The greenhouse groaned under a cold, drifting wind. Broken glass panels trembled, rattling like distant chimes. Ash stood among the shadows, pale and rigid, every muscle in his body wound tight as if he expected danger to burst through the door at any second.
Palo's breath fogged in the air between them.
"You think you know who took Audrey," he said quietly. "Tell me."
Ash didn't answer immediately.
He glanced toward the shattered windows, scanning the empty district outside. His eyes lingered on the fog, as if he expected a figure to emerge from it. Only after several seconds passed did he look back at Palo.
His voice came out low, strained.
"There are people who watch this district. Not police. Not anyone official. People who don't want certain things known."
Palo frowned. "Known about what?"
"About Audrey," Ash whispered.
Palo's stomach dropped. "She's just a student. Why would anyone care about her?"
Ash shook his head. "You don't understand. Audrey… she wasn't supposed to see something. But she did. And she told me."
Palo felt the cold settle deep into his bones. "See what?"
Ash hesitated.
His eyes drifted upward, toward the broken skylight where the moonlight streamed in weakly. When he spoke again, his voice trembled.
"A man. Near the ridge by West Canal. Two nights ago. He was doing something in the water. Something he didn't want anyone to know. And Audrey saw it."
Palo swallowed hard. "Doing what?"
Ash took a shaky breath.
"She described it to me," he said. "But she didn't understand what she was seeing. Not fully. She only knew it was wrong. And dangerous."
Palo's voice cracked. "Did she tell the police?"
"No. She told me not to. She said she'd handle it. She thought maybe she misunderstood." Ash looked away. "She didn't."
Palo gripped the side of a rusted metal table to steady himself. "Ash… who was the man she saw?"
Ash's jaw tightened.
He looked straight at Palo, eyes dark and unreadable.
"I don't want to say his name," Ash whispered. "Not here."
Palo stepped closer, frustration and fear twisting together in his chest. "Ash, I'm in danger. You said so yourself. I deserve to know who's following me."
Ash looked torn — like the truth itself was something sharp enough to draw blood.
He finally spoke.
"He works with my mother."
Palo blinked. "What?"
Ash nodded weakly. "She's part of a private research group. They operate mostly outside the district. Audrey knew some of their people through her. But one man… the one Audrey saw…" Ash swallowed. "He does things he shouldn't."
Palo stared at him, speechless.
"Audrey thought he was hiding evidence of something. Something serious," Ash continued. "And when she realized he saw her… she got scared."
Palo's voice dropped to a whisper. "Why didn't she tell me?"
"Because she didn't want you involved," Ash said. "She was trying to protect you."
Palo's throat tightened.
"And now," Ash added softly, "I think he's trying to silence anyone who might know what she saw. Even if they don't know they know."
Palo's heart hammered.
"That's why he followed you tonight," Ash said.
Palo's breath caught. "You saw him?"
Ash nodded once. Slowly. "A tall shadow behind you. Too close. Too quiet. I didn't have time to think — I ran."
Palo felt dizzy. "Ash… what do we do now?"
Ash's hand trembled slightly as he picked up a shard of broken glass, studying it like it held the answer.
"We can't stay here," he said. "And you can't go home. He'll look for you there."
Palo swallowed. "Then where?"
Ash looked toward the far side of the greenhouse.
"Anywhere but here."
He tossed the shard aside and stepped toward the back door.
Palo followed.
But just as Ash reached for the handle—
A sound echoed through the glassy skeleton of the greenhouse.
A soft crunch.
Footsteps on gravel.
Ash froze.
Palo's pulse stopped.
The moonlight dimmed as a shadow moved outside — slow, unhurried, like someone who already knew exactly where they were.
Ash whispered without turning his head:
"He found us."
---