"Did you hear that?" Josie immediately asked in a hushed whisper, her voice barely more than a breath.
The rhythm of Lucas Lockwood's breathing changed. He wasn't asleep either.
"Mmm, it's a woman crying."
The crying was muffled, like sobs stifled by a hand over someone's mouth. It came intermittently from the area to the left of their room.
Josie got up stealthily and pulled a dagger from her clothes. The cool touch of the metal reassured her slightly.
"Should we go check it out?"
"Okay."
Josie and Lucas were about to wake Jude Sheffield when he stirred on his own.
"Jules, we're going to check things out. It's best if you come with us."
Jude rubbed his eyes, which instantly cleared. "Okay, I'll go with you."
The trio slipped out of their room like shadows.
In the surrounding silence, the muffled sobs became even clearer.
In a corner near what looked like a utility closet, they saw a frail figure.
She was hunched over, gagging a few times before she resumed crying.
