Drowning

ARYA’S POV The men stopped at a door near the end of the corridor. One of them knocked, the door opened, and they disappeared inside. I crept closer, pressing myself against the wall, trying to hear what was being said inside. Male voices, speaking Italian too rapid for me to catch. I did hear something about shipments then name I didn't recognize. And then clearly, I heard. "De Santis." My blood ran cold. "They're talking about you," I breathed. "Get out of there," Giovanni said immediately. "Now, Arya. That's an order." But before I could move, the door opened. A man stepped out, he was wearing a mask decorated with intricate silver serpents. He looked right at me. "Well," he said in perfect English, a smile curling his lips. "What do we have here? A little lost bird?" I froze, my mind racing for an excuse. "I… I was looking for the bathroom," I stammered. "The bathroom," he repeated, his tone suggesting he didn't believe me for a second. "But this doesn’t look like the bathroom.” I