Arthur walked to the bed and dropped onto it like a log of wood. His body sank into the mattress, and the relief was immediate. Every muscle begged for sleep.
His eyes slowly closed. And his breathing steadied.
For the first time that day, his mind began to drift.
Then..
A knock.
Soft at first.
Arthur frowned slightly, barely opening his eyes.
But the knock came again, louder this time.
His body refused to move. He was too tired to respond, too exhausted to even lift himself from the bed.
The knocking grew harder.
More urgent.
Arthur forced himself to shift, preparing to stand.
Before he could rise..
BANG.
The door burst open.
Arthur jolted awake immediately.
Not just because of the loud sound of his door bursting open, but because of who stood at the entrance.
He shot upright on the bed, still half tangled in his sheets, eyes wide with shock.
Commander Lyra.
