Ren

Morning at the base didn't start with an alarm clock, a shower, or coffee. Not at all. It started with screaming. In the next room, number two hundred and fourteen, someone was screaming, and because of the thin walls, it could be heard even on the first floor.

Nate jumped up at the sudden sound and nearly fell. His head spun unexpectedly from the sharp movement, and Nate sank back onto the bed. Ren had been awake for a long time, sitting on his bed and looking at something on his phone. He only looked up from the screen when he heard the creak of the bed and the rustle of the blanket.

"Why'd you jump up like you'd been scalded?" Ren asked, putting away his phone and looking at Nate.

"Nothing, a nightmare," Nate answered calmly, trying to lie.

"You can't even lie," Ren replied calmly and walked to the window, opening it to let in the cool air. Nate remained silent, and then asked softly.

"Who is it?" his voice was quiet and raspy from sleep. "There, behind the wall..." he added after a short silence.

Ren froze. A thick tension, weighing down on their shoulders, hung in the air. He slowly closed the window and looked at the redhead. Then he answered quietly and coldly.

"Just some idiot. Name's Matt. Better not get involved with him, or I'll rip your head off."

"Is he dangerous, or what?" Nate's voice became curious with a hint of mockery.

"I warned you, Jensen." Ren answered coldly, and before leaving the room, he tossed one of his t-shirts in Nate's face.

"Put this on, yours is covered in blood." After those words, Ren left the room and disappeared into the morning corridor. Nate sat quietly, clutching the other's t-shirt in his hands. The bright sun was already rising outside the window. Nate changed quickly and went down to the first floor, hiding behind the bathroom door.

Breakfast in the hall was in full swing. Phil was chewing porridge while animatedly telling a story; Kira and Sean were simply drinking tea and discussing tactics; Mellis was drinking coffee. Caul and Ren sat opposite each other, drinking coffee. Nate appeared in the hall with wet, overgrown hair. The dark roots of his natural color had grown out quite a bit, approximately five or six centimeters.