The Silence Punishment 

“It’s Ivy,” her voice rang softly from the other side.

“You don’t have to worry anymore,” I declared quickly. “I am totally fine.”

I ended the sentence abruptly, not giving her room to ask more questions.

Soon enough, I heard her footsteps retreating, fading slowly down the hallway until silence took over once again.

I returned to what I had been doing, but my hands slowed unconsciously.

And then, a thought struck me.

Why was Ivy acting strange earlier?

Why was she unusually quiet and sketchy for my liking when I asked her about King Valtor, about what he had been doing the previous night, about his...