Chapter 4

Saylor's voice drifts out from the bathroom.

"So, do we have breakfast plans, or am I expected to starve in luxury?"

Minnow doesn't answer. She sits on the edge of the bed with her hands resting loosely in her lap, staring at the floorboards without really seeing them. Since waking, everything feels strangely distant, as though she is sitting inside her own body instead of belonging to it.

A moment later Saylor steps out with a towel draped around his neck, still rubbing the water from his dark hair.

"Because I'm just saying," he continues, rubbing a hand dramatically over his stomach, "if Ariella's made pancakes and nobody tells me, that's grounds for ending a friendship."

The joke dies the moment he looks at her.

"Hey."

Minnow blinks, almost surprised to find him still there.

"You okay?"

"Yeah." The answer comes automatically. "I'm fine."

He doesn't believe her.

She can see it in his face before he says a word.

Not wanting another conversation about nightmares, she pushes herself to her feet and wanders toward the wardrobe.

"I don't want to stay here," she says, pulling out a jumper. "Let's go to the mall."

He watches her for another moment before nodding.

"Okay."

They are almost downstairs when Dovie's voice floats across the entrance hall.

"Minnow, darling, don't forget your dress fitting this afternoon."

Minnow pauses halfway to the front door, resisting the urge to sigh.

"I won't, Mother."

She doesn't turn around.

Saylor, on the other hand, flashes Dovie one of his effortless smiles.

"Mrs Venandi, you're looking particularly radiant today."

Dovie's expression softens immediately.

"Well," she replies, smoothing an imaginary crease from her dress, "at least someone in this house appreciates good taste."

Minnow rolls her eyes.

"You are impossible."

"What?" Saylor says innocently. "Older women adore me."

"Pretty much everyone adores you."

"I was trying not to sound arrogant."

A reluctant smile tugs at her lips as she pushes open the front doors, letting the cool autumn air wash over her.

Henry is already waiting beside the car.

He steps forward, opening the passenger door with his usual quiet smile.

"Miss Venandi. Where would you like to go today?"

"The mall, please." She smiles faintly and gives his arm a light pat. "And you don't have to call me Miss Venandi. Minnow is fine."

His bushy grey eyebrows lift.

"As you wish... Miss Minnow."

She laughs quietly as she climbs into the car.

For the first time that morning, it feels genuine.

The mall is already bustling when they arrive.

Henry pulls up outside the main entrance, where families stream through the automatic doors, carrying shopping bags, takeaway coffees, and restless children who seem determined to run in every direction at once. Minnow stays seated for a moment after the engine stops, watching the endless movement beyond the windscreen.

The world carries on as though nothing terrible has ever happened.

"You alright?" Saylor asks.

She looks at the entrance for another few seconds before nodding.

"Yeah."

"You don't sound convincing."

"I'm trying."

He reaches across and squeezes her hand.

"If it gets too much, we leave. No shopping trip is worth making yourself sick over."

She looks across at him.

"Deal."

Together they step out into the cool morning air before making their way towards the entrance. The glass doors slide open with a soft hiss, releasing a rush of chilled air scented with coffee, perfume and fresh pastries from the bakery inside.

For the first few minutes, everything is...

normal.

They wander through a bookstore where Saylor insists on reading dramatic blurbs aloud in increasingly ridiculous accents. Minnow finds herself laughing and rolling her eyes as he proudly declares himself the future owner of a cookbook despite being incapable of boiling pasta.

"You burn toast," she reminds him.

"Only because my toaster is judgemental."

She laughs again.

It feels good.

Almost...

safe.

Then someone brushes past her shoulder.

"Sorry," the man calls over his shoulder without slowing.

Minnow smiles automatically.

"No problem."

She keeps walking.

Another couple squeezes past them.

Someone behind her bursts into loud laughter.

A trolley rattles across the tiles.

The music overhead suddenly seems louder than before.

She frowns.

Her grip tightens around Saylor's hand without her realising.

He looks down.

"Minnow."

She blinks.

"What?"

"You're hurting me."

She immediately loosens her grip.

"Sorry..."

But something has already shifted.

The conversations around her begin blending until they become impossible to separate. Footsteps echo from every direction, bouncing off the polished floors. Perfume mixes with the smell of food and cleaning products until the air feels thick enough to choke on.

She draws a slow breath.

It isn't enough.

The ceiling suddenly feels lower.

The crowd closer. Every stranger seems too close, brushing against her shoulder, her arm, her back as they hurry past.

Her heartbeat quickens.

"Saylor..."

He turns immediately.

She can't finish.

The words won't come.

Her lungs refuse to cooperate.

"I..."

Her chest tightens painfully.

"I can't..."

He doesn't hesitate.

Taking both her hands, he guides her away from the crowd and into a quieter service corridor beside the bathrooms, keeping his voice calm even as panic floods her eyes.

"Minnow. Look at me."

She tries.

"Breathe with me."

"I can't."

"Yes, you can."

Tears spill down her cheeks.

"I can't."

Without taking his eyes off her, Saylor reaches for his phone.

"Henry? It's Saylor."

He glances towards Minnow.

"Can you bring the car around?"

A pause.

"No... she's alright."

"Actually..."

His voice softens.

"No, she's not."

He slips the phone back into his pocket before stepping closer again.

"We're going to the lake."

Minnow leans against the wall as her breathing slowly begins to steady. The sounds of the shopping centre drift back into the distance until they are nothing more than a dull hum beyond the corridor.

Eventually she draws one long, shaky breath.

"I'm sorry."

"You've apologised enough today."

A tired smile appears before disappearing just as quickly.

"I just need the bathroom."

"I'll wait here."

She nods and pushes open the door.

The fluorescent lights buzz softly overhead as she approaches the mirror.

For a long moment she simply stares.

Her face looks paler than she remembers. The dark circles beneath her eyes seem deeper, her shoulders narrower beneath the oversized jumper.

She barely recognises herself.

Slowly she wipes away the tears beneath her eyes, careful not to smudge her mascara.

Her reflection holds her gaze.

Something in those eyes has changed.

The fear is still there.

But beneath it...

something harder waits. Something colder.

For the briefest moment, the woman staring back at her doesn't look frightened at all.

She looks furious.

Minnow blinks.

It's gone.

Only her own pale reflection remains.

She lets out a slow breath and reaches for the door.

"It was just the light," she whispers.

Somehow...

she doesn't believe herself.