We moved through the yard slowly, stepping carefully to avoid anything that could snap under our feet. The closer we got to the house, the more details became visible. The windows weren't broken like I initially thought; they were just dirty, neglected. The curtains were drawn from the inside, which meant someone used this place at least occasionally.
We reached the front door. It was heavy, made of dark wood, and looked solid. I stepped aside and nodded to Cora.
"Your turn."
She crouched down and pulled a small lockpicking kit from her pocket. Her hands moved with quiet precision as she inserted the tools into the lock. I stayed standing, keeping watch, my attention split between the yard behind us and the house itself.
Every second stretched longer than it should have. The wind rattled something loose nearby, and I felt my muscles tense instinctively.
"Almost," she whispered.
A soft click followed.
She looked up at me. "Got it."
I nodded. "Nice."
