“Kim, can you hear me? You have to get to the house, right now -”

Her detour through the noisy marketplace worked to her advantage. Midday rush in the outdoor market could deafen anyone who braved swimming through crowds of cranky booth vendors and bartering shoppers who’d take any shouting match to a new level of intensity for the sake of getting the best deal on a fresh salmon. Luckily, her experience on the streets and present desperation enhanced her ability to maneuver through the packed roads.

“Don’t let anyone know where you are, just wait for me. Okay? You have to wait for m – “

The recorded message was barely audible through the static and Erin’s hasty speech. Kim adjusted her earpiece and strained to listen as she continued to hurry home. The only thing she carried was her – their – journal, the only place left that held all her–their–recorded findings.

“ – lock the doors, close the windows. Don’t let anybody in. Do not go out. I promise – “

How she barely managed to grab the journal before scrambling out of her sister’s lab, she wouldn’t know. She wished she hadn’t gone there at all.

“ – I will figure something out  for us – “

She found Erin’s body behind her desk, with six bullets riddled into her back.

“ – I love you Kim.”

Finally home. Kim locked the door behind her, then all the windows.It was bound to happen; they were going to be caught someday. But why today, she thought. She made up her mind to go to the basement when a chilling voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Are you sure you weren’t followed?”