As I listened to Kelven's voice, the warmth of his words wrapping around me like a comforting blanket, I felt myself growing increasingly weary, the weight of the day's events finally catching up to me. And as I leaned back against the door, the soft click of the latch echoing in the silence, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to succumb to the gentle embrace of sleep.

With hesitant steps, I approached the doorway, my eyes fixed on Kelven's stoic figure. But as I drew closer, I realized with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that I no longer knew what lay behind those cold, impassive eyes. The warmth and familiarity that had drawn me to him earlier had vanished, replaced by an unsettling sense of distrust and uncertainty.

away the almost still whole toast, I was on my way to the bathroom when a sharp knock on the door froze me completely. Loud noises had become a trigger for me; my mind always aware of my surroundings, even in my own apartment, and my ears picked up every sound around me which made loud noises in particular intensify.3Three more bangs on the door followed shortly after, making every muscle in my body stiffen."Emma, I know you're in there. Open the hell up!" Kevin shouted from the hallway.5I flinched from the angry tone in his voice, but my heart restarted when I realized it was my best friend on the other side of the door.For a short while, I hesitated to let him in, unsure if letting him in would be a smart idea. He had made me overthink every choice I made; worse than I've ever overthought before.When Kevin continued to create noises, I knew I either had to open the door, or he could damn well kick it in with the force he was using behind his knocks."I'm not asking again, Emma. Open the fucking door." When he banged extra hard, enough to make the wooden door tremble, I hurried towards it.3"I'm coming!" I shouted back as I gave the door a hasty inspection. I'd thought the wood was thick enough, stable enough, to handle a few kicks, but now I wasn't so sure, and that made my pulse soar. If he truly wanted to get inside no matter the consequences, would I truly have been safe? Was I just kidding myself the entire time with the extra lock and the bolt?4YOU'LL ALSO LIKEYes, Master2.9M94.9K| MATURE CONTENT | "You are fuckíng mine. Do you understand that?" That harsh growl echoed in my head.. His words scarring my mind. I could feel the heat of h...Lusting After Lucifer (18+) ☑259K2.5KThis is an erotic romance. Recommended 18+! Completed. Excerpt: His mouth was back on mine in an instant, the door behind us rattling loudly as he thrust against me. &qu...Not So Delicate ||18+67.4K1.5K"Bastard." She whispered. "Your bastard." He whispered back. ~~~~~~~~★~~~~~~~~ A shy at first girl but wild once you get to know her. Her innocence i...My Master, My Husband (BOOK 1)803K14.4KTHIS BOOK IS 18+/ NOW ON KINDLE VELLA WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS! "Alright, I'll tell you the rules twice, and I'll need you to memorize them, write them down and give t...Yes, Sirs (Book 1 of Desire's Den)62.3M1.4M"You were ours from the second we saw you," he stated as if I didn't have a choice in it, and the truth was, I didn't need to because he was right. I was their...The Debt1.9M62.2KThe anticipation is too much. I found myself praying for The Boss just to say something, anything. "Strip." Anything but that. My eyes widened to sau...JAKE'S UNDOING (18+) ✔ (LOVE AND OBSESSION...7.4K88Jake despised weak women, especially women who showed interest in him. A strong and independent woman was what could drive the beast in him, but there was Cassie. Adopte...When I finally opened it, I was greeted with a wild-looking Kevin. His hair was going in all directions as if he'd put his fingers through it too many times, and his eyes were wide and kind of crazy."What's gotten into you?" I asked, feeling wide-eyed myself as I took in his anxious form.He barged inside the second there was space enough for him to do so. No 'hello', no 'how are you'. He simply pushed his way inside my apartment.1"What's gotten into me?" he practically yelled, growing almost hysteric. I hurriedly closed the door; worried the other tenants were going to call the cops with all the noise going on."I'll tell you what's gotten into me. I had to hear from your ex-boyfriend that you were fucking attacked at work. Do you have any idea how that felt? Not knowing that my best friend was assaulted. I'll answer, it felt like hell, because I wasn't there for you, and I wouldn't even have known about it if Callan hadn't called me." His rant started out angry and harsh, but his voice broke at the end, the sound of it contained the type of hurt I never wanted to hear from Kevin.

Then all effort ceased. I relaxed. Even my legs felt limp; and a blackness swept over my brain.It wiped out fear; it wiped out terror. There was no more panic. It was quiet and peaceful.Nothing to be afraid of. This is nice... to be drowsy