Chapter 9 Chapter Nine: Arrival
Austin felt different the second they hit the city limits. Rowan couldn’t explain why. It wasn’t the traffic, though there was plenty of that. Or the skyline, familiar enough, rising ahead in glass and steel. It was something quieter. Something just under the surface. She tightened her grip on the steering wheel slightly as they merged onto the exit ramp.
“You feel that?” she asked without thinking.
Jess glanced over. “Feel what?”
Rowan hesitated. Then shook her head.
“Nothing. Just ready to get out of the car.”
Jess laughed. “Same. If I sit any longer, I’m not getting back up.”
Rowan smiled faintly, but her eyes stayed on the road. That feeling again. Faint. Persistent. Like something waiting. She pushed it aside as they followed GPS directions toward the hotel. The building came into view a few minutes later, tall, modern, all clean lines and reflective glass.
“Okay,” Jess said, sitting up straighter. “This is nice.”
“Better be,” Rowan muttered. “We’re going to be living here for three days.”
She pulled into the lot, parking near the entrance. The second she turned off the engine the silence hit. Not actual silence. Cars still passed. People moved around them. But inside the car, still. Rowan exhaled slowly.
“Let’s go.”
They grabbed their bags, heading inside.
The lobby was cool, polished, and just busy enough to feel alive without being overwhelming. Rowan stepped up to the front desk, slipping easily into her professional tone.
“Hi, checking in. Rowan Vance.”
The clerk smiled, typing quickly.
“Of course. You’re here for the expo?”
Rowan nodded. “Yes.”
“Perfect. We’ve had a lot of early arrivals today.”
Something about that made Rowan pause.
“Early?” she asked.
The clerk nodded. “A few vendors wanted extra setup time.”
Rowan exchanged a quick glance with Jess.
“Overachievers,” Jess whispered.
Rowan almost laughed.
“Here you go,” the clerk said, handing over two key cards. “You’re all set. Elevator’s to your left.”
“Thank you.”
They headed toward the elevators, bags in hand.
“Okay,” Jess said, lowering her voice slightly, “we are absolutely ordering food and doing nothing for at least an hour.”
“Agreed,” Rowan said.
The elevator doors slid open. They stepped inside. The moment the doors closed, that feeling hit again. Stronger. Rowan’s shoulders stiffened slightly. Jess didn’t seem to notice.
“Then we go set up,” Jess continued. “And then we panic about everything we forgot.”
Rowan forced herself to focus on the conversation.
“Nothing. We didn’t forget anything.”
Jess raised a brow. “You say that now.”
Rowan exhaled. “We’re fine.”
The elevator chimed softly as it reached their floor. The doors opened. The feeling eased. Just like that. Rowan stepped out slowly.
“…Okay,” she murmured under her breath.
Jess glanced at her. “What?”
“Nothing.”
They found their room quickly. Rowan swiped the key card. The door clicked open. Inside, everything was exactly what she expected. Two beds. Neutral decor. A desk near the window overlooking the city. Normal. She stepped inside, setting her bag down. For a moment she just stood there. Waiting. For what, she didn’t know. Nothing happened.
“Rowan,” Jess said, dropping onto one of the beds, “if you don’t sit down, I’m going to assume you’ve officially lost it.”
Rowan blinked, then laughed softly.
“Yeah. Sorry.”
She sat, running a hand through her hair.
“Just tired.”
Jess nodded. “Same. Give it an hour, then we go set up?”
“Yeah.”
An hour later, they were back in the car. The expo center wasn’t far, just a short drive through downtown traffic. Rowan felt better. Grounded again. Until they pulled into the lot. The building loomed ahead, larger than she expected. Glass, steel, banners already hung outside announcing the event.
“Okay,” Jess said slowly. “This is big.”
Rowan nodded.
“Yeah.”
But her focus wasn’t on the size. It was on the movement. People already inside. Vendors setting up. Boxes being unloaded. And something else. Something she couldn’t quite place.
“Let’s go,” she said, grabbing her bag.
They stepped inside. The space buzzed with activity. Voices echoed. Carts rolled across the floor. Displays half-built. Rowan slipped into work mode instantly.
“Okay. Booth first. Then layout. Then inventory check.”
Jess saluted. “Yes, boss.”
They found their assigned space quickly. Rowan set her bag down, pulling out her list.
“Alright,” she said. “Let’s get to work.”
For the next hour, everything was movement. Boxes opened. Displays assembled. Items arranged and rearranged. Jess handled signage while Rowan organized inventory. It felt normal. Familiar. Until, Rowan reached for her clipboard. And paused. There, at the bottom of the vendor list, a name.
Blacke Industries
Her stomach dropped. She hadn’t added that. She was sure of it.
“Jess,” she said slowly, “did you update this list?”
Jess glanced over. “No? Why?”
Rowan stared at the page. The name sat there. Clean. Clear. Like it had always been.
“…Nothing,” Rowan said, flipping the page over.
But the feeling came back.
Stronger now. Not just unease. Recognition. She swallowed, forcing herself to focus, work. That’s what mattered. Because whatever this was. It wasn’t something she could explain. And somehow that made it worse.
