Knox:
3:30 and I finally slid my boots on.
The world outside the window was still dark—no sun, no movement, just that thick, heavy stillness that only came before the first break of day. The kind of quiet that felt like the earth was holding its breath.
I grabbed my jacket off the chair. My fingers lingered over the cool worn leather.
This was it.
No more planning. No more going over the angles. No more arguing with myself over whether this was the right call.
It was too late for second-guessing. It was too late to turn back now.
I pulled the door closed behind me, locked it, and gave it a finally tap with my knuckles. A final goodbye tocthis place. I stalked down the metal stairs to where my bike waited like a loaded weapon. She glinted under the streetlight, black and chrome and f
