Smell of Death

In a single breath, she stepped forward, using the element of surprise to slam her shoulder into the woman and push past her into the hallway.

Shouts erupted behind her as she bolted.

She could hear the woman recovering, the sound of boots pounding against the stone as she gave chase.

Adeline turned sharply at the first intersection, then the second, moving fast—faster than any of them would expect.

Her heart thundered as she spotted the exit.

She was almost there—

Then—

A figure stepped into her path.

Adeline barely had time to stop before she collided with him.

Edward.

Of course, it was him.

"What are you doing here?!" she whisper-shouted, barely resisting the urge to strangle him.

Edward only smiled. That infuriating, smug smile that made her want to punch him in the face.

"I had a feeling you would get caught." He said it so casually, as if she were some reckless child who needed rescuing.