Brandon slumped onto the couch, his gaze fixed on his phone. Repeated calls to Tyros had gone unanswered, a growing frustration simmering within him. "Where is that guy?" he muttered, his voice laced with impatience. He pushed himself off the couch, the restlessness driving him to action.

He decided to go to Tyros' house, his hope of finding his friend outweighing his reluctance. Tyros' sister, Sadine, was tending to the garden, her movements calm and deliberate, a stark contrast to Brandon's ...