I lie still for a moment, waiting for the pain to settle.⁠ My arms shake when I try to p⁠ush myself up, but I force it anyway. Alfred’s voice echoes faintly from above, shouting my name, pounding on the broken floor. I want to answer him, but the room steals my breath before I can speak.

Someth⁠ing is wrong here.

Not loud wrong.

Not dangerous wrong.

Just… waiting wrong.

I⁠ stand slowly, keeping one hand on ...