The needle moved smoothly through the thin fabric of the ribbon; the red thread creating a tiny jagged line against the silky black. Ardith knotted the thread, snipped it off and tucked all the tools back into her bag.
She surveyed her work, satisfied with the flow of stitches.
Not too perfect, she thought.
It was very important not to be too perfect.
Outside the small circle of flashlight, something skittered in the far corner of the room.
Ardith froze. She’d been incredibly careful to leave no trace of herself. But this could only mean that her presence was compromised.
Quietly, slowly, she turned off the flashlight. The click of the power button seemed excruciatingly loud.
She listened, straining to hear to softest of sounds. Her heartbeat got louder, muffling the silence in its rhythm. Was it her imagination? Had the sloshing noises gotten louder outside the door? Or was her heartbeat overwhelming all other noises.
A soft shhrrrffff came from the back stacks. Flats on unswept tile.