Aurora moved to the sink, turned on the tap, and let the cool water run over her hands, the sensation oddly grounding.
She was reaching for a paper towel when the door behind her creaked open.
The soft, unmistakable click of a lock sliding into place echoed ominously across the empty space.
Aurora's eyes flickered to the mirror. Reflected behind her were Diana and her usual entourage — three girls dressed in coordinated arrogance, their expressions ranging from smug to predatory.
Aurora calmly dried her hands, not deigning to give them anything more than a raised eyebrow before she turned toward the door, intent on leaving.
Before she could reach the handle, one of Diana's minions — a tall, wiry girl with a face full of sharp edges — stepped in front of her, barring the way with an outstretched arm.
Aurora stopped short.
Her expression remained unreadable as she looked down at the offending limb, then back up at the girl's face with glacial patience.
