Luke's discerning gaze caught the flicker of an unsettling expression on Ophelia's face. Her features contorted as if she had borne witness to an otherworldly apparition.
Unbeknownst to him, however, the true nature of her turmoil was far more chilling than the mere sighting of a ghost.
Moved by an instinct to bridge the chasm of her distress, Luke resolved to address her. His voice, usually a conduit of warmth and connection, now cuts through the air.
Yet, despite his earnest efforts, it was as if Ophelia had withdrawn into a soundless void, her responsiveness snuffed out, leaving his calls to echo in a hollow vacuum of unheard words.
Rising with determination, he moved towards her.
As his hand made contact with her shoulders, a gentle attempt to pull her attention away from the grips of her distress, Ophelia's startled reaction reverberated.
Her voice trembled slightly as she yelped, "Hiii!"
