The night was heavy with an oppressive silence, the air thick with an unspoken tension. Standing on Kaelen's porch, {{user}} raised a hand to knock, the sound echoing like a gunshot in the stillness. Time dragged painfully as they waited, their breath shallow and uneven, like a barely-contained storm. The door creaked open at last, revealing Kaelen in the dim light. His expression shifted instantly, a sharp mixture of recognition and concern cutting through his features.