Samantha's POV
As I strolled through the still streets, the gloom felt more profound than normal; the weight of my ideas dampened the distant buzz of the city. Royce's enigmatic comments stayed in my head, while the metal key lay mostly in my pocket. Unquestionably, I had crossed a boundary; the only way ahead was to find the truth wherever it may lead.
But the lesson on my phone kept flashing in my head. Samantha, you have opened a door from which closure is impossible. Look at your back. The words rang with a feeling of doom, reminding us that this was not only about Royce anymore. Others were observing, waiting, and it was unclear whether friend or enemy they belonged to.
My head still whirling, I turned the bend onto my street. After all that had transpired tonight, it seemed odd g
