Heine doesn't reply as he starts for the exit, trusting that Jade will be able to pick out either the sounds or faint shape of his movement. He might be afraid, but mostly he just does not want to deal with anything like what had just occurred again.

Going up the stairs takes effort. Heine can feel the weight in his stomach dragging at him, his body protesting. He ends up curling an arm around his middle as he goes up step by step, wincing every time the clutch of eggs shifts inside of his body.