Chapter 2: Echoes in the Dark
The first night was merciless. Daniel woke up at 03:14 to absolute silence—a quiet so profound it set his pulse racing. In the field, silence meant an ambush.
He slipped out of bed without making a sound, moving down the hallway with his back pressed slightly against the wall. The digital clock on the microwave blinked green in the dark kitchen. Every shadow seemed to harbor a threat. He checked the front deadbolt three times, his breath coming in shallow gasps.
A soft rustle made him freeze. Clara stood by the doorway in an oversized flannel shirt, her eyes soft with concern.
"Daniel?"
He exhaled sharply, rubbing his face with calloused palms. "Just... securing the perimeter."
Clara didn't judge him. She didn't offer empty platitudes. She simply poured two mugs of warm chamomile tea and sat at the kitchen island. "Sit with me," she said gently.
May you like
For an hour, they sat in the dim glow, Daniel staring at the steam rising from his mug, trying to convince his racing heart that the war was four thousand miles away.
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