"W…What? The Starakian is still here?" Cindy asked, her voice dropping to a hushed, disbelieving whisper as she hurried up the dark staircase behind me. Her flashlight beam bobbed anxiously with each step, casting long shifting shadows across the walls.
"Yeah," I nodded. "I'm certain it's her. I can feel the same presence as before—like static electricity crawling under my skin."
"But didn't you tell her to leave?" Cindy pressed, her footsteps quickening to match mine, a note of panic threading through her voice now.
"I did," I replied grimly. "Let's just check and assess the situation. Stay behind me, Cindy—and I mean it this time."
She nodded wordlessly, her expression sharpening into something more alert and serious.
