IYISHA'S POV
Iyisha woke to frantic knocking so violent it rattled the walls.
She stumbled out of bed, still half tangled in her blankets, but before she reached the door it flew open. Rhea shoved her way inside, slammed it closed, and locked it with shaking hands. Her whole body trembled. Her breaths came in jagged pulls. Her eyes darted like a trapped animal searching for an exit that did not exist.
Iyisha froze. Her mind felt slow, thick, still waking.
"Rhea," she whispered. "Hey. Look at me. What is going on."
Rhea tried to speak. No words came. Only quiet sobs broken by frantic breaths.
Iyisha stepped back, heartbeat thudding against her ribs. She pushed herself toward the window and cracked the curtain. Snow drifted softly in the entrance hall just outside. Everything looked quiet. Too quiet. Like the world was pretending nothing was happening.
Then the shouts tore through the silence.
