Rusty springs squeaked as Nick jerked upright. Disorientating shadows obscured the room. Shapes took on a warped life of their own, breathing and pulsing with the circulating air. He cocked his head, straining to hear any sounds in the darkness. Nothing stirred. Vertebrae cracked as he got out of his bed. “So much for a short siesta,” he muttered, struggling to his feet. He opened his curtains, then unlatched the shutters. Orange light flooded the room, forcing him to shield his eyes. As the sunset dispersed the shadows, he grabbed his dive watch from the nightstand.

“Ten can’t be right,” he said.

He rubbed sleep from his eyes and dug through the mess of clothes on his dresser, discovering the digital clock buried beneath the pile; its bright red numbers glared 10:01. He set it aside and crashed on his bed, tossing his watch back onto the nightstand next to Laia’s emerald pendant. He inspected the strange gift, weighing it in his hand and holding it up to light. “Maybe Noelle will like it,” he said, grabbing his phone. He was about to dial Deb’s number when a sudden chill ran down his spine.

He cracked open his door and scanned the common space, then crept to the kitchen. Empty. He turned his attention to Hunt’s bedroom, where a strip of pink sunlight stretched from the partially closed door. He slowly opened the door, peeking inside…