As they stepped into the hallway, Kealan's unease weighed heavy on his shoulders, casting a pall over the otherwise ordinary surroundings. Desina's attempt at a reassuring smile fell flat, her forced cheerfulness doing little to dispel the tension that lingered between them.
"Are you okay?" Kealan ventured, his voice barely above a whisper as they walked side by side.
Desina's response was a strained chuckle, her facade slipping for a moment before she quickly regained her composure. "Of course, darling," she replied, her tone falsely bright. "Just hungry, that's all."
But Kealan wasn't convinced. The memory of the strange noise from Desina's room still echoed in his mind, refusing to be ignored.
"I don't know," he confessed, his words heavy with uncertainty. "Something feels off."
De
