Chapter 296. Asking Alice: pt. 1

Aurora’s POV

The hallway stretches ahead of us, dimly lit by the low, flickering light of the lamps along the walls. Caleb and Caroline walk beside me, their footsteps echoing softly in the quiet air. I can feel the weight of the silence between us, the tension pulling at the edges of my thoughts. We’re headed to Alice’s room, but something in the air feels different, heavier now, as if we’re walking toward something we’re not quite prepared for. I glance at Caleb, and then Caroline, noticing their faces, the subtle shifts in their expressions as we move forward.

“Hold up,” Caleb says suddenly, his voice low and cautious, and I see him freeze mid-step. Caroline, a few paces ahead of me, halts too, turning back with furrowed brows.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, my own heart picking up speed. My mind races through a hundred possibilities, but I can’t settle on any of them.

They don’t answer at first. Caleb and Caroline stand still, like they’re listening to som