DAVE
The house was eerily silent when I returned, the kind of quiet that made every creak of the floorboards sound unnaturally loud. It felt empty, almost hollow, as if the very walls were holding their breath.
I headed to Elara’s bedroom, my footsteps muffled by the plush carpet. I hesitated for a moment before knocking softly. When no answer came, I pushed the door open, half-expecting to find her inside, but the room was vacant. The neatly made bed and untouched belongings told me she hadn’t been there for a while.
As I turned to leave, the door to Emmeline’s room swung open, and Elara stepped out, her fingers clutching the collar of her robe as she pulled it tighter around herself. Her hair was slightly tousled, and the faint shadows under her eyes suggested she hadn’t slept much.
