n with a shower of s

around them. The room was engulfed in darkness; their only light now came

holding on to his shoul

w with a slow swipe of his hand. "It's nothing." His voice

f the storage room; the floodwaters lapped at their ankles. The s

r the collapsed doorway-complet

back into his pocket, he turned to her with fierce eyes.

heartbeat thundering. "Ryan... what di

face, his forehead pressed to hers. "I love this place because it's yours. Every shelf, every creaky

ds she had buried for years c

e air as wood broke. The useful storag

ave of books and water came cascading through their last position. The impact tossed them awa

ya

g; blood striped hi

g something behind him-a rusted serv

n the wet rungs. Ryan forced her up, his hands stea

he climbed onto the roof.

ded in a wave through

t under