I didn’t sleep again.
Even after everything quieted down. Even after security swept the entire house, after Max spoke to people in low, controlled tones I couldn’t quite hear, after the monitors were shut down and replaced.
Nothing felt settled.
It felt like something had cracked open.
And now there was no going back.
I sat on the bed, staring at nothing, my thoughts replaying the moment over and over. The way he stood in the doorway. The way he spoke. Calm. Certain. Like he already knew how this would end.
“You’re out of time.”
My chest tightened.
Because I didn’t know what that meant.
But I knew it wasn’t good.
A soft knock came at the door.
I didn’t answer straight away.
“Maya.”
Max.
Of course.
I stood slowly and opened it.
He looked the same as before. Composed. Control
