Noah.
I hadn't seen Maria for a while.
At first, I didn't think much of it. I had taken a quick bath, and assumed she had gone about her usual duties. She probably had forgotten she said she would be back.That was just like her—always moving, always doing something, never staying still for too long.
But as the minutes stretched into an hour, something didn't sit right anymore.
A strange unease crept into my chest.
I pushed it aside at first, running a hand through my damp hair as I stepped out into the hallway.
She's probably fine, I told myself. You're overthinking this.
Still… I turned toward her room.
I knocked once.
No response.
I pushed the door open slightly and stepped inside.
Empty.
My eyes scanned the room quickly, noticing the mess, things scattered around like someone had been searching through it. My brows furrowed slightly, but I didn't linger.
"She's not here…" I muttered under my breath.
