Intrigued yet wary, Marcus agreed to meet Eleanor the following afternoon. He took Kayla with him, both out of necessity and the desire to share the experience with her. They arrived at a grand office building, its glass exterior gleaming under the sun. Inside, they were guided to an opulent suite where Eleanor awaited, seated behind an imposing mahogany desk.

Upon seeing Marcus, Eleanor rose and extended her hand with a warm smile. “Mr. Johnson, thank you for coming,” she said, her voice still hinting at the fragility of her recent ordeal. “And this must be Kayla,” she added, bending down to greet the young girl.