(==>)

They jump in unison when the door opens.

They hadn't had time to compare notes, to make a plan about what to tell him they saw, and Avril feels the trajectory of their collective fates lock course toward the truth. That should be reassuring, but the bright expanse of opportunity in front of him has a creeping shadow of doubt.

His phone vibrates a frenetic staccato of notifications as he shoves it in his pocket.