The red digits of the clock on my bedside table glowed softly in the dim light, displaying 6:45. Each tick of the second hand was a quiet reminder of the passing time, echoing in the stillness of the room. I groaned, realizing it was time to get up.
"Daniel? Are you awake?" Mom's voice drifted up from downstairs, louder than usual but with an edge of concern. "You need to get moving, okay? Breakfast is almost ready."
I blinked groggily, my brain foggy with sleep. I remembered staying up late last night, watching shows with Diana. For a moment, I thought she'd gone back to the attic.
But then I heard it—a soft, rhythmic breathing beside me. I turned my head, and my eyes widened. Diana was lying next to me, her face half-buried in my pillow, looking utterly peaceful. For a second, I was too stunned to move, my mind struggling to process the scene.
How did she get here? Why is she…
Suddenly, I heard Mom's footsteps on the stairs, growing louder with each step. A surge of panic jolted me awake. Heart racing, I sat up quickly, almost tumbling out of bed.
I tried to shake Diana awake, adrenaline coursing through me. "Diana, wake up!" I whispered urgently, but she just mumbled something incoherent and snuggled closer.
Panic surged through me. With quick thinking, I grabbed the edge of the covers and pulled them over Diana, hiding her completely just as the door creaked open.
"Daniel, why aren't you up yet?" Mom's voice was filled with worry as she stepped into the room. I could feel the sweat starting to form on my forehead.
"I'm up, I'm up," I said, trying to sound as normal as possible while sitting up and pretending to stretch. I kept my body angled slightly to block any view of the suspiciously shaped lump under the covers.
Mom walked closer, her eyes narrowing. The floorboards creaked under her weight, each step amplifying my anxiety. "You stayed up late again, didn't you? You look exhausted. I need you to get downstairs and get ready. You've got ten minutes before you miss the bus."
"Yeah, I know. I'll be ready in a minute," I replied, my voice betraying a slight tremor.
From under the covers, Diana mumbled, "Why is it so hot?"
Mom's head tilted slightly. "What did you say?"
"I said I'll be right out!" I quickly interjected, my chest tightening with fear.
Mom's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, then she sighed. "Alright, but hurry up. Breakfast is ready." She turned and walked out of the room, her footsteps receding down the hallway.
The moment the door clicked shut, I let out a sigh of relief, my breath finally steadying. I pulled the blanket away from Diana, who was still half-asleep but slowly waking up.
"Diana, you need to get up now," I whispered, shaking her gently. She blinked her eyes open, looking at me with a mix of confusion and sleepiness.
"W-what's going on?" she mumbled, still not fully awake.
"Mom was just here. Go to the attic. I'll get you some breakfast. We'll meet in front of the house at 7:00," I said, my voice filled with urgency.
"Okay," she whispered, fully awake now. She quickly and quietly slid off the bed and sneaked out of the room, the sound of her bare feet tapping soundlessly against the floor as she headed towards the attic.
I nodded, realizing how fast my heart was beating. I hadn't expected my morning to start like this. Grabbing my clothes, I headed to the bathroom to get ready, my pulse still racing in my ears. At least for now, we were safe.