ROMAN
By the time I got close enough to the gate for the metal bars to come fully into view, the restlessness inside me had already sharpened into something harder to ignore.
It wasn’t just a feeling anymore.
It was pressure.
Like something was pacing inside me, clawing at the edges of my control, waiting for the exact moment I slipped.
I exhaled slowly, forcing my steps to stay even as I approached. That should have helped more than it did.
It brushed against my skin, cool and steady, but instead of calming me, it only seemed to heighten everything else. Every sound felt louder.
Every scent more defined. Even the faint rustle of leaves somewhere beyond the walls made my head tilt slightly before I caught myself.
Focus.
Just get out.
That was the plan.
Simple.
Or at least… it w
