Vivian's mind was in a whirl as she tripped and stumbled down the spiral staircase leading to the basement. A familiar set of footsteps echoed behind her and without turning around, she knew it was Pannis, not trying to conceal his presence. Ignoring Pannis' trailing, Vivian ran all the way down to the second basement level and opened the secret door in the wall that lead to the third and fourth levels.
As always, the small elevator was only a few square meters. Vivian had just entered and was about to close the door when Pannis glided in like a ghost, silent and weightless. Annoyed, Vivian glared at Pannis, who continued to study the wall of the elevator as if it were adorned with magnificent frescoes, oblivious to her gaze. After a while, Vivian admitted defeat to Pannis' unyielding resolve to follow her, and with a frustrated sigh, shut the elevator door. Amidst the deep hum of machinery, the elevator jerked and began to descend slowly.
