VANESSA
I stood staring up at the dilapidated fifteen-story building, doubt creeping through me like a winter chill. The surrounding neighborhood was exactly what most people warned about—cracked sidewalks, graffiti-covered walls, and an unsettling emptiness that made the hairs on my neck stand up.
"This is it?" I asked Liam, unable to keep the skepticism from my voice.
Liam nodded, his eyes glinting with something that looked suspiciously like excitement. "Don't judge by appearances. Wait until you see what's inside."
He placed his hand lightly on my back, guiding me toward the entrance. The lobby was surprisingly clean compared to the exterior, though clearly stripped down to basics—bare concrete floors, exposed brick walls, and temporary lighting strung across the ceiling.
"How did you even find this place?" I asked as we stepped into an industrial elevator that groaned in protest when Liam pressed the button for the fifth floor.
