Mindy watched him with a deep frown pulling at her forehead. Her eyes moved from Ken to the empty staircase where Viola had disappeared moments ago.
She could not understand what kind of business needed him to follow a woman like that into the shadows above. Nothing about Viola felt normal.
Nothing about this place did either. Ken gave nothing away. His face stayed hard and unreadable as he started toward the stairs.
He moved slowly at first, but with each step he seemed stronger, like pain itself was being forced to retreat through pure stubbornness.
Mindy watched his back until he disappeared from sight. Something about seeing him go made the room feel larger and less safe.
“Mindy, I’m heading to the toilets real quick,” Luke said, scanning the room without ever fully turning his
