On the other side of town.

Leopold, with Adam in tow, strolled through the labyrinthine streets of Rivenwood's largest urban village.

Twisting alleys had Leopold nursing a headache. Without his trusty GPS, he half-expected Adam to lead him into an unfamiliar alleyway for a swift, unseen dispatch.

"When are we getting there?" Thomas surveyed the surrounding high-rises, nearly indistinguishable from one another.

Above, a tangle of clotheslines and electric wires-a fire trap if there ever was one.

And to think, someone working for the Abernathy family lived in such a place? Quite the understatement.

Adam led the way, occasionally glancing back to ensure Leopold and Thomas's group kept pace. "Just up ahead. This place, it's a maze. Looks like there are many ways through, but most are dead ends. Without a local guide, it's easy to get lost."

Leopold noted, "I heard you guys have dorms. Why does Keith choose to live here?"

A hint of frustration crossed Adam's face. "Who knows what goes through his mind? An orphan, yet he insists on living amidst this chaos. I've offered him a dorm room multiple times, but he always refuses, claiming he needs his freedom."

"Talking about the intern salary not even hitting eight grand, in a place as pricey as Rivenwood, even these rundown flats cost a couple grand a month. Half his salary gone just on rent, not to mention commuting and living expenses. Barely saves anything by month's end."

Adam had more to say about Keith. "And that kid keeps dreaming about getting married. With his spending habits, which girl would even consider?"

Thomas

suspicions. Claiming to dislike restrictions was probably just an excuse for avoiding too close a

end of their chat, they finally

Rivenwood, well past midnight.

scattered lights were on; the rest of the building was shrouded in darkness, impossible to

had only recently been fitted with

not left two men

they faced a metal door covered in flyers, looking

Thomas's watchful eyes, raised his hand to knock but was stopped by Leopold. "Let's not spook

with his universal key, stepped forward. "I owe you one, huh? Dragged out in the middle of the night for

complaint was lighthearted, his

The door creaked open.

shine. Just stay behind me; wouldn't want Keith catching you off guard again." "In this darkness,

Zzzap...

finish, the sound of an electric current cut

instinctively readying for a fight, then heard a

to Adam. "Why didn't you just turn on the

Silence fell.

Leopold's embarrassed glance. For a moment,

quickly shifted blame to Thomas's hasty actions. "I brought you for backup, not

peering inside, retorted, "Does it look like anyone's

be no one... Keith must be

Sterling's confidence faded as he took in the room. No sign

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