After a series of exhausting back-and-forths—releasing Gabriel to check if Jones was gone, then re-possessing him if not—Hale went up once more and didn't come down immediately.
Gabriel distinctly heard the sound of furniture being moved above. He pushed up from the filthy floor.
Finally, finally, finally. Jones was finally gone.
Now, all Gabriel needed to do was climb up there, get the ledger, and get out. He exhaled slowly as he shimmied out of his puffer jacket, leaving it behind for all its dirt and noise.
The hatch opened with a creak, Hale's face looking down. "Come up."
Gabriel hurriedly climbed the ladder and hoisted himself up, trying to be as quiet as possible.
The scent of paper and ink was honey-sweet after the hours in the basement. Already feeling better, he took a deep breath and looked around.
Behind the window, the sky was beginning to brighten.
"Sunrise?!" Gabriel whisper-yelled. "We were down there the whole night?"
