Chapter 6

The corridor beyond the stairwell smelled of rain, developer fluid, and old concrete. I heard Ethan before I saw him.

"Not tonight," he said.

Maren answered too quietly for me to catch the words.

I pushed the fire door open. It gave beneath my palm with a heavy scrape.

The hallway was narrow, washed white by the exit sign. At its far end, Maren stood with her back to me. Ethan faced her.

His hand lifted to the back of her neck.

She tipped her face toward his.

Rainwater slid from the edge of his hair onto the collar of…