Julia POV
I moved as quietly as I could, retrieving the keys with trembling hands. I tried each one in the old basement lock, my breath catching with every click and scrape. The third key turned, and the door creaked open. I paused, listening for Cody, but the house above was silent.
I climbed the steps, heart pounding, praying every second that he wouldn’t return. The hallway above was dark and unfamiliar, cluttered with boxes and discarded furniture. I found the front door, fumbled with the locks, and at last stumbled out into the cool night air.
For a moment, I just stood there, drinking in the freedom, my legs unsteady beneath me. I looked around, trying to orient myself. The street was unfamiliar, but I recognized the distant skyline—I was still in the city, still within reach of h
