The silence didn’t last.
It shattered.
A sharp vibration cut through the room—loud, insistent, impossible to ignore.
Giulia’s phone.
Then Matteo’s.
Then Alessandro’s.
All at once.
Like something had been released.
Like the world had been waiting.
Matteo was the first to move.
He grabbed his phone, glanced down—
And went completely still.
Not confused.
Not surprised.
Something worse.
Prepared.
“What is it?” Giulia asked.
He didn’t answer.
Didn’t look up.
Alessandro stepped closer, pulling his own phone out.
A second later—
A low, humourless laugh escaped him.
“Of course,” he muttered.
Giulia’s chest tightened.
“Someone talk to me.”
Matteo finally looked up.
And whatever was on that screen—
It had already changed everything.
“It’s out,” he said.
“What is?”
Inste
