Chapter 6 Max's Mark

• Sara**
• The music played on, a distant murmur now, as I stood there, trapped between Sam’s steady presence and the ghost of Max. The tension in the air was thick, a storm brewing on the horizon, and I could feel the weight of it pressing down on me, suffocating.
• Sam’s hand remained firm on my waist, but there was something unreadable in his eyes, a flicker of something I hadn’t seen before—concern, yes, but maybe something darker. His protective instincts were sharp, but I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that he wasn’t entirely sure what he was up against. Neither of us was, really.