We entered the mansion through a side door, the once-familiar halls now eerily quiet. Jay moved with precision, his body always angled slightly in front of me, shielding me from any potential threat.
He led me down a corridor I rarely used, stopping in front of an unassuming panel on the wall. My confusion deepened as he pressed a hidden button, revealing a keypad.
“How do you—” I began, but he cut me off.
“Not now.”
His fingers moved quickly over the keys, punching in a code I’d never seen before. With a soft click, the panel slid open, revealing a narrow staircase leading downward.
“Inside,” he ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument.
I hesitated for a split second, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. This was a part of the mansion I’d never known existed, a secre
