The hooded man lifted a gloved hand and pushed his dark mantle back over his shoulders, letting the fabric slide down to reveal a sharp, angular face marred by dark circles and an ugly, sneering mouth.
"You don't need to worry about your little friends back there," he said smoothly, looking far too pleased with himself. "They're just in a very deep, quiet sleep right now. Hopefully having a miserable nightmare."
Cherion stared at him, his initial shock lingering for a brief second before his eyebrows pulled together. He squinted at the man's face, taking in the greasy hair, the frayed collar, and the desperate, gaunt hollows of his cheeks.
"I think... I think I've seen you somewhere before," Cherion said slowly, tilting his head. He scratched the side of his neck, his tone completely flat as he added, "Who are you again?"
The dramatic tension in the washroom shattered into a thousand tiny pieces.
