Tessa
The aroma of freshly flipped pancakes wafts through the air as Esther and I settle in for a cozy evening of Netflix. Laughter echoes in the living room, momentarily drowning out the ominous ticking of the clock. It’s an ordinary night, or so it seems.
Laughter resonated in the air, momentarily drowning out the subtle tick-tock of the antique clock on the wall. Little did we know, the tranquility was but a fragile facade.
As we immersed ourselves in the on-screen narratives, a jarring interruption shattered our peaceful cocoon—a sudden, insistent ring of the doorbell. Pancake-laden forks hovered mid-air as our eyes met, a silent exchange of unease passing between us. Something wasn’t right.
Reluctantly, I set aside my plate, the aroma of syrup and batter mingling with the growing
