A heavy silence followed my words. The manager signalled the guards, and this time, they didn't hesitate. They grabbed Barnabas by the shoulders. He didn't go quietly. He kicked and howled, his claws scraping against the elevator doors as they forced him inside. The sound of his screaming faded only when the doors finally hissed shut.
I stood there for a long moment, my chest heaving. My hands were shaking so hard I had to hide them in my pockets. It wasn't fear. It was the sheer adrenaline of finally saying those words out loud.
The guards looked rattled. One of them was clutching his forearm where Barnabas’s half shifted claws had left red marks. They whispered to each other about needing more backup as they hurried toward the stairs.
Jeremiah hadn't moved. He stood there perfectly ca
