Selene watched Guinevere sob until she was almost choking on her own breath. She sighed again and said quietly, "The best I can do is make your last few days a little easier." From her experience caring for the other old women, the beauty cursebug usually drained its victims completely within three to seven days. Which meant these two wouldn't last long. She looked at their damp clothes. "I'll bring you something clean later. And a few thicker blankets." That wouldn't count as disobedience. The orders from above were clear: keep the victims alive and well until the curse finished its work. Selene got to her feet, ready to leave. "Wait," Selina called softly. "Can you do me a favor?" Selene turned back. "What kind of favor?" Selina bit her lip. "Can you give a message to the couple staying on the third floor of the inn? Just tell them we're—" Selene arched a brow and cut her off. "Why would you think two strangers would risk their lives to save you?" Selina shook her head. "I don't think they will. I just want to try." She paused and murmured, "That girl seemed kind." Some people looked gentle but were rotten inside, like Fiorella, the innkeeper's wife. Others seemed cold and heartless, but had a trace of humanity hidden underneath. She and Guinevere were chained up, completely powerless. The only people they'd met in this place, aside from Selene, were that couple upstairs. And they were strong.Selina pictured Natalie's emotionless face. She probably wouldn't come. But she still wanted to hope. Selene's voice snapped her back to reality. "I can't help you. "The inn belongs to our leader. We're not allowed near it unless she gives permission." She paused, her tone sharp. "Even if I could, I wouldn't risk my head for you." Selina sank back in silence. "I understand." Selene studied her for a while before saying, "That couple you mentioned—they'll probably be the next targets." She thought about it for a moment, then added, "If you're lucky, you'll see that girl again in this cell. If you're not, you'll be dead before she ever gets here." Selene paused, her lips twisting into a faint smirk. "Or maybe you'll actually get lucky this time. Maybe those two won't get caught and will somehow save you instead." Selina didn't react. She just drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around herself, silent and small in the corner. The only sound in the room came from Guinevere's muffled sobs. Selene pushed the tray closer to them and turned toward the door. Just as she reached for the handle, she hesitated and looked back. "Why tell me all that?" Did she really look that easy to sway? Selina lifted her head, her tired eyes meeting Selene's. "Because you seem kind. You wouldn't hurt us." The truth was, things couldn't possibly get any worse for them.And if there was even a one-percent chance this woman might help, it was worth the risk. Selene gave a short, dry laugh. "Then you read me wrong. I'm not a good person." She was the kind who'd do anything to stay alive. Selina stayed silent. Selene opened the door, ready to go. Before the door closed, Selina's soft voice came through. "Thank you." If nothing else, speak good words. Selene froze for half a second before shutting the door and locking it tight. The soft click echoed in the room. She clicked her tongue in irritation. Why couldn't they just curse her out like everyone else? She preferred the cruel ones. They made it easy to feel nothing, to look at pain like it was someone else's problem. But women like Selina and Guinevere—women who still had hope—made her humanity itch. She brushed her hair behind her ear and kept walking. Nothing mattered more than surviving. They were pitiful, sure, but she wasn't going to help them. If someone had to burn, it wouldn't be her. As she passed another cell, her coworker stared up at her with pleading eyes, hands clasped, whispering, "Please. Help me. I'm begging you." Selene shot her a cold look. To prove she wasn't soft, she spat in her direction. The sound of it broke through the silence, but at the last second, her head tilted slightly, and the spit landed on the ground beside the woman instead. She straightened up, lifted her chin, and walked away faster. The basement stairs led up into what used to be a shopping mall.Now it was Cloudshade Hall's dormitory, packed wall to wall with Greendale Gang members. The air stank of sweat and filth. As Selene reached the top, a man called out to her, "Selene! Done with your job already?" It was the same guy from before. Selene nodded, glancing around the quiet hallway. "It's so quiet today," she muttered. The man chuckled. "Of course it is. A third of us are gone. Everyone from Group Three went out with Mr. Simpson on a mission."