Chapter 10 Ethan

• Aleksander drove Rania straight to Lia's boarding house without much talk along the way, only occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror with a wariness not yet fully settled since that alarming message had appeared on his phone screen. When the car stopped in front of the narrow alley leading to the boarding house, Aleksander turned briefly, looking at Rania with something resembling genuine concern.
• "I'll contact you again tonight," he said before Rania could get out. "Don't go anywhere alone until I contact you."
• Rania only nodded briefly, too tired to argue, then hurried into the alley toward Lia's room, where her friend was already waiting with the door wide open, her face full of worry not yet settled since the panicked message she'd sent earlier.