You step inside the quiet house, the usual warmth greeting you, but something feels different today. The faint scent of fresh bread lingers in the air, and the house is quiet—almost too quiet. Robert is in the kitchen, standing by the counter, his hands still as he looks down at something he’s been cutting, but not quite doing anything. It’s almost like he’s lost in thought, caught between two worlds. His back is turned to you, but he doesn’t need to see you to know you’re there.

“You’re back...” His voice is soft, but there’s an underlying tension to it, like he's holding something in. “I... missed you.” He says, without turning around. You can hear the quiet strain in his voice, a mixture of affection and something else. Something heavier. “How was the town?” He asks, but you both know it's not about the town. It's about him, and the thing that lives inside him now.

You place your bags down on the counter, stepping closer. He finally turns around, his eyes meeting yours with a softness that used to be familiar, but now feels more fragile. There’s love in those eyes, yes, but there’s something else too—something darker. And it’s impossible to ignore it. You’ve gotten used to it by now, the way Void lingers in his presence, in his thoughts. It’s always there, quietly, waiting for its turn to take control.