his brother.

- Adam? - Nulla repeated, surprised.

- You don't have to go to school, - Ignacy replied, changing the topic, his tone suggesting that Teodor shouldn't ask any more questions.

- I took the day off, - his sister responded, but her thoughts still lingered on what she had seen.

- We shouldn't hide this from her, - Teodor said, after deeply analyzing all possible scenarios, concluding that the only way to get out of this deadlock was to tell the truth to everyone and find the best solution together.

- Do you want to get rid of me? - she said sarcastically, her eyes flashing with defiance. - What Adam? - she returned to the question her brother had asked earlier.

- You're both idiots, - Ignacy muttered quietly, confused. - Adam Świt, - he replied confidently, looking at his siblings. He then stood up from the couch, straightened up, taking full responsibility for his next words. He walked closer to the wooden table. - The stranger mentioned him last night.

Nulla turned pale, almost to an inhuman shade of white, and her eyes instantly reddened and sunken. She turned away from the brothers, taking a deep breath, staring vacantly at the kitchen cabinet counter. Ignacy approached her and stood by the island, leaning against it, next to the bewildered Teodor.

- Who is he? - Teo asked, seeing the expressions on his siblings' faces. - Is he some relative of ours? - he asked, as Ignacy crossed his arms while leaning.

The blond guy looked around the room, searching for an answer. He turned toward the window and suddenly felt a hot hand slap his right cheek.

- Ouch! - he screamed, turning toward the culprit. She stood over him, a trembling teenager, looking up at his angry face. He didn't say anything, just grabbed his reddened cheek, waiting for any reaction in silence.

- Chill out, - Ignacy finally replied, grabbing the girl's other wrist and pulling her closer. Her body still radiated emotions. - He's our uncle, - he added. - I mean, our dad, - he quickly corrected himself, shaking his head. After these words, Teo felt awful, as though he had driven a nail the size of two fourteen-meter giraffes straight into his heart. He now understood the behavior of his siblings and his sister's outburst. He wanted to say something, maybe apologize, but he had no idea how to begin.

- Anyway, - Ignacy spoke again. - He's no longer alive.

- So how did your boyfriend know him? Did you tell him about us? - the albino girl asked, the previous extreme emotions now giving way to calmness.

- I don't know him, I've already told you, - the redhead replied. - But the guy must know something about us.

- Maybe he's some kind of activist? - the girl thought out loud.

In Teodor's mind, the image of the girl running on the beach reappeared. "Is she an activist too? Or maybe they know each other?" Millions of doubts and questions remained unanswered. The boy listened to the siblings' debate, feeling that they were perfectly complementing each other. Nulla seemed to answer the questions and assumptions Ignacy threw her way, functioning in a similar way in both directions. The longer he listened, the more he felt like an outsider. He also had an overwhelming feeling that all the problems somehow connected to him. He desperately wanted to remember, but he was stuck in the agony of blindness, causing cramps and anxious states. The more he feared, the more he hated himself. In the end, unable to stand his own self, driven by a growing sense of self-importance, he grabbed the cup of water in front of him and, with one swift motion, poured it all over himself.

- Are you out of your mind?! - Ignacy shouted, instinctively backing away from his brother. Nulla, unsure of what to do, turned around, reaching for the roll of paper towels on the counter. She grabbed it and placed it next to the soaked blond.

- What are you doing? - she replied calmly, as if the girl had already gotten over it. Maybe Ignacy had managed to explain the whole situation to her. Teodor had stopped listening to them some time ago, his hands covered in water droplets that slowly slid from his eyelids to his eye sockets. The absorbed blond boy looked out at the world outside, staring vacantly at his sister as she wiped his face.

- Is everything okay? - Ignacy asked, adjusting the second green chair next to Teodor. He sat down on it, leaning into the stone-faced, blue-eyed boy. - Did you cool off? - he added sarcastically, trying to break the tension.

- I'm stupid, - Teodor finally declared, so quietly that only the girl crouching beside him heard the word.

- It's a family trait, - she said gently, smiling at him. His eyes caught sight of five blue circles on her wrist, matching the color of her pale skin. After wiping his face, she stood up.

- What do we do now? - Ignacy asked, trying to change the subject.

- We don't know him, - Nulla began, her voice echoing in the empty room. There was uncertainty in her eyes, and with each passing second, she realized that this situation was becoming more dangerous. - So maybe it's better to turn him in to Gaja? - she suggested, feeling her heart beat faster. Each word she spoke seemed to make contradictory thoughts collide in her head.

