The house, once a symbol of warmth and hospitality, had transformed into a makeshift refuge. The group had converged into the living room, exhausted from the earlier events. They collectively decided to stay together, seeking only blankets from the rooms to make a space in the sitting room for the night.
Duke understood Nadia's concern for the others' well-being, but he knew it was also a form of restraint against him. The air was thick with tension, but physical exhaustion eventually took its toll. Ryker kept a watchful eye on Duke, while Nadia tried to keep Ryker at bay. One by one, they began to drift off to sleep, lulled by the soft rustling of nearby trees and the occasional creak of the old house.
