The night was black as ink, an endless scatter of stars adorning the sky. As time passed, midnight drew closer, but the people of District 25 remained unaware, still lost in dreams or busy with their nightly work.
In the Federation's control center, Dorothy sat before the command console, her eyes unfathomable and her face expressionless. She had cast emotion and humanity aside entirely. She knew what she was about to do, and how much destruction she would unleash.
But Dorothy did not care.
Her fingertips brushed the control panel, and data flashed across the screen. The Space-Based Weapon was ready, awaiting only her command.
"In two hours, preparations for the Space-Based Weapon will be complete. Prepare to fire."
Her words were cold and clipped, devoid of emotion, as though she had sentenced District 25 to death.
She simply sat there, her gaze fixed on the seconds ticking by.
Nearby, Noel sat in the shadows. She drew a deep breath in her wheelchair, but her expression remained calm.
Two hours left. Enough time to warn Jonas.
She slowly wheeled herself out of the control center, inching forward as though she were enjoying one of her usual strolls outside.
But she knew perfectly well that this was no leisurely stroll.
Once outside, she had the secretary waiting there help her into the car and take her home. Noel's expression never changed. She merely waited patiently for the secretary, showing no hint of urgency.
I have to keep acting like this...
To contact Jonas, I have to be as careful as possible. Ideally, I should get far away from Dorothy, somewhere she can't sense me. No, I have to make everyone there think I'm just tired and have gone home.
In their eyes, I'm still the same Noel.
Finally, half an hour