Liana's Pov
The safe house was not what I had pictured. It was not a grimy bunker or some off-the-grid cabin in the woods. It was a modest, two-story duplex tucked away in a quiet part of the city, guarded by tall hedges and discreet neighbors who kept to themselves. The rain that afternoon had slowed to a misty drizzle, and the streetlights flickered dimly through the living room's sheer curtains.
Serena was sitting on the couch, legs tucked under her, her eyes darting around the unfamiliar room anxiously. She looked small in the big hoodie she'd slipped on over her hospital gown, and even smaller under the weight of confusion that shadowed every expression.
Stanley returned with the last bag and shut the door behind him. The lock clicked into place, and for the first time that day, I