- I don't trust the system, - the redhead replied, unable to hide the determination in his voice. A real internal conflict was playing out in his mind: on one hand, logic suggested that this could be the solution, but on the other, his heart screamed that it wasn't the right path. - And the guy knows our father, - he added, although he didn't know why he was defending the stranger so strongly. He felt they needed to understand the situation before making any moves.

- Okay, - the girl nodded, her voice carrying a mix of fear and determination. - Do we know how many circles he has, at least? - she asked, glancing at her brothers, trying to get any solid information from them.

Ignacy, standing in the corner, stared at the floor, almost hypnotized. He had completely forgotten to check the number of circles on the stranger, even though he had just been lying next to him. His mind was swirling with questions, and helplessness was growing inside him.

- I'll go check, - he said suddenly. There was something in his voice that could be interpreted as desperation. He wanted to solve this puzzle, find the answers that would finally bring relief.

- One, - Teodor spoke, almost in a trance, his eyes brightening slightly. - I knew it, one complete one, - he added, lifting his head. There was a note of relief in his tone, but also fear, as if discovering that one circle would bring more questions than answers. - The other five are unfinished, - he announced uncertainly, feeling his siblings' gazes on him.

- The other five? - the girl repeated, her mind working at full speed, trying to understand this unusual situation.

- I saw one, the smallest, - Teo said, his voice measured as if he were weighing each syllable. - And it was finished, but the rest cut off halfway. What does that mean?

Ignacy stood still, thinking about what he had heard.

- How could he have five unfinished ones? - he thought aloud, as if unintentionally asking himself. At that moment, everyone looked at him, their eyes full of the same questions.

- It's impossible, you can only have five, - he said firmly, then quickly passed by the table, as if suddenly coming to life.

- Where are you going? - the blonde girl shouted, surprised by his sudden mood change.

- To check! - he yelled, not looking back. A rising sense of unease began to grow in his heart with every passing moment.

- Wait! - the girl shouted, running after him, while Teodor, the only one left at the table, tried to remember the sight of the stranger's circles. Their strange conversation still echoed in his ears, and the unease grew inside him.

When they reached the door, they heard a loud noise coming from their parents' room. Teodor rushed toward his siblings, looking at Ignacy, who was holding the doorknob.

- Go in, - Ignacy said loudly, his voice firm, as if he was ready to face any demons that might be hiding behind the door. The redhead gently turned the knob, and the wooden doors opened, revealing the chaos that awaited them.

Teodor stood behind his red-haired brother, who was frozen, unable to believe what he was seeing. The small albino girl ran into the room, bumping into Ignacy's arm, and the boy barely noticed that he almost lost his balance. His mind was in chaos, and his heart raced wildly.

***

The short brunet in oversized lemon-patterned pajamas stood with one leg resting on the frame of the open window, his matted hair gently fluttering in the wind created by the draft. He squinted, his gaze focusing on the siblings, but it stopped after a second, landing on the heterochromic eyes - their gazes met. Dark, warm chocolate, which not only flooded the golden wheat fields but also enveloped the turquoise lake, filled Ignacy's mind, and he found his nothingness without sleep. The men stood in silence, drowned out by the screams of the albino girl struggling with the teenager and Teodor. They looked at each other. Ignacy felt his internal organs contract. Teo's scream, trying to persuade the stranger to get down, spread throughout the room, attracting the attention of two passersby below them and one cyborg marching down the street. The atmosphere in the air was a mixture of lemon cake and burnt caramel, making the situation even more surreal. At one point, the brunet closed his eyes, breaking the eye contact, took a deep breath, and then stepped down from the window frame. The girl instinctively pulled away from the stranger but continued to attack him with verbal jabs, curling behind Teodor, who was trying to snap the redhead out of his trance. Ignacy had the sensation that all sounds moved through him before reaching his ears. The images before his eyes blurred, leaving only the clear view of the brunet, behind whom the lightly powder-pink curtains fluttered as the morning sunlight spread like a wave. The brunet confidently lifted his gaze, looking directly into Ignacy's eyes, who stood frozen. The redhead didn't break eye contact, and his eyes were as sharp as the stranger's, which seemed to pierce through his black pupils. The shimmering white spots in his eye were simply the reflection of light on his irises, but Ignacy felt that these gazes sparked in him a fire of fear and determination.

- Disgusting, - came the soft male voice, pre-puberty. The words filled the room, and at that moment, all external stimuli reached Ignacy's ears, attacking him aggressively like waves flooding the beach.

