Ava’s footsteps quickened as she caught up to Dimitri, her breath visible in the crisp air. The sun was setting, casting long shadows that stretched across the garden, making the hedge maze ahead look even more ominous. Dimitri was walking with a lazy confidence, his hands tucked casually in his coat pockets, but Ava was anything but relaxed.
“What are we doing here?” Ava demanded, her eyes narrowing at the towering green walls ahead.
Dimitri glanced at her over his shoulder, a sly smile spreading across his face. “What? You think I’m gonna kill you?”
“No,” Ava shot back, sarcasm dripping from her tone, “but now I do.”
Dimitri laughed, the sound echoing off the hedges. “Will you just relax?”
Ava scoffed but followed him into the maze, her mind immediately shifting gears. She started m
