MARGARET’S POV
I woke again to silence.
Not the natural quiet of a sleeping house or calm night, but the kind that pressed against the ears until it felt almost physical.
A silence that seeped into my bones, chilling the air until it gnawed at my skin and soul.
I lay still on the narrow bed, staring at the pale ceiling, listening.
Nothing.
No voices beyond the walls. No footsteps in the corridor. Not even the faint hum of electricity that usually accompanied modern buildings.
Just the same dead stillness that had greeted me every time I opened my eyes in this room.
It had been several days now.
At least, I believed it had.
Time behaved strangely when there were no windows and no reliable markers of day or night.
The overhead light remained on for long stretches, then dimmed for others, but whether that followed the sun or Catherine’s whims, I had no way of knowing.
I exhaled slowly and pushed myself upright.
