Ella pulled out a key and unlocked her door on the third floor. Laura, still bewildered by her surroundings, looked over the balcony in awe as the lock clicked open. The building was four stories high and Laura found it hard to believe that it wasn’t a castle.
Ella gestured for Laura to enter first. "Make yourself at home, but don't steal anything. I have a gun," she said with a half-smile, though Laura couldn't tell if she was joking or what exactly was meant by having a 'gun.'
Laura's damp, stinky clothes and hair dripped a little liquid onto the floor as she stepped inside, glancing around the unfamiliar surroundings while taking slow, cautious steps.
The house's interior was vintage, with dark wooden floors and richly coloured rugs. The wallpaper was a floral pattern in shades of
