~Omniscient POV
The house was silent except for the sound of breathing that wasn’t hers.
Ciela lay motionless on the floor, the faint rise and fall of her chest almost too shallow to see. Kendrix knelt beside her, every few seconds brushing the hair from her face, whispering something that didn’t quite reach words.
Behind him, Denzel stood with his arms crossed, face unreadable. “Stay with her,” he said. “Don’t let anyone in. I’ll be back.”
“First Laurent. Now you,” Kendrix looked up. “Where are you going? Shouldn’t you be here with her?”
“To her father.” Denzel’s voice was clipped, already halfway gone.
Kendrix didn’t utter another word as Denzel walked away. The door closed behind him with a hollow thud that carried farther than it should have.
–––
Denzel moved through the street
