The moment the door creaked open, a familiar scent drifted into the room—jasmine, soft yet suffocating. Without turning, Ray knew who it was. His second aunt. But something about her presence today felt off, more menacing. The air in the room grew thick with tension, and though his body was exhausted, a deep sense of dread pooled in his stomach.
She was humming. A light, cheerful tune, completely out of place in the cold, sterile space. Her happiness felt wrong, twisted somehow, and as her voice grew louder, Ray's heart raced in panic. Every note she hummed seemed to coil tighter around his chest. He didn't dare speak. His mind screamed at him to stay silent, to not provoke her, as if any word he uttered could shatter whatever fragile control she had over herself.
