Flashback ( PDFDrive )

Nothing ominous about them.
And yet, Sophie could feel the tiny hairs on the back of her neck
getting pricklier and pricklier with each turn.
“Is it me, or does this place give you the creeps?” she whispered,
picking up her pace to keep closer to Fitz.
“It does,” he admitted. “And I can’t figure out why. I know this hall.
I had multispeciesial studies right there last year.” He pointed to one
of the doors, made from intricately faceted crystal. “But . . . does it feel
colder here?”
Now that he mentioned it, the hall did have a noticeable chill.
It also felt drafty, as if there was a fan nearby.
Or an open window . . .
“Maybe it’s the high ceilings,” she suggested, glancing up at the
arched skylights—and the millions of twinkling stars beyond.
It was a breathtaking view.
Far too pretty to feel scary.
She’d almost convinced herself. And then . . . there was a boom.
“You heard that, right?” Fitz whispered, scooting even closer to
Sophie.
She nodded. “Think it was one of the guards?”
“That’s probably it,” Fitz decided. “They must’ve closed a door or
something.”
“That makes sense,” Sophie agreed. “I’m sure they do all kinds of
routine checks.”
“Right,” Fitz said, like they’d settled it.
They listened for another beat and found only silence—which
should’ve been comforting, but . . .
“Want to walk faster?” they both asked in unison.