As I gathered the Soul Gaze card and prepared to leave, my senses were on high alert. The auction house's opulent interior, which had seemed so grand and secure moments before, now felt like a gilded cage. The shadows in the corners seemed darker, more foreboding. I forced myself to maintain a calm demeanor, but the sense of urgency that had been gnawing at me only intensified.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed him—the man I had outbid for talisman. He was moving with a purpose, his silhouette cutting through the crowd with a determined grace. His attire made him stand out, a stark and unsettling contrast to the otherwise dimly lit surroundings. My heart sank. It was clear she was following me, and the sensation of dread prickled at my skin.