The first floor of the antique store, Nina sat anxiously on the chair beside the counter, occasionally getting up to glance outside the display window, only to see the deserted street under the streetlights, then she would check the front door again to ensure it was still firmly closed.
Several times, she was tempted to go out and have a look, but she would stop before her hand reached the doorknob, recalling her uncle's hurried instruction before he left—don't leave this door, stay at home and wait for his return.
"Really, Uncle..." Nina sat back behind the counter again, muttering to herself, "Going out after nightfall, even though there's a curfew... If the night patrolling guardians find him, he will definitely be detained again, and it's so dangerous..."
This was who knows how many times she had muttered to herself.
Then, finally, she heard some noise at the door, footsteps that suddenly appeared, followed by the sound of the door lock turning—