Lily is still sitting near the bottom of the stairs. She lacks the strength to drag her chair back to the mirror. It’s been so long since she ate anything, her vision is blurred, but her thoughts clear when raised voices drift down the stairwell. The fury behind each word is terrifying. She’s certain the killer would rather die than be taken prisoner. Fear and lack of sleep have left her exhausted, but she tries to imagine herself bold and confident like Sabine, strong enough to win any battle.
The voices stop suddenly, the quiet more ominous than before. Lily concentrates hard, but can only hear her own rapid breathing, the cavernous room filled with silent ghosts. Tension rises in her stomach when the door at the top of the stairs is wrenched open. Instinct tells her that she’s about to die. The killer’s tread is faster than before, then a new voice cries out, bitter with anger. When her eyes open again a man is tumbling down the stairs, arms braced to protect himself, but all she can do is watch.