Elena’s POV

On the outskirts of the city, in a dim and crumbling roadside inn that reeked faintly of mold and stale smoke, Stella stood rigid beside a narrow bed layered with yellowed sheets. Several spots were burned through with cigarette holes, and the dampness in the air clung unpleasantly to her skin. The peeling wallpaper curled at the edges, exposing dark stains beneath.

She gagged softly, covering her nose.

“Is this kind of hellhole even fit for people to live in?”

Elena’s ...