"I won't open the door", Val's voice replied - quiet and gentle, but there was an audible pang of pain through it that gave Adrien pause. "I will not do anything that could harm you".

Adrien stopped sobbing. In spite of everything that was going on within himself, he could not believe these words to be a lie.

"Would you like to talk?", Val said.

Adrien moved towards the door, but did not open it. "Yes", he answered. He sat down in front of the door with his back against it, his knees bent in front of himself.