The guard guided Anna down the long hallway and then carefully down the stairs, each step deliberate and quiet. At the bottom, he turned to the right, leading her along a dim lit corridor.

Their footsteps echoed against the polished floor, magnifying the sound of her own uneven breathing. Anna’s stomach churned, and her hands trembled as she followed the guard, her eyes darting to the shadows along the walls. The corridor seemed endless, every step slower than the last, each one bringing her ...