Chapter 64 War crime

Words : 993 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

The moment Miss Brooks left the room, the silence in the classroom shattered like glass. "What do you think he did?" one student whispered loudly, their voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and fear. "I heard Albright only deals with serious cases," another chimed in. "Maybe Noah was involved in something... illegal?" "That's ridiculous," Lila snapped, her voice sharper than usual. "Noah's not like that." Cora nodded hesitantly. "But why else would they come for him like that? They looked so... determined." Kelvin, meanwhile, didn't engage in the speculation. He stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder and grabbing Noah's blazer from the back of the chair. His expression was unreadable, but his movements were purposeful as he quickly packed up his things. "Kelvin, where are you going?" Lila asked, her tone laced with worry. "Where do you think?" Kelvin replied curtly, not even sparing her a glance. "I'm going to find out what's going on." "But—" Cora started, but Kelvin had already exited the classroom, the door swinging shut behind him. The murmurs in the room grew louder as he left, but Kelvin blocked it out. He stalked down the hall, his grip on the blazer tightening with every step. His mind raced as he tried to piece together what had just happened. Arrested? By Albright's orders? None of it made sense. 'Noah wouldn't just get himself into trouble,' Kelvin thought. 'There's got to be more to this.'@@@@ Kelvin's pace quickened as he approached the main corridor, determined to track down Noah—or at least someone who could tell him where they had taken him. --- Back in the classroom, the tension was still thick. "I can't believe Kelvin just left," Lila muttered, crossing her arms. "Does he think he can just fix this on his own?" Cora glanced at her friend and then at the empty spot where Noah usually sat. "He and Noah are close. Maybe he knows something we don't." Lila frowned, tapping her fingers on her desk. Her heart was pounding, and her mind raced with every possible worst-case scenario. She couldn't just sit there doing nothing. "I'm going after him," she announced, grabbing her bag and heading toward the door. "Wait, what?" Cora's voice stopped her just as she reached the threshold. Lila turned to face her, her usually bright green eyes clouded with worry. "I can't just sit here, Cora. Something's wrong. Really wrong. They just dragged Noah out of here like he was some criminal." "And what exactly are you going to do about it?" Cora asked, her tone calm but skeptical. "Storm into wherever they've taken him and demand answers? This is Albright we're talking about, Lila. You'd just get yourself in trouble, too." Lila hesitated for a moment, gripping the doorframe tightly. "I don't care. Noah—he wouldn't just get arrested for no reason. If no one's going to find out what's happening, I will." Instead, the lead soldier motioned to the platform. "Stand there," he ordered curtly. Noah hesitated. "You're not going to tell me what this is about?" The soldier's expression didn't waver. "Stand there." Clenching his fists, Noah walked to the platform, his boots clicking against the metal surface. The air around him felt heavy, almost suffocating, as if the room itself were alive and watching him. The soldiers took positions along the walls, their hands resting on their weapons. Noah felt like a rat in a cage. Before he could demand an explanation, a voice crackled through the room's speakers. "Thank you for bringing him here." The side door slid open, and Commander Albright stepped in. His broad shoulders and sharp uniform made him look as imposing as ever. His silver hair glinted under the bright lights, and his piercing gaze immediately landed on Noah. "Commander," Noah said carefully, keeping his tone measured. "What's this about?" Albright stopped a few feet from the platform, clasping his hands behind his back. "You're going to be retested." "Retested?" Noah's stomach churned, though he did his best to keep his voice steady. "For what?" "For your abilities," Albright said, his tone clipped and cold. "Your records don't align with what we witnessed on Cannadah. We've identified discrepancies that require immediate clarification." Noah's throat tightened. He swallowed hard, trying to play dumb. "I'm not sure what you mean by discrepancies, sir. I did what I had to do to survive. Isn't that the point of sending us out there?" Albright's piercing gaze seemed to weigh Noah down, making the air in the room feel heavier. He took a step closer to the platform, his voice cold and measured. "Intelligence suggests you've been withholding your true potential, Eclipse," he said, his words cutting like a blade. "If, by the end of this test, that turns out to be true..." Noah clenched his fists, his heartbeat pounding in his ears as Albright continued, his tone hardening. "...then you will have knowingly committed a war crime. You know what that means." The weight of those words hit Noah like a sledgehammer. His stomach sank, and his breathing quickened ever so slightly. "I—I haven't withheld anything, sir," Noah stammered, trying to keep his voice steady. "Everything I did was instinct, just survival." Albright's expression remained unreadable, his silence more intimidating than any retort. "Then you have nothing to worry about," he finally said, his tone icy. "Step onto the platform and prove it." Noah's legs felt like lead as he forced himself forward. Each step toward the center of the platform felt like walking into a trap, and the hum of the machinery around him only amplified the dread clawing at his chest. "Begin the test," Albright ordered, his voice ringing out with finality.

Chapter 64 War crime

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