Chapter 41: The Unseen War 

I wasn’t prepared for the silence that greeted me. It wasn’t the comforting stillness that usually meant safety—it was oppressive, like the air was holding its breath. Every step I took felt like walking on glass, the tension threatening to shatter at any moment.  

Alex stood near the window, his body taut like a coiled spring. He didn’t turn when I entered the room, but his sharp whisper cut through the quiet.  

“They’re here.”  

My stomach twisted. “Are you sure?”  

He pointed outside, where faint shadows flickered against the glow of a distant streetlamp. They were subtle—too subtle for someone who wasn’t looking. But Alex...