They slept the entire afternoon —two warm bodies tangled beneath soft sheets,bags packed, heater humming, rain tapping faintly against the glass.
Ezra drifted deeper than he meant to.
And in that depth…something called to him.
A whisper.
Soft. Warm. Close enough to brush his ear—
"Darling… wake up."
Ezra's eyes twitched beneath his lids.
Mellody slept peacefully beside him, her breathing soft and steady. It wasn't her voice. He knew her tone like he knew his own heartbeat.
This one was different.
Older. Colder. Too familiar in a way he couldn't place.
"Ezra… wake up, Darling…"
He stirred uneasily, caught between the dream and the bedroom.
Then—
Knock.
A gentle tapping on their door.
Ezra jolted awake fully, heart hammering.
Rosey's voice followed, muffled through the wood."Ezra? Mellody? Wake up, dinner's ready. You've both been asleep since noon. It's past seven."
Mellody groaned into the pillow."…Already? What time is it…?"
Ezra looked at the clock.
7:04 PM.
They had slept the entire day away.
They freshened up quickly, Mellody brushing her hair while Ezra washed his face twice, trying to shake the lingering whisper from his head.
At the dinner hall, the family was already seated.
Miller raised an eyebrow."Good evening, newlyweds. Long nap?"
Sophie snorted. "More like mini-hibernation."
Mellody laughed."We needed it. Big day tomorrow."
Rosey smiled warmly at them both."Yes. Your honeymoon. Ten days of peace. Make memories."
Mellody squeezed Ezra's hand under the table."We will. Tomorrow morning we're leaving early."
Ezra nodded, though his mind still felt foggy —like something had smudged the edges of reality while he slept.
The night passed quickly. Too quickly.
Morning — The Flight
They woke to soft morning light at 8:00 AM, rain finally quieting outside.
Ezra bathed, dressed in comfortable travel clothes, but the entire time his mind felt… dizzy. Heavy.
The whisper kept replaying:
"Darling… wake up."
But by who?
He shook it off, forcing composure. Mellody looked stunning in a light travel dress, tying her hair into a ponytail.
"You okay?" she asked, touching his cheek.
"Yeah," he lied again. "Just morning fog."
They went down to the breakfast hall. The family sat together one last time — warm coffee, toast, gentle chatter. Everyone excited. Everyone happy.
Everyone except Ezra's mind, still humming like a broken radio.
After breakfast, bags loaded, coats on,they stepped out to the waiting black luxury car.
The whole family gathered to see them off.
Rosey hugged Ezra tightly."Stay safe. Call me when you land."
Mellody hugged her too."Don't worry, Mother-In-Law. I'll take care of him."
Miller shook Ezra's hand firmly."Enjoy the trip. Forget the world for a while."
Vale saluted jokingly."Bring me souvenirs!"
Sophie whispered loudly,"And don't make the trip too spicy!"
Mellody blushed. Ezra groaned.The family laughed.
They got into the car.
The drive to the airport was smooth, quiet,the city still damp from last night's storm.
At the private runway, their jet gleamed white under the cloudy sky, wings stretching like something alive.
They stepped inside.
Soft leather seats.Blue ambient lights.Ocean-themed interior.Peace.
They buckled in together, Mellody resting her head on his shoulder.
The engines roared.
The jet lifted.
Clouds swallowed them.
Ezra looked out the window —the world shrinking below.
For a moment, Mellody whispered,"Finally… just us."
Ezra smiled.
But the whisper from yesterday echoed again, faint but sharp:
"Darling…"
His fingers touched the locket on his chest.
It pulsed once — cold.
And the jet kept climbing.