The car stopped at the curb opposite Racher Art. Denis opened the door for Marra and retook her hand. The girl's courage was gone. She let herself be treated like a mindless body by Denis. They drove to Racher Art, and a key opened the main door; it was dark inside because the lights had been turned off when Denis left his house.

He didn't press the light switch and preferred to rely on the light from the flashlight on his cell phone. Marra looked down, following wherever Denis moved, climbing the stairs until they entered a room-then. Denis pressed the light switch.

The room's atmosphere greeted Marra's vision, and...