Leah hesitated at the doorway, her fingers tightening around her camera strap. The silence was suffocating.
Dozens of eyes stared at her some curious, some unreadable, and others... downright unsettling. The dim glow of lanterns and flickering candles cast long shadows across the room, highlighting sharp cheekbones and dark gazes.
She cleared her throat. "Uh... hello?" Her voice sounded too loud, cutting through the thick air like a knife.
No one answered.
The bartender, a tall man with slicked-back dark hair, polished a glass slowly. His expression was unreadable, but something about the way he watched her sent a chill down her spine.
Leah forced a small, uneasy smile. "Didn't mean to interrupt the staring contest. Just... looking for a drink."
A woman in the corner let out a low chuckle, but no one else reacted.
Leah shifted on her feet, glancing around. Something was definitely off. These people weren't just surprised to see her.
They were studying her.
Like she didn't belong.
Like she wasn't supposed to be here.