Ivy's POV
The mood was somber as we filed out of the auditorium. Each of us silently contemplated the possibility of becoming the next target. The unspoken fear hung heavy in the air – who among us would hear that dreaded knock on their door? Thankfully, my father had always marched to the beat of his own drum, never one to follow what others expected.
I glanced down at my phone and sighed at the notification bar. Over twenty messages from my family – Dad, Mom, and Nancy – all probably worried sick. I started typing responses as I made my way to my dorm, unlocked the door while still focused on my screen, and kicked off my shoes without looking up. When I turned toward my bed, I collided with something solid.
My body tensed immediately. Nobody should be in my room. I slowly lifted my gaze from my phone and stumbled backward when I recognized who it was.
"How the hell did you get in here? And why?" I demanded, heart racing.
