They stepped out the back door one after the other, not side by side like they used to. The alleyway behind the store was quiet, lit only by dim bulbs strung above and the faint glow from the street at the far end. Cole paused right near the door, glancing both ways before he even let Elara walk past him. Just a quick check, but one he wouldn’t have thought to do before.
“Same rule applies out here,” he said in a normal voice, not too loud, not too soft but like he was talking about work details instead of something much bigger. “Walk apart, keep your head up, stick to the main streets you know best. Don’t take shortcuts even if they look faster or quieter.”
Elara nodded, adjusting the strap of her bag higher on her shoulder. It felt strange. It was like leaving a place where you’d learn
