on the drafting table. Her stomach twisted in

ble?" Paige asked softly. Emilia quickly looked away, s

ng ringtone made her flinch. The screen li

studio. She ran into the concrete stairwell,

l, hysterical scream pierced right throug

the concrete walls. "The hospital gave us the final notice! If we don't pay to

oblem-" Emilia choked

es!" Delphia shrieked. "You are

es gave out. She slid down the freezing concrete wall until she hit the flo

zzed in her ear. The weight of the entire world

rom the burner number. It was an addre

ter: "Be here at 8 PM for your medical

ood ran cold. He was the middleman. He was going to

911. But the image of her father, pale and d

own on her lower lip so hard she tast

y. She opened her map ap

, glass-fronted luxury building. She wore a cheap, oversized

eezing air-conditioning of the lobby. The security g

ly changed to extreme respect. He swiped a keycard, openi

ss of gravity made Emilia's stomach hea

d in thick, expensive carpet. Every step felt like walking barefoot on

y as she reached out an

nd later, the heavy lock c

entryway. A blast of cold air mixed with the faint

ck to her, pouring a drink at the wet bar. He wore

ed around. He swirled the ambe

standing by the door. He looked at her

ordered, his voi