Chapter 284: Smile and Vanish
The holding rooms weren’t designed for comfort. They weren’t cold, exactly, but they weren’t warm either—just neutral. A kind of in-between space where the walls didn’t echo but still felt like they were listening. Temporary protection for people caught in the middle of someone else’s chaos.
Jacob sat on the edge of the cot, elbows on his knees, hands clasped so tightly it looked like he was trying to keep something from falling apart. His eyes flicked to me the moment I entered.
"Mr. Vale," he said, standing.
I motioned for him to sit back down. "No need to get up."
Behind him, Lea was curled on a beanbag chair in the corner, a blanket draped over her shoulders and a half-colored sheet of paper on the tray in front of her. A plush rabbit leaned against her side, its ear chewed from stress or habit—I couldn’t tell which.
"I have a few questions," I said quietly, "for her. Just a few. Then I’ll be out of your hair."
Jacob didn’t look thrilled, but he nodded. "Are you sure? I feel like this might be too much for her."
"I understand your concerns, but she’s the only one who can help us here. I promise to stop if she seems like she can’t handle it anymore."
I crossed the room slowly and crouched near Lea, careful not to block her space.
"Hey, Lea."
She looked up, eyes still the same shade of guarded curiosity I’d seen the first time. Not afraid—just distant. Like she hadn’t quite decided if the world deserved her attention yet.