My Mirror Image by Maybe Not (Candice And Alex’s) novel Chapter 362

The laboratory was a large flat which had been modified. It was about a hundred square meters. With the flashlights of two cell phones, the only illuminated area was around the table.

Everywhere else was still dark.

Candice's breathing sped up. She clutched the coat Alex had thrown to her, trying to calm herself down.

Outside the door, Yondu shouted once, then there was no more sound as he probably went off to find a locksmith.

Candice heard her own voice, saying dryly. "Thank you." She did not look up.

Alex stood beside her, glanced down at her, and made a noncommittal sound.

The light from the cell phones overlapped, illuminating enough for Candice to see the area in front of her. She did not dare to look elsewhere. The surroundings were too dark, making the light around them seem stark.

Candice did not like the strange and abrupt feeling, it made her feel uneasy.

Bang—

There was another sound at the door, very slight. In the silence Candice was highly focused and she caught the sound instantly. Her palms were sweaty, and she reflexively looked at Alex. Alex shook his head at her, then stared at the door.

The sound continued two or three more times and then disappeared completely. Candice spoke to Alex in a whisper. "Was it Yondu who came back?"

A hint of seriousness flashed in Alex's black eyes. "I'll go check."

He turned to leave, but Candice grabbed his sleeve. He stopped and looked back at Candice, who was sitting down.

Unlike Candice, Alex had always had good eyesight, so he could clearly see that her face was pale and the nervousness in her eyes.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and his tone, which he himself did not notice, softened a bit, as if coaxing her. "I'll be back soon."

Candice didn’t let go. She fell silent for a moment, then stood up slowly. "I'll go with you."

Grabbing Alex's sleeve had been almost instinctual. In such an environment, Candice's brain could not react in time. She just subconsciously moved towards a safer place.

She turned to pick up her phone but found that it had died due to low battery. Their bright spot of light dimmed a lot, making the illuminated area even smaller.

Candice froze and felt Alex's hand move. He pulled the corner of his shirt that she was holding out of her hand.

Then, his warm palm turned over and clasped her hand.

There was a very thin callus on Alex's fingertips, and it happened to brush against Candice's little finger.

Alex did not mind. He whispered, "Aren't we going over to take a look? So bring your phone."

The distance from their position to the main door was not far, but there were quite a few tables in the laboratory, and each table had Mr. Franklyn's models on it. The light from the phone cast eerie shadows from the models.

Alex walked quite slowly as he held Candice’s hand, as if he was matching her pace.

Candice lowered her eyes and looked at their clasped palms, her expression somewhat complicated.

However, before her feelings could last long, there was a sound at the door. Yondu was outside shouting. "The locksmith is here. Just wait there, don't move. Don't knock over the models!"

Soon after, there was a rustling sound at the door. Candice's heart finally calmed down, but she still held her phone tightly.