Esme came back to the villa. She pushed open the door, a smile already blooming on her face. Memories of her playful phone conversation with Silas danced in her head, fueling the anticipation of a warm reunion. Stepping inside, however, she was met with an unexpected quietude. The usually brightly lit hallway was shrouded in a dim twilight, a stark contrast to what she had anticipated.
She had thought of a bright environment, a warm welcome, and Silas's hug. But she found no one in the hall as if everyone had left.
'Didn't he ask me to come back quickly?' she wondered in her mind as she dropped her bag on the sofa and moved further inside the house.
She couldn't see Irene either. 'Did she leave so early?' she asked herself.
"Strange! Where has everyone gone?" she murmured.
