If I walked out of here with my face fully visible, would someone recognize me? Remember me? I'd passed so many staff members already, and while most hadn't given me asecond glance, that didn't mean they wouldn't recall me later if questioned.
I decided to keep it on for now. Better to keep some anonymity until I was clear of this place.
I grabbed my phone, slipped it into my jeans pocket, and headed for the door, leaving the cloak behind. Then I stopped, fingertips lingering on the handle.
I’d just recalled the security guard from earlier, who’d escorted me up here and told me to hurry before I missed the ceremony. If I tried to leave through that same side entrance and head back to the tunnel, would he still be patrolling that whole area? Would he spot me again and demand to know why I was leaving so early?
And what about the other armed guards posted at the main doors? If I tried to exit through there instead, would they stop me and question who I was and why I was leaving? Or would they just let me go without a word?
Doubtful.
My mouth went dry as I considered the risk. I’d been caught sneaking around earlier and gotten away with it, but that was incredibly lucky. In fact, it wasimprobablylucky. So if it happened again, I seriously doubted I'd be able to talk my way out of it. And if they decided to verify my story… definitely not.
I needed a reason to leave that wouldn't raise suspicion.
It occurred to me that the staff here had been surprisingly helpful so far. The waiter downstairs had given me directions for the labyrinth without asking questions, and he’d treated me like I belonged here.
So maybe that was the key: act like I had a legitimate reason to leave, and ask someone who wouldn't care enough to verify my story. Most of the staff were probably like that waiter; just trying to get through their shifts and collect their paychecks. Andunlike the guards, they probably weren't invested in policing every person who wandered these halls.
I poked my head into the corridor, looking both ways. Empty. Most of the staff had likely cleared out, given the late hour. But as I moved down the hallway, I spotted a woman in a maid's uniform emerging from one of the rooms, her arms full of crumpled linens.
I approached quickly, lowering my mask so she could see the friendly, innocent expression I’d pasted on my face. “Excuse me. I'm so sorry to bother you, but I wanted to ask you something.”
She looked up. “Yes?”
“I was supposed to be working in the ceremonial chamber all night,” I said, letting a note of distress creep into my voice as I gestured to my mask. “But I just got a text from my family. My brother’s in the hospital, so I need to leave right away. But I couldn’t find my boss to let them know, and I don't want to walk out without telling anyone and have security think I'm sneaking around for some reason. So can you tell me the quickest way out of here? And maybe let someone know I had to go?”
Her expression softened immediately. “Oh, of course. I'm so sorry about your brother.” She shifted the linens to one arm and pointed down the hallway. “Take that corridor all the way to the end, turn right, and you'll see the northeast entrance. There's always a guard posted there, but if you tell him Taisiya cleared you to leave, he won't give you any trouble.”
“Thank you so much,” I said, relief washing over me.
She smiled kindly. “It’s fine. I'll call ahead and let him know you're coming. What's your name?”
My mind raced. “Kelly,” I said, remembering the girl I’d been mistaken for earlier.
“Okay, Kelly. You go ahead. I hope your brother's all right.”
“Thank you so much,” I repeated.
I followed her directions, moving quickly through the corridors.
The northeast entrance appeared ahead, exactly where Taisiya had said it would be. A guard stood beside it, and as I approached, he lifted one hand in a wave.
“You’re Kelly?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Tai said you've got a family emergency. Sorry to hear that.” He pulled open the door. “Want me to call you a car?”
“No, it’s okay. I’m going to the BHU medical center, so I can just walk.”
He frowned. “It’s pretty cold out there, and BHU is a twenty-minute walk away,” he said. “I’ll call a car around.”
I gulped, hoping this wasn’t some sort of trap. “Is that okay?”
“Of course. There’s always drivers on standby here,” he said, waving a casual hand. He touched his radio. “Need a car at the northeast entrance. Medical center run.” He glanced at me. “Two minutes.”
“Thank you,” I managed.