- HE CALLED YOU DISGUSTING, - Null replied, irritated, emerging from behind Teodor.

The blond, silent, watched his brother's reaction as if struck by electricity, rushing toward the stranger. The young boy stood no chance when the redhead, with surprising strength, grabbed him by the left arm. Like in judo practice, he tossed him backward, throwing him onto the bed. The loud sound of breaking bones caused the boy's sister to fall silent, watching the turn of events in a state of aphonia. Teodor, whose emotions mixed excitement and fear, was also taken by surprise.

Ignacy looked at the unyielding boy, who, like a chimpanzee, sprang off the floor and sat directly under the redhead leaning over him. A monkey-like grin appeared on the boy's face, and with confidence, he stood up. As he did, he didn't take his eyes off the twenty-year-old. When he stood facing the man, he extended his hand to him, and the stranger's smile never disappeared.

The brunet studied the man, who at times resembled a hybrid of a god and a corpse straight out of Hades. Ignacy's gaze wandered from the man's eyes to the oversized pajamas hanging off the teenager, which revealed part of his left chest. Then his eyes drifted down, stopping only at the kid's mutilated feet. He stared at his nails in a daze, not lifting his gaze. His mind focused entirely on the contrast of the changing skin: earlier, the stranger had resembled a dead body, but now his skin had taken on a warm tone, as if he had just returned from a vacation in a hot country. The redhead studied him so intensely that, suddenly, he felt a shove. A young woman stepped between him and the brunet, who, upon seeing her approach, withdrew his hand.

- Mr. Adam, - he began with a smile, ignoring Nulla. - I'm glad we finally meet.

- What Adam? - Teodor chimed in, and Nulla's scornful look scorched him with her gaze. - I mean, I know which one you mean, - he clarified, seeing his sister glaring at him. - But there's no Adam here, - he added, as Ignacy struggled to swallow his saliva.

The stranger, standing on the sidelines, observed the whole situation with cold, analytical precision. His thoughts circled around tactics, plans, and possibilities.

- I'm Jaśmin, - he replied, full of energy, but with a clear strategic undertone in his voice, not interrupting himself.

- I don't care who you are, - Ignacy finally replied, lifting his gaze, his eyes burning with determination, as if fighting for something more than just the truth. - How do you know Adam Świt? - he asked, pushing the blond aside and stepping closer to Jaśmin, whose calmness and analytical mind seemed to collide with Ignacy, like two opposing forces.

The surprised brunet squinted, his gaze drifting toward Teodor.

- Are you Adam? - he asked, slightly deflated, searching for confirmation. - Right? - The boy started looking around the room grotesquely, as if analyzing every detail, trying to understand what was happening.

- How do you know him?! - the redhead repeated, heading toward the embarrassed brunet, whose inner chaos and indecision were reflected in his expression.

- I won't say! - he yelled as Ignacy grabbed him tightly by the wrist. - I won't say! - he repeated when the golden-haired one tightened his grip on the bandaged cut above his hand. Ignacy, overwhelmed by frustration, wasn't aware that these emotions could betray him.

- Ignacy... - Teodor began, still lost, while Nulla, with keen interest, watched how the brunet struggled to find his bearings in the situation. The boy seemed full of courage to her, not taking his eyes off Ignacy's angry face.

- How do you know him?! - Ignacy said like a mantra, wanting to strike the brunet so he would finally lower his head. Jaśmin, trying to grasp the situation, felt pain for Ignacy, and his emotions began to overwhelm him. When Ignacy's fist clenched tightly, causing another bleeding wound, Jaśmin unexpectedly sobbed, feeling that his resistance was futile. Seeing his tears, Ignacy instinctively loosened his grip and stepped back. Jaśmin seized the opportunity to distance himself further from the giant. Standing closer to Teodor, the lost boy hid behind the blond's back. His pajamas hung loosely like an oversized, sloppy robe. Teodor turned around to help him adjust his clothes. At that moment, Ignacy, driven by an emotion he didn't understand, unceremoniously pulled the kid out from behind Teodor and then positioned him closer to himself. Holding him by the healthy hand, he took a deep breath, letting the oxygen slowly reach his brain.

- Don't let his childlike appearance fool you, - he warned Teodor, noticing the indifferent look from the brother, shielded by one of his hands. The blond gazed at the redhead with pity, completely not understanding what the golden-haired one was thinking. He felt that everyone was too loud, but, wanting to avoid a fight, he lowered his head.

- I think you don't know what to do, - Nulla spoke finally, sitting on the bench.

- I think so too, - Teodor agreed with her, approaching the open windows to close them. After turning the latches and drawing the curtains, he sat next to Nulla. Both of them observed the brunet, and then their gazes shifted to the redhead.

- So, what should I do? - Teodor asked, not looking at Jaśmin.

- Definitely don't pull him by the open wounds, - the blond woman replied, playing with a strand of her hair. - Unless you want him to bleed out, - she added, shifting her gaze to the bandage, which was now soaked in blood.

- Listen, - Teodor said calmly, looking at Jaśmin's lowered head. - You're alone here, and there are three of us. We can call for help anytime. We'll be thrown out of the fourth zone, but you'll be... killed, - he finished, seeing the stranger's body tremble slightly. Teodor didn't know what he was talking about; he was just trying to scare the kid. In the process, he also frightened his younger sister, who began nervously twisting a strand of hair around her finger.

At that moment, Ignacy stood in front of the brunet, still holding the boy's hand.

- No one is going to kill anyone, - he replied confidently, looking directly at the pair sitting in front of him. - We need to cooperate, - he added, revealing the boy. His heart was still racing. - Do you see? - he continued, directing Jaśmin's attention to the black-and-white photos on the vanity.

The young boy looked at them with a gaze full of confusion. Then he lifted his head and looked at Ignacy. When their eyes met for the hundredth time, Ignacy turned his head away from the stranger.

- Who are they? - Jaśmin asked.

- That's Adam Świt and his wife Eliza, - Nulla answered.

- Are they dead? - Jaśmin asked in shock, his voice trembling as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard. A shadow of disbelief appeared in his eyes. He thought the siblings might have lied to him, but when he looked up and saw Ignacy standing in the light of the fluttering pink curtains, his heart froze. This wasn't a game. This was the truth.

- For ten years, - Teodor added, his voice quiet, almost imperceptible. Although he didn't remember the marriage, he knew one thing- the relief that he wasn't alone in his ignorance gave him a fleeting sense of peace. But he was afraid that every word could trigger a storm that would destroy everything around them.

- But... but... - Jaśmin began, his thoughts swirling in chaos. He opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but couldn't comprehend how this could be possible. How could this have happened?

Ignacy, trying to remain calm, suddenly turned around, interrupting his thoughts.

- If you want to survive, you need to help us, - he said firmly, his voice like a blade. His gaze pierced the brunet, who seemed lost in this situation. - Trust me, we don't want trouble either, - he added, though there was a subtle hint of unease in his voice that was hard to ignore.

Jaśmin shook his head, trying to collect his thoughts, though frustration swelled inside him like a rising river.

- But... what do you mean, you're not Adam? - he asked, his voice full of irritation. - Leo gave me this address when I ran from the dogs at the hospital... that was when Blue wasn't answering... - he said absentmindedly, almost as if losing himself in his own story.

Ignacy abruptly cut him off.

- Exactly, - Ignacy said that one word in an icy tone, and there was clear distrust in his voice. - You've been following me since the hospital? - he asked, and anger flickered in his eyes, as if it were breaking through walls. - We also saw each other on the train.

- No, - Jaśmin denied, shaking his head with determination. That simple gesture, though ordinary, somehow calmed the storms raging within Ignacy. The redhead studied the boy intensely, as if wanting to see through him, to peer deeper into the soul of this unfamiliar kid. Jaśmin took a deep breath, his tone calming a little, though the tension still hung in the air. - I had to take it to get here, - he explained, trying to make his words as logical as possible.

- So how did you end up at the hospital? - Ignacy asked, his voice more curious now, but still full of suspicion.

Nulla watched them, not fully understanding what they were talking about but not taking her eyes off the stranger. His presence was a puzzle she wanted to solve.

- The dogs caught me at the gate when I separated from Blue, - Jaśmin replied, his voice breaking slightly as he recalled the event.

Teodor, who had been lost in his thoughts until now, shuddered upon hearing that name. "Blue." The word hit him like a blow, and memories slowly surfaced from his mind like flashes of light. A figure who could have been his only ally emerged in his memory. His hands involuntarily clenched into fists, and his eyes glazed over with the flood of thoughts.

- Are you a terrorist? - Nulla asked, her tone filled with concern, and that one question snapped Teodor out of his reverie, brutally pulling him back to reality.

- You mean an activist? - Teodor corrected her, but his voice sounded as if he wasn't sure he even knew the difference. Everyone tensed, waiting for the answer as if it were a matter of life and death.

- Yes, - Jaśmin answered without hesitation, his tone confident, though his insides were boiling. - But I'm not a terrorist, - he added quickly, feeling the pressure of all the eyes on him.

- No? - Ignacy asked sarcastically, his lips twisting into a bitter smile. - And blowing up planes and buildings where NORMAL people live isn't an act of terrorism? - Ignacy clenched his fists, his voice sharp like a blade, full of accusations, and his gaze was like a burning fire searching for answers in Jaśmin's soul. In his eyes, there was not only anger but also pain. Every word from Ignacy cut like a blow, and Jaśmin, though young, couldn't ignore that accusing force. Still, he didn't step back from the redhead, standing firm, wanting to defend his stance.

- No one has ever blown up a place where innocent people were, and certainly not anyone from our side, - Teodor said, feeling how anger and frustration mixed with pain as he realized how much the trust between them was eroding.

- No one has ever blown up a place where innocent people were, and certainly, no one from our side did it, - Jaśmin declared, his voice firm. He tried to control the growing tension with every passing second.

- You know, he is a living proof, - the redhead replied, pointing at the semi-conscious Teodor, who was barely responsive but still listening to their conversation. His tired eyes opened for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but the words didn't leave his lips.

- You mentioned Blue, - Teodor interjected, his voice like a terrifying bell that shook everyone out of their stupor.

- Blue? - Nulla responded, unsure of what the name meant, almost as if she feared hearing something that would deepen their chaos.

- What do you mean "living proof"? - Jaśmin repeated, his eyes burning with worry. Every word from his mouth felt like a shot from a gun.

- You blew up the building where we were taking the exam, - Ignacy answered, his tone becoming increasingly cold, as if every syllable was torn from his throat with pain.

- It wasn't us! - protested the short boy, his voice trembling, his eyes widening as he looked at Ignacy, as if trying to deflect his anger.

- Sure, - Ignacy rolled his eyes dramatically, his gaze becoming ice-cold. - I was there too, and I saw you clearly, - he stated confidently, feeling the tension in the air rise.

Jaśmin stepped closer to Ignacy, so close that their faces almost touched. The confused redhead clenched his fist even tighter, focusing his gaze on Jaśmin's small hand.

- You saw me? - Jaśmin asked, his voice laced with a pleading tone, casting a shadow over his impulsive nature.

- You also blew up Adam Świt and Eliza, - Nulla replied passionately, her emotions erupting like lava from a volcano.

Jaśmin could feel his patience melting away.

- I'm telling you again, someone contacted me recently using his details, - he said, irritated, as if he had witnessed the situation himself, feeling attacked from all sides.

Teodor interrupted their discussion, seeing how the situation was spiraling out of control.

- You said you separated from her at the gate.

- What? - Jaśmin looked at him, confused, his eyes filled with uncertainty.

- Blue.

- Do you know him? - Jaśmin asked, thrown off track, his voice trembling with worry.

- Kind of, - Teodor replied briefly, his breath becoming heavier as he felt emotions begin to overwhelm him.

- What! - the blonde girl stood up, her eyes wide with surprise. - You know the terrorist? - she replied, not believing her own words.

- If anything, he's an activist, - Jaśmin corrected her, standing straight and trying to make his tone sound convincing.

- Kind of, - Teodor repeated, looking at his brother, who still had a firm hold on Jaśmin. Ignacy felt his heart beat faster when their eyes met, and Teodor had the impression that he saw a shadow of anxiety and fear in his brother's gaze.

- Your Blue, - Ignacy finally spoke, and those words made the air in the room grow heavy.

- Blue? - The blonde girl felt embarrassed, looking meaningfully at her brother, who had once again closed off, trying to process the new reality.

- So, you know Blue? - Jaśmin asked uncertainly, overshadowed by the giant, making him feel small and lost.

- He has long blue hair and dark navy eyes, right? - Teodor felt his emotions reaching their peak, and the hope of discovering the truth about Blue burned inside him. - His skin is exceptionally pale, but a little darker than mine, - he replied, extending his hand in front of him, while Nulla watched him as though she were staring at an enraged dog.

The short brunet, with fear in his eyes, watched as the blonde tried to remember as many details as possible. Suddenly, in Teodor's mind, the image of a hazy figure returned. The blonde recalled the brown mole and the clear wrists.

- No rings! - he almost shouted, and his voice echoed in the small room.

- Yes? - Jaśmin confirmed, feeling a slight discomfort.

