–Sophia–
We bolted toward the fire exit, our steps echoing in frantic rhythm, following the caller's instructions. The metal door burst open to a gust of biting air, spilling us into the parking lot. My breath misted immediately, curling into smoke against Tasiilaq's night sky, where the temperature clung stubbornly below freezing. Snow crunched beneath my boots like glass.
I halted when Mrs. Pedersen's SUV came into view. She rolled the window halfway down, face unreadable, and I tugged Kai sharply toward the car. He hesitated, stunned by the sudden escape route, too bewildered to move on instinct. I had to yank him again before he finally climbed in. The SUV sat casually in the middle of the lot, a bold position for a getaway. My pulse quickened as shadows shifted—those men who had been following us spilled out into the cold.
