Chapter 34: The Art of Misdirection
Elian’s pulse thundered in his ears as he pressed closer to the kitchen door, the laminate cool against his forehead. Every word from the living room sliced through the silence like a vibroblade. "Intercepted?" Jasmine Snow’s voice held a careful blend of confusion and fatigue. "I heard some commotion outside around midnight, but I couldn’t exactly… investigate." She gestured weakly with her chin toward her limp chromed cyber-legs. "Luna and I locked ourselves in the bedroom until morning." Louis Yuan’s polished oxfords clicked against the hardwood as he paced. "Describe the noise." "A sharp crack," Jasmine offered, her gaze drifting toward the kitchen door—just for a fraction of a second. Elian froze. Had she seen him? "Like… something heavy hitting pavement. Then a muffled groan. That
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