Chapter 1

The heavy, velvet silence of the museum after hours was a sensory overload, a stark contrast to the chaotic energy of the day’s crowds. I stepped through the double doors, the magnetic lock clicking shut behind me with a finality that made my heart hammer against my ribs. The air here was cool, conditioned to preserve artifacts, carrying that distinct, sterile scent of old paper, polished brass, and floor wax. It smelled like history, like secrets kept in the dark. I adjusted the strap of my clutch, my fingers trembling slightly as I smoothed down the front of my black dress. It was short, daring, the kind of dress I only wore when I knew he would be watching, when I knew he would be there to take me apart. I had arrived early. I always arrived early for him. The main hall stretched out before me, a cathedral of science and wonder stripped of its children. The exhibits were bathed in the low, amber glow of emergency lighting and the occasional spotlight left on for cleaning crews. To my left, the towering model of the solar system hung suspended in the darkness, the planets frozen in their eternal, silent