Freya was jolted from sleep by persistent knocking at her door. The sound came in urgent bursts, stopping and starting again.
She struggled to open her eyes, feeling her temperature climbing higher. Each breath felt scorching and dry against her face, leaving her exhausted and drowsy. Within moments, she drifted back into a heavy sleep, while Vicki whimpered anxiously in her mind, trying to help her heal.
Outside her apartment, Niklaus had been knocking for a long time with no response. He tried calling her phone several times, but no one answered. Only the faint ringtone from inside confirmed she was home.
Niklaus's brow furrowed, his expression more irritable than usual. He dialed his Beta. "Dale, find someone to open this door. Now."
Thirty minutes later, the lock clicked
