The night arrived early, and the quiet stillness of the estate settled deep into the walls. I was fast asleep, the exhausting mental chess of the day finally catching up to me. Cheddar was curled up tightly near my waist, his warm, rhythmic purring acting like a gentle anchor against the lingering throb in my bandaged wrist.
Then, a subtle click sound cut through the silence.
Not paying too much attention to it in my half-conscious state, I simply muttered something under my breath and rolled over to the other side. Cheddar shifted along with me, shuffling his chubby orange body toward my back and pressing closer to me for warmth.
But a moment later, I felt a faint, rushing hush sound, immediately followed by a sudden wave of cool breeze. The freezing air swept across the room, creating instant goosebumps all over my exposed skin.
