There was a heavy silence in the cottage, as if the cottage itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Jaden and Nila exchanged looks before tiptoeing to the door and peeking out. All was still. There was no movements and strangely not a single sound. Not even the methodical digging sounds.
They wondered where Maria Tan is right now. Is she still at the gate trying to find out where the sirens were coming from? Or did she open it and went outside to investigate? Or did she ignore it and turned back to the cottage?
Jaden leaned close to Nila to whisper into her ears.
“Let’s get out of here, you stay behind me,” he said. She nodded silently.
They slowly opened the door, glad that it was smoothly oiled and did not emit a single creak as it swings open. Jaden looke
