Whispers in the Shadows

Marcus Chen's unexpected entrance surprised Avery and Zara. Marcus observed the two young women in the dorm room, and the air felt thick with strain. 

"Dad," Avery said, her voice slightly raised above a story."How why are you then?" 

Marcus' face remained expressionless."We've much to bandy," he remarked, his gaze shifting between Avery and Zara."But not then. "Follow me." 

Without waiting for a response, he turned and exited the room. Avery and Zara exchanged a puzzled look before scrambling to follow him. 

As they hurried through the hallways of Blackthorn, Avery's mind argued. The familiar surroundings felt weird after everything that had happened. Scholars mused, unaware of the earth-shattering events that had just occurred. Or did they? How much time had passed in the real world while they were elsewhere?