Stella rolled around the bed, her hand searching for something. When she realized William wasn't beside her, she felt a pang of worry. She remembered falling asleep in his room, but now he was nowhere to be found. She glanced at the clock: 2:43 AM. She stood up, a sense of unease gnawing at her, and began searching for him.
The bathroom was empty. She headed out into the hallway, her ears catching faint voices coming from outside. Following the sound, she reached the mini sitting room and saw William standing outside, talking to Charlie and another guy she only saw during serious missions. As she approached them, the men quickly dispersed, leaving William alone.
"Hey, you're awake," William said, turning towards Stella.
"Yes, I woke up when I noticed you weren't by my side," she replied, glancing at the retreating figures of Charlie and the other guy. "What happened? What are you doing out here at this hour? And why were they here?"
