The house was quiet in a way that felt almost suspicious.
Skylar noticed it the moment she came downstairs, mug in hand, hair still damp from the shower. No Jaime shouting affirmations at his own reflection. No Raphael breaking something. No Marco bellowing about team breakfast like a golden retriever who had learned to speak. Just the ambient sound of the atoll wind against the windows and, from somewhere deeper in the house, the faint clink of ceramic.
She checked the time. 8:47.
The dry-erase board by the front door had a list in Carmen's handwriting, which meant the mission assignments had gone up sometime before six while Skylar had still been horizontal. She crossed to it.
TEAM BETA: Gate Clear, Sector 4. Isabelle, Raphael, Hikari, Marco, Malachi, Soomin. Depart 0600. ETA return 2200.
TEAM GAMMA: Recon and E-Rank sweep, outer district. Juan, Jaime, Noah, Monica, Jacob. Depart 0700. ETA return 1800.
BRAXTON: Don't ask.
CARMEN: Also don't ask.
