The following morning, noontime sun filtered through the floor to ceiling windows, illuminating Maxen and Olivia's bedroom. The rays were bright and warm enough to blind Olivia even with her eyes closed.
Pulling the duvet over her face to block the sunlight, Olivia sighed when darkness shrouded her. She had nothing to do today, so she intended on sleeping her hours away.
She let the comfort of darkness under the duvet suck her back into sleep like quicksand in the desert. However, her senses heightened when she heard faint footsteps scuffle on the floor.
She was half awake and half asleep, so the noise confused her. It made her heart thump wildly in her chest like a galloping horse in the meadow. In her fit of daze, her hand slid under the pillow, reaching out for her knife.
"It's me," Maxen whispered. He wrapped his hand on Olivia's wrist, calming her down. A smile crossed his face when Olivia pulled the duvet down to reveal her face.
