Morning came with no light.
Catalina woke to the sound of footsteps in the corridor. Heavy boots with multiple guards. They stopped outside her door.
She sat up slowly, her body stiff and aching. The map was still hidden under her shirt, pressed against her skin. She could feel the paper's edges every time she breathed.
The lock turned, and the door swung open.
Three guards stood there. The one in front gestured with his rifle. "Come."
She stood carefully, one hand bracing against the wall. "Where are we going?"
"Don Esteban wants to see you."
Her stomach dropped, but she kept her face blank. This was it. The moment Miguel warned her about.
They led her through corridors she hadn't seen before. These walls were cleaner, the torches were shining brighter. They were moving toward the
