Fallen

She heard the sound of footsteps from above and halted, waiting as they faded away, moving toward another wing of the second floor. A staff member most likely. She was still new enough that she could fake being lost, but the longer she was here, the flimsier that excuse would look.

She took a deep breath when she’d made it to the door. She’d waited almost two weeks, biding her time, acting like a good little girl, but it was now the third Monday of the month, and she was ready. She’d watched Ms. Wykes leave out the front door as they’d been heading to the dining room, a small, black purse held over one arm. She’d glanced out the window as the long black car pulled away from Lilith House, but still, her heart beat harshly in her chest. This will only take a minute. That’s all I need. She raised her hand and rapped softly on the solid wood door on the very off-chance someone was inside. All was silent. She tried the handle. Locked. Of course. She’d known it would be. But her mother’s door had always been locked too, and Kandace had still managed to steal a good portion of her jewelry, designer purses, and any expensive clothes the pawn shop would take for cash.

She reached in her pocket and brought out a hairpin, sticking it in the lock and maneuvering it until she heard a small click. “Yes,” she whispered softly, turning the handle and ducking quickly inside. Her eyes darted around the office, her nerve-endings trembling. In the corner of the room, the one remaining bluebird eyed her silently. Kandace swallowed heavily, taking one step toward the winged prisoner but then stepping back. Sorry, buddy. If I try to spring you, you might give me away. Another time, okay? She hoped birds were mind readers and he’d understood the message she’d sent.

She turned to the box on the wall, moving quickly toward it and using her pin again to work the small lock holding the top closed. She had it open in mere moments, her hands shaking as she unhooked the key lock and pulled the top open. Empty.

“Goddammit.” She let the top drop, looping the lock through and clicking it closed. She glanced around the office, a droplet of sweat rolling down her back. She didn’t want to know what Ms. Wykes would do if she caught her in her office, much less rifling through her drawers. Her eyes bounced from the bookshelves, to the two file cabinets, to the desk, and all its numerous drawers. Where do I begin? For all she knew, the cabinets held nothing more insidious than student files. Ms. Wykes had told Kandace her phone would be returned upon her departure from Lilith House, but more likely, the phones she confiscated were smashed under her sensible shoes or Jasper’s heavy boot.

And she was out of time. The girls would be finishing their meals now. She could only pray her absence hadn’t been noticed by the staff, or that they assumed she’d gone to the bathroom without asking. This mission would have to be rescheduled.

She opened the door, glancing in both directions down the hall, turned the lock on the inside of the door, and then pulled it closed behind her.

Her heart slammed to a stop when she heard the sound of voices directly around the corner. Kandace scurried to the first doorway she came to, turning the handle—it was open, thank God—slipping into the darkened interior and pulling it closed behind her. Blood whooshed in her head as the conversation grew louder. Kandace’s ears pricked, her muscles held taut as she attempted to control her breathing, struggled not to make even the tiniest noise. It sounded as if the two women talking had stopped nearby and were engaged in an argument. Kandace couldn’t make out the words, but she listened as their voices rose and fell in heated debate.

Kandace took a small step back so she could lean more fully against the wall and the ancient wood beneath her feet creaked loudly. The voices outside the door ceased and Kandace cringed. Shit.

Now that her eyes had adjusted to the dark, she saw that she was standing at the top of a set of wooden steps that turned the corner halfway down, traveling lower into some space she couldn’t see from where she stood.

Footsteps were approaching the door. Kandace stepped as carefully as she dared while still racing to beat whoever was about to open the door. She ducked around the stairwell corner just as the door above was pulled open, a wide shaft of light filling the space and spilling around the bend where she now stood, back pressed against the wall, breath held.

“This door is supposed to be locked at all times.” A woman’s voice, one she didn’t recognize.