(Ava’s POV)
The night didn’t end when the car disappeared down the road.
If anything, that was when it truly began.
The house sat heavy in the dark, every creak of the walls sounding too loud, too alive. Lily had fallen asleep hours ago, blissfully unaware, curled up beside Jake on the couch, the TV still flickering soft blue light across their faces. Ava hadn’t moved from the kitchen. She couldn’t.
Brian sat across from her at the table, his hands clasped, jaw locked. Between them, the silence was suffocating.
“You should get some sleep,” he said eventually, voice scraped raw.
Ava gave a hollow laugh. “Sleep? After that?”
He looked up, guilt clouding his expression. “They won’t come back tonight.”
“That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
“No.” His voice softened. “It’s supposed
