Aveline woke before her alarm.
For a few seconds, she simply stared at the ceiling, listening to the quiet sounds of the neighborhood outside. A motorcycle passed somewhere down the street. A dog barked twice before going silent again. Beside her, the old electric fan rattled as it turned from one side to the other.
Then she remembered the message.
You were warned.
Her eyes moved toward the small table beside her bed where her phone was charging.
She didn't want to think about it.
Not yet.Today was supposed to be about work.
Aveline got out of bed, fixed her hair, and changed into her worn uniform. When she entered the small kitchen, her mother was already there, preparing breakfast.
“You're awake early,” her mother said.
“I couldn't sleep.”
Her mother looked at her carefully. “A
