Calculated Surrender

She threw off the covers and got out of bed, not even bothering with her slippers. She padded barefoot around the room, searching for him.

After looking all around and still not finding Alaric, Aria opened the door and stepped out.

She noticed a sliver of light shining through a crack at the end of the hallway.

Aria stepped slowly, one foot after the other, toward the end of the hallway.

It was a