Chapter 210

• But I had to put a little more weight into it, pushing harder than I initially intended, and finally, the heavy doors creaked open under the pressure. The sound echoed slightly in the stillness around us, but it wasn’t loud enough to raise any alarms.
• I stepped inside cautiously, keeping my senses alert and my pace slow. Every muscle in my body was tense. I was making sure that nothing was lurking in the shadows, nothing hidden or waiting to pounce. I didn’t want to get caught off guard by anything that might be inside. I also had to be certain that nothing was approaching from behind. Everything felt still, but I didn’t trust it.
• As we crossed the threshold and entered the house, I was completely taken by surprise. I came to an abrupt stop and just stood there, frozen. I was shocked. This was more than familiar. I stood there in awe, looking around with disbelief.