Nobody moved.
That was the first thing. The collective stillness of people who understood that movement in total darkness without coordination was more dangerous than standing still for three seconds and getting your bearings.
Liam counted to two.
Then his voice came out of the dark, low and absolute.
"Anya. East wall. Rylan. Door."
No hesitation from either of them. She heard Anya move to her right, fluid and certain. Rylan's footsteps crossed to the entrance behind them.
A hand found hers in the dark.
Not grabbing. Just there. Warm and steady, the fingers closing around hers with the quiet certainty of someone who had decided this was not a moment for asking permission.
Liam.
She did not pull away.
"Torvin," Liam said. "The lower room."
"I know," the old man said from somewher
