ARIA The service entrance is exactly where Victoria said it would be — an unmarked door around the back of the bookstore, half hidden behind an overgrown hedge, paint peeling at the edges. I slip inside to wait for her, my heartbeat increasing with each second that passes. I press record on my phone, sliding it into my coat pocket with the microphone angled toward the empty shelves where we’ll be standing. Whatever she is about to tell me, I want it documented. Every bit of it must count. For the first time, I appreciate Damian for insisting on security for me. Because I am able to stand here without flinching, because I know some people are around in the thick air, watching over me. How sweet! But for that, I would be jumping at the sound of every crack from old wood. Victoria arrives moments later, thinne
Last Updated : 2026-10-06 Read more