She received no answer. As she expected, neither of them acknowledged her presence at all. For a moment, she considered turning around, saying goodbye for now, and just heading straight to bed. But the sight of her two friends sitting silently opposite each other, staring at the table in front of them as if their lives depended on it, convinced her not to leave. So instead, she leaned forward, placed her elbows on the table, and rested her head in her hands.

Axel sat with his arms crossed tightly across his chest and his shoulders hunched. He looked absolutely furious. The anger was apparent in his face, and the look...