Abigail woke to the insistent sound of knocking on her door. The knock was loud, persistent, and filled with urgency, echoing through the quiet mansion. In the dim light of dawn, she felt the warmth of Remo's arms around her, his even breaths a soothing rhythm against her back. She savored the moment, the safety and comfort that his presence brought, before the insistent knocking broke through her reverie.
With a reluctant sigh, Abby carefully disentangled herself from Remo's embrace. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, her thoughts still foggy with remnants of dreams. The knocking continued, growing more frantic with each passing second. She slipped out of bed, her feet hitting the cold floor, and hurried to the door.
"Just a moment," she called, trying to mask the sleepiness in her voice. She glanced back at Remo, who was still sound asleep, his brow furrowed slightly even in rest. The sight of him always brought a sense of calm to her otherwise tumultuous life.