Augusta's gloved fingers dug into Fredrick's arm like claws. Her grip was surprisingly strong, fueled by a potent mixture of fear and anger. Ignoring the curious stares of the few people left on the street, she half-dragged, half-led him away from the grand entrance of the textile building and into a narrow, secluded alleyway between two tall brick warehouses.
The air in the alley was instantly colder, the sunlight choked off by the high walls. It was a gloomy, forgotten space that smelled of damp stone and refuse. A slow drip of water from a rusty pipe echoed in the quiet. Fredrick looked around, a wary smile playing on his lips as he easily pulled his arm from her grasp.
"Look at you, Augusta," he said, his voice a low, amused rumble. "Still know how to find a spot with not a single living thing around. Perfect for secrets."
