The guards wasted no time.
By the time Kai and Eric arrived at Alice's office, several officials were already waiting.
The large double doors opened.
Kai immediately regretted coming.
Alice was standing on top of her desk.
One foot planted on a pile of paperwork.
One hand pointing dramatically toward the city.
The sunset illuminated her silhouette.
Her cape fluttered despite there being no wind.
"I, the Crimson Queen of Asphyxia, shall—"
Raj kicked the back of her knee.
Alice disappeared behind the desk.
A loud crash followed.
Kai blinked.
Eric blinked.
Neither commented.
Raj sighed.
"Come in."
Alice slowly rose from behind the desk.
Pretending nothing had happened.
"Welcome."
"You saw nothing."
"We saw everything."
"Then forget it."
Kai sat down.
His body immediately thanked him.
The chair felt softer than any bed he had slept on recently.
Alice noticed.
"You look terrible."
"I feel terrible."
"Good."
Kai frowned.
"What?"
"If you looked fine after all that, I'd be worried."
Raj handed Eric a cup of water.
Then handed Kai another.
Kai finished it almost instantly.
Then another.
Then another.
Nobody stopped him.
Finally Alice leaned forward.
"Start talking."
Eric did.
The architect explained everything.
The hidden hatch.
The sewer patrols.
The strange pouches.
The hideout.
The stolen blueprint.
The cultists.