The moment the lights flickered back on, the room felt smaller, tighter, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath. Shadows clung to every corner, but it wasn’t just darkness that made my skin crawl; it was the feeling that the night had shifted in ways I couldn’t control. Every instinct screamed that the intruders had won part of the game, yet I refused to show weakness.
Adrian’s hand found mine again, firm, grounding, a lifeline amidst the chaos. “Stay close,” he whispered, his eyes scanning the room with razor-sharp precision. Even in the faint glow, his calmness didn’t soothe; it warned and reminded me that danger was everywhere.
My mind raced. Thoughts collided like knives: fear, anger, curiosity, frustration, and the sharp edge of pride that refused to bend. Every moveme
