Alex came out of her room just in time to catch the end of Sylvia’s explanation. Inwardly, she winced, glad the bathing areas were at least separated by gender, but disappointed by the lack of privacy. The occasional performance in her dance program meant that she’d had to get over any shyness, where her body was concerned—sometimes, there just wasn’t time to find a dressing room between acts, and the shadows backstage might be the only curtain you had—but this was a little different, and a hot shower at the end of the day was her time to meditate and relax.

She wasn’t above bathing in the middle of the night to preserve that.

Pushing that thought aside for the moment, she said, “These rooms are [i]great[/i].” It was embarrassing, really, how much the cool features had delighted her, especially when she’d figured out the lights. She’d spent a minute flipping through some of the settings, watching all kinds of crazy colors splash over the walls and floor. The lack of real windows was unsettling, but, as she had forced herself to remember, this wasn’t some fancy hotel—it was, first and foremost, a safe house.

[i]We are not here to have fun[/i], Alex told herself, firmly. Then, before she could help it: [i]I wonder what she’ll show us next?[/i]