LOGINWhen morning light seeped through the gap in the curtains, Avery was still drifting between sleep and wakefulness.From the kitchen came the soft clatter of a spatula against a pan and the sizzle of oil spreading across the surface. The aroma of fried eggs drifted along the hallway into the bedroom, mingling with the bitter richness of freshly ground coffee.She sat up, pulled on her coat, and walked out of the bedroom.In the living room, Dorothea was already seated at the table, concentrating on eating strawberries with a small fork. The berries were plump and bright red, still glistening with drops of water, radiating a deep, sweet fragrance that traced a thin line of sweetness across her tongue, the kind that only came from Obsidian City's cold c
The night had fully deepened, settling over the city like a velvet shroud. The street outside had gone completely quiet, the only sound the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind.The motion-sensor lights in the hallway flickered on and off as Avery pushed open the door with her key, their pale glow catching the edge of her silhouette before fading back into darkness. The moment the door closed behind her, the tension she had carried all day finally released, the weight of it crashing down on her shoulders like an avalanche. Her muscles ached, her jaw was sore from clenching, and a dull throb pulsed behind her eyes.A small night light glowed in the kitchen, casting a warm amber pool across the counter. The rest of the apartment was dark and still, the silence broken only by the soft hum of the refrigerator. Sh
Night wind poured in from the alley, carrying the damp chill unique to Sunset City's late hours. The air was thick with moisture, and the distant hum of the city had faded into a deep, expectant silence. The streetlights cast pale pools of yellow light on the wet pavement, each one isolated from the next by stretches of shadow. A stray dog barked somewhere in the distance, the sound swallowed almost immediately by the weight of the night.Evan's car sat parked diagonally ahead, its engine still running, the low-frequency vibration unusually distinct in the dead-quiet street. The exhaust curled faintly in the cold air, visible for just a moment before dispersing. He stepped out, lifted the silver-gray temperature-controlled case from the back seat, and leaned casually against the car door. His gaze settled on Avery with practiced warmth, the kind of warmth that had been cult
Avery secured both old keys in her pocket, the worn metal cool against her fingers, and turned to look at Dominic by the window.He was studying his phone screen, his brow furrowed in concentration. Without looking up, he spoke. "Building 13. There was a power spike thirty minutes ago. The temperature-controlled cabinet is running at full capacity. Someone's been keeping it active.""There's stock inside." Avery straightened her coat, her movements quick and decisive. "We need to move now."Evan lifted the metal case in his hand, testing its weight. He glanced sideways at Dominic, his voice measured, deliberate. "Mr. Kessler's people may know how to secure a scene, but they don't necessarily know how to preserve biological samples. If the compound is
The night had fully settled in, the city outside the windows reduced to scattered lights and distant shadows.The last sliver of light beneath Dorothea's door had gone dark, the small shadow that had been moving behind it finally still. The soft murmur of her breathing through the crack in the door was the only sign that she was deeply asleep. Kate had retreated to her room long ago, and the faint hum of her television had faded into silence.The living room was quiet now, lit only by the warm glow of a single floor lamp. The rest of the apartment lay in shadow, the corners soft and indistinct.The tap ran for a moment and stopped. Dominic came out of the kitchen, drying his hands on a small towel. He walked to where Avery sat, unbuttoned two buttons
The door opened a crack, and the cold draft from the hallway rushed in. The warm scent of home cooking, the savory aroma of braised meat and vegetables that had filled the apartment just moments ago, was suddenly tempered by the cool, dry air of the corridor.Evan stood outside, his fingers tightening around the file folder. The paper was crisp and new, but the contents inside were old, seven years old, to be exact. His gaze traveled past Avery's shoulder, landing on the figure at the dining table.Dominic sat there, his shirtsleeves rolled to his elbows, one hand resting on the table. He had just reached over to hand Dorothea her small water cup, his long fingers wrapped around the plastic handle with surprising gentleness. He was completely at ease, as if he had been sitting at that table for years, as if he belonged there. The warm light from the kitchen caught the edges of his profile, softening the hard lines that usually defined him.Dominic turned his hea
Avery arrived at the sanatorium half an hour early.She needed that extra time—not just to review the records, but to steady herself before facing Julian. The corridors smelled of antiseptic and old wood, and her footsteps echoed too loudly against the polished floor.She went straight to the nurse
The heavy wooden door clicked shut, leaving behind a faint, chilly draft from the corridor.Only after Drake had exited and the surrounding air collapsed back into a dead silence did Avery finally venture to poke her head out from beneath the heavy duvet. The flush on her cheeks hadn’t fully faded,
Dorothea required two stitches on her forehead.Because she was so young, the local anesthetic had to be strictly limited. She trembled with pain throughout the procedure but never made a sound, her small hand simply crushing Avery's fingers in a desperate grip.Avery could feel every
During breakfast, Dorothea kept her eyes fixed on the staircase.Avery sat across from her, mechanically stirring her oatmeal, her gaze never leaving her daughter for a single second.The word "lullaby" from Drake the previous night felt like a thin wire tightened around her throat.







