The newest strangeness to hit Darrow had rocked the entire city, natives and newcomers alike, creeping its way into new homes every day. Earlier that week, two of Henri’s students had fallen victim to this horror of facelessness - though in each case, thank God, they had been brought by parents, or roommates, or neighbors to the hospital in time. And though that had stirred his own sense of horror, he knew it had affected Sybil all the more, for she had to care for these poor victims, watch them slowly fill up hospital beds while doctors and nurses scrambled to care for them.

Even if she had not suggested it, Henri would have brought dinner along, knowing full well that she had barely eaten during her shift. He was carrying cartons of Chinese food when she answered her door (he had grown to like it rather, as foreign as it was) and kissed her temple with a gentle smile. “Cherie."