I settled into the creaky bed, my back resting against the sturdy headboard, and gazed fixedly at the door. The dimly lit room seemed to shrink around me, the shadows cast by the faint moonlight filtering through the curtains. Night had fallen, and Mary was still nowhere to be found. A knot of worry twisted in my stomach, fueled by the eerie silence.
Isabel had left hours ago, after bringing me a simple but comforting dinner of soup and bread. Her parting words – "Mary will be back soon, don't worry" – now seemed hollow. The stillness of the room only heightened my anxiety.
As the darkness deepened, my fear gave way to loneliness. The old clock on the mantle ticked away, each passing moment feeling like an eternity. I strained my ears, listening for any sign of Mary's return - the creak
