Gloria walked ahead, her steps quick and sharp, each one ringing louder in the silence. Eloise struggled to keep up, her breath growing heavier with every stride. She had to force her legs to move faster, but Gloria didn’t slow down. It was clear that this wasn’t a walk for pleasure, this was something else.
The sound of their footsteps was the only noise in the hallway, a rhythmic reminder of the distance between them. They continued in silence until they reached the far end of the second-floor corridor.
Eloise glanced around quickly, her eyes landing on a set of double doors looming ahead. Gloria stopped suddenly, her smile twisting into something sharp and mocking.
"Eloise, we’ve arrived," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.
Eloise didn’t respond. She only raised her head slo