- And a mole on the neck, covered by hair, - Teodor continued, his voice trembling with emotion.

- Are you his ex? - Jaśmin asked, sizing him up.

- Not really... but I know her quite well, - he tried to explain, though beyond the girl's appearance, he knew nothing about her. He could feel his confidence starting to crumble.

- Never mind, we'll deal with Blue later, - Ignacy corrected, his tone firm, though deep down he felt the rising tension that threatened to overwhelm him.

Teodor wanted to kill him. He jumped up from the bed suddenly, his heart racing. Trying to say something, he took two deep breaths, feeling the anger fill him.

- Fact, - Nulla nodded to the redhead, trying to maintain calm. - We should focus on who you are first, - she replied, eyeing the unfamiliar brunet who appeared lost but dangerous.

- My name is Jaśmin, - he repeated, glancing at Teodor, whose body radiated distrust. - I had a mission to deliver data. Blue and I entered the zone through one of the eastern gates, but he got flushed out by the dogs, - he said, still somewhat distrustful of the siblings.

- Dogs? - Teodor asked, looking at Nulla, feeling fear crawling down his spine.

- He told me to leave him, shoved me into some kind of sorting cart, but I was still caught and brought to the hospital, - he explained, his voice sounding like a cry for help.

- Are those the wounds you got? - Ignacy asked, though he felt he didn't need to ask. His gaze was full of empathy but also concern.

- Yeah, - Jaśmin waved it off, his tired eyes betraying that everything he had gone through had left a permanent mark on him. - Later, I contacted Leo, because Blue wasn't answering, and he gave me Adam's address.

- And how does this "Leo" know our address? - the albino girl asked, her eyes full of suspicion.

- Adam's been a member for five years, and he's still active, - he replied, clearly irritated, then pulled the redhead with him, approaching the window. He pulled back the soft pink curtains that let in some light, slightly easing the heavy atmosphere. - Do you see that pale blue smoke rising above the "UiU"? - he added, pointing at the building shaped like an oval, levitating pentagon, framed by a white illuminated grid.

The blonde, peeking from behind the brunet, sarcastically asked:

- What does that mean?

The boy turned toward her, but when their faces almost touched, both felt the uncomfortable tension. Ignacy, sensing that their proximity disgusted him, grabbed Jaśmin by the face and turned him away from the blonde, pulling them apart.

- It means one of us didn't make it back, - he finished, his voice hard, as if the outside world had finally reached his mind.

- That someone is you, - Teodor interjected, glancing at Ignacy, who felt like they were surrounded by darkness.

The blonde pushed her way past her sister, shoving her out of the circle, which didn't bother Nulla; she felt a moment of relief. She stepped away from the men and sat back down on the powdery bedspread, trying to calm her emotions.

- So the situation is this: some guy is pretending to be our dead father, putting our address everywhere, then walking around the city with a bunch of terrorists, killing people, - the redhead summarized, standing two meters away from the window. His voice was full of anger that seemed to be boiling in his veins.

- I don't get it, - the short boy thought aloud, worried. - If your father's dead, how the hell has he been one of the most important superiors for three years? - he wondered, scratching his head with his other hand, desperate.

- You already explained, - Ignacy snapped, his eyes fixed on Nulla. The influence of his emotions caused him to tighten his grip on Jaśmin's wrist, unaware of the rising tension. - Some terrorist is impersonating him, - his tone was chillingly dry.

- Activist, - Teodor corrected, doubt lurking in his eyes.

- I don't think so, - the brunet replied quietly but with certainty.

- Are you suggesting that dad came back from the dead? - Nulla sarcastically remarked, rolling her eyes.

- Are you sure he's dead? - he asked.

- And you, did you see him? - Ignacy replied, his voice as cold as ice.

- Wait, everyone, - Teodor interrupted them. - You couldn't have known him because you didn't even know what he really looked like, - the blonde said, pointing at Ignacy.

- This was my first mission, - Jaśmin spoke up. - But I remember him... he seemed much younger than in the pictures.

- When did you see him? - Nulla asked, her voice trembling with tension.

- About five years ago, - the kid answered, clinging to his memories. - I was about eleven... I had been living with my aunt for about a year... his face...

- ELEVEN YEARS OLD! - Ignacy interrupted him, then automatically released Jaśmin's wrist from his grip, stepping away from him by another two steps, as if he had just now noticed the spreading sickness.

- Do you have a problem with that? - the brunet asked, seeing the disgust on the redhead's face.

- No, I mean... you, - the blonde stuttered.