The room was too clean to be safe.

That was the first thing you noticed when your eyes opened. White walls, soft light, locked door. Not the same place as before. Someone new had taken you. Someone different.

You didn’t panic right away. You listened.

That’s when you heard a soft sound from the corner of the room. A slow breath. Another presence.

“Don’t move fast,” a familiar voice whispered.

Your heart jumped. “Casey?”

She stepped slightly into the light, eyes sharp, posture calm. “Yeah. I woke up before you did.”

Relief hit you so hard your knees almost gave out. “This isn’t him,” you whispered. “This is someone else.”

“I know,” she answered. “Different steps. Different routine. Which means different weaknesses.”

You sat beside her, keeping your back to the wall like she had taught you. “So what do we do?”

Casey didn’t answer immediately. She was watching the door, counting something only she could hear. After a moment, she spoke softly.

“We don’t rush. We map the pattern first.”