The car hummed softly as it moved forward, its steady pace betraying none of the tension that hung thick in the air. Melody sat in the backseat, clutching the blanket around her shoulders like a lifeline. She knew why it was there—to mask her scent and keep her hidden—but that didn’t stop the panic clawing at her chest. She hunched lower, feeling the press of the seat beneath her and the sharp edge of fear rising as the gate loomed closer.
As they approached the exit of the compound, a sharp knock on the driver’s side window made Melody’s breath catch. A guard, burly and scowling, motioned for Elliot to roll down the window. Melody pressed herself further into the seat, the blanket drawn tighter around her as if it could make her disappear.
Elliot rolled the window down with an air of pr
