ALTERNATE ESCAPE

The door clicked open, causing Haswell to jolt slightly in his seat. A man walked in, not the barista who had escorted him inside earlier. The man's face modeled rough stubble along his chin and defined jawlines. Haswell couldn't shake off his unease; it was evident that this man was well aware of his presence, even though he pretended not to notice.

The man tilted his large frame and whispered something to Caius; something that Haswell couldn't quite catch. The unease resurfaced, and his nails, slightly too long, clawed into the thin fabric of the armchair.

Caius looked in his direction. It was a simple look, but it seemed to suggest a scowl or a grimace. Then, the man left the room, and Haswell felt hot sweat trickling down his back.

Caius pushed his butt out of the bed, his authority evident. "Why didn't you mention that you were having guests over?"

Haswell furrowed his brow, his mind working to crack around the puzzle. What guests? He wasn't expecting anyone.