Third-person POV
Electra, Irina, and Penelope moved quietly down the long side hallway that led toward the back of the academy. The main corridors were busy, filled with students moving between classes, but this part of the building was almost always empty. The walls were plain, the windows narrow, and the floor slightly cracked near the corners. It was not a place teachers walked through often, which made it perfect for what they were about to do.
Irina walked in front with easy confidence, like she had done this a hundred times. Penelope followed just behind her, hands tucked into the pockets of her skirt, glancing around every now and then to make sure no one had followed them. Electra walked last. Her steps were calm, steady, and quiet. She did not feel guilty about skipping class, and if anything, she felt relieved. The classroom had felt tight and suffocating earlier, even before she collapsed.
