Chapter 3 - Whispers in the Hallways
The grand foyer grew colder as the distant thud reverberated through the marble floors. Victor’s head snapped toward the heavy doors, his instincts flaring instantly. Without waiting for Elena to explain, he gestured sharply to one of the security guards to secure the perimeter. He turned back to Elena, whose pale face was etched with sheer terror. Realizing that staying near the entrance made them sitting ducks, Victor grabbed Elena by the elbow—not unkindly, but with unyielding firmness—and led them away from the open foyer toward the labyrinthine corridors of the east wing. The toddler clutched his green toy dinosaur even tighter, his wide eyes scanning the gilded portraits lining the walls.
They reached a secluded, high-ceilinged guest suite far from the main entrance. Victor unlocked the heavy mahogany door with a brass key, revealing a room bathed in amber shadows. He stepped inside just far enough to ensure it was safe, his black button-down shirt straining slightly across his broad shoulders. As Elena gently placed the sleeping baby and the toddler onto the velvet-trimmed bed, Victor turned to leave, his face once again carved from stone. “Stay inside. Do not open this door for anyone,” he commanded. Just as he pulled the door half-closed, a soft click echoed from the hallway, and the lights in the corridor suddenly flickered and died completely.
