[ Ashton steps back, looking no less confused than before, but he knows he doesn't have much room to escape here. She's blocking the only path to the stairs, and the edge of the roof was coming up close behind him.
Also, he's unarmed (as far as he knows) and she looks like she means business. He puts his hands up in front of him, as if he can somehow plead his way out of this. Despite the fear, his words are sincere. Ashton is a terrible liar. ] Conrad left a few minutes ago--
Wait. It's you that he heard. [ Now his earlier behavior made sense. ] He went to go see you. [ And then he stopped moving backward, the empty air just one more step behind him. ]