**[Elysium – Late Evening, One Week Later]**
“Locker's empty," Vanessa whispered, looking pale. “They took everything."
Aileen stood still, towel in hand, staring into the steel void where her spare clothes and sketchbook had once been.
“Why?" she asked.
“You missed two shifts while in the hospital. Hart's orders."
“I had a kidney crisis."
“Rules are rules," Vanessa said with a forced shrug. “You broke 'em."
Aileen glanced down at the torn paper taped to the locker.
A crude sketch of a noose.
Below it: *Back where you belong.*
---
**[Main Floor – That Same Night]**
The manager snapped his fingers. “Restroom shift tonight. Peak hours. Clean between table rotations."
Aileen stared. “What?"
“You heard me."
“But I'm on guest floor service."
“Not anymore."
Vanessa stepped betwe
