The air in the elevator was thick with unspoken tension, almost suffocating.
Finally, a sharp "ding" cut through the silence as the doors slid open.
Lila Cross bolted out like she was escaping a crime scene.
"Achoo—"
Stepping out of the hotel, Lila sneezed violently.
Night had fallen without her noticing. The cold wind sent shivers down her spine.
Dressed in a cartoon bunny pajama set, she looked utterly ridiculous standing at the hotel entrance—every passerby gave her a second glance.
Lila pulled the fabric tighter around her and forced herself forward toward the parking lot.
After just a few steps, someone yanked the bunny-ear hood from behind.
Before she could turn, darkness enveloped her.
A man's suit jacket—cool, crisp, and carrying his sharp, minty scent—landed over her hea
