The cellar pressed in around us, thick with the smell of earth, disinfectant, and old wood. I clung to Adrian’s hand, every nerve in my body strung so tight I could hear my own heartbeat drumming in my ears.
Above, Daniel’s footsteps prowled through the clinic. They were deliberate, predatory, each one a reminder that he was close enough to tear this fragile sanctuary apart.
“Where are they?” His voice rumbled through the thin floorboards, sharp and impatient. “Someone saw them. Don’t lie to me.”
I stiffened, squeezing Adrian’s hand harder. He was weak, his breathing shallow, but his eyes burned with defiance even here, in the shadows. He shook his head faintly, as if to remind me—don’t give in to fear.
Dr. Harlow’s voice carried from above, calm but edged with steel. “You barge into m
