The vehicle slowed gradually before coming to a complete stop.
Alice felt it through the subtle shift of weight beneath her body. The steady vibration of the engine faded into silence, leaving behind an eerie stillness that pressed against her ears.
For several seconds, no one moved.
Then the rear door of the vehicle slid open with a metallic scrape.
Cold air rushed in.
It smelled different from the forest air she remembered—damp concrete, rusted metal, and something faintly chemical that made her throat tighten.
"Move her," a voice ordered.
Rough hands grabbed Alice beneath the arms. Her legs were still weak from the sedatives, and she stumbled when her feet touched the ground. The surface beneath her shoes was hard and uneven, small bits of gravel crunching underfoot.
She forced herself to remain calm.
Don't panic.
Don't struggle.
Every sound matters.
Alice tilted her head slightly, letting her hearing stretch outward like invisible threads.
