“No witnesses. Happened in the caves.” Of course her efforts to quell any concerns before they can emerge only leads to new ones. It’s her own fault for not explaining properly. Any form of explanation is like reliving it, in a way, and the more details she can afford to spare, the better.

But the questions will only keep coming, be they from him or someone else. It’s a fact she’s resigned herself to. She follows up shortly thereafter, hanging her head, voice low and dry. “I got roped into some sort of game. Because this—this whole thing—isn’t game enough, apparently. Fancy that.”