Femke leads us out of her office, down an ancient elevator to the basement of the building. I smell the revenants before the door opens, catching their scent even as I step through the doors to descend. The scent grows stronger as we plunge underground and I can barely stand it by the time the elevator doors swish open.
I have to breathe through my mouth, almost panting from the effect of the stench. Piers quickly offers me a handkerchief, monogrammed with his initials. I feel vaguely amused he carries something so old fashioned in spite of feeling a need to throw up.
Femke turns to me as we approach a door, her distress at my discomfort all over her face. "If you can't," she starts.
"I need to see them."
She leads me inside. The glare of the overhead bulbs leaves no shadows in the lon
