Chapter One Hundred and Fourty Three

Marco’s POV

I cleared my throat and spoke to the guard with a steady voice. "We're just talking, sir. Nothing important."

The guard stared at us, looking closely at our faces. He seemed suspicious, creating a tense feeling between us. It was like a storm cloud ready to burst. Dave and I stayed calm, keeping our expressions neutral.

"So, nothing important?" the guard asked again, sounding doubtful. He moved closer, making us feel small. "It seemed like you were really into this 'nothing important' conversation."

My heart raced in my chest, reminding me of how risky this situation was. Dave's fingers twitched a little. He was nervous but prepared to act if needed.

I looked at the guard, speaking with respect. "We know the rules, sir. We were just passing the time, nothing more."

The guard's lips twisted a bit, still not sure. He kept studying us, maybe trying to figure out if we had hidden reasons. Eventually, he let out a grumpy breath and relaxed a bit.

"Alright," he said, sounding an