The night had settled thickly around Genvah Academy, blanketing the halls in eerie silence. In their dimly lit dormitory, Aiden was stirred awake by the creaking sound of the door swinging open.
He groggily turned over, blinking through the haze of sleep.
"Adrian? Sevan?"
But when he sat up, rubbing his eyes to get a clearer view, he saw that both beds were empty.
Frowning, Aiden pulled his blanket tighter around his shoulders and stared at the door, waiting, half-expecting the two to reappear with some ridiculous excuse. Maybe they had snuck out for Adrian to do some business in the restroom, or maybe to find a midnight snack. That wouldn't be unlike Adrian.
But minutes passed. Then more.
The quiet tick of the clock in the corner became maddening.
He considered getting up and looking for them, but exhaustion tugged at his limbs. So instead, he laid back down, his eyes watching the ceiling, waiting, until the wait grew heavy and lulled him back into a shallow, dreamless sleep.
