Safe House - 4:30 AM
Timothy woke Emily gently, his hand on her shoulder. "Time to go."
Emily's eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the darkness. Her body protested every muscle sore from tension and stress. But she pushed through it, sitting up and swinging her legs off the bed.
"Coffee?" she asked, her voice rough with sleep.
"Downstairs. Sebastian already made it."
Emily dressed quickly in comfortable clothes dark jeans, soft sweater, sneakers. She grabbed her bag, checking that everything was inside.
Her laptop, notes from the competition, the small photo of her mother tucked in the side pocket. Her championship trophy sat on the nightstand, gleaming even in the dim light.
She picked it up carefully. Physical proof that everything she'd endured was worth it.
Downstairs, Sebastian stood in the kitchen with two travel mugs of coffee already prepared. He looked like he hadn't slept at all, laptop bag slung over his shoulder, phone in hand.
