Helena wasn't sure how she had been paired up with Eleanor Romanov, but now, here she was, prying off the metal grate of the side of a one of the air shaft they had discovered in a backroom of the sporting goods section. It was big enough to hold someone of Helena or Eleanor's stature, if they crawled on their knees. Even though Helena was no big fan of small spaces, she was even less of a fan of big, exposed spaces what with a deranged killer being on the lose at present. It was safer to try their luck with the ventilation system.

Finally undoing the last screw, she was able to lift off the grate and uncover the small square hole which would serve as their entrance into the funnel. Helena stepped back, gesturing for Eleanor to go first.

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Ellie hadn't had much interaction with Helena Chevalier before this point, so she wasn't sure what she should say or do when they had been paired together. Not to mention how terrified she was, thanks to the situation, plus the added horrific sight of a woman dying not two feet from her. Eleanor was a disheveled mess, clinging to her phone as if it were her only connection to life past this moment.<p>

When Helena finally got the last screw of the ventilation shaft undone and lifted the gate, she gestured for Ellie to go first. The Romanov gave her a small nod and, getting on her hands and knees, slipped into the small space and started forward. It was a little cramped, but she managed.<p>

At the first turn that came up, Eleanor paused. "Which way do you think we should go?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. No need to bring attention to their location.
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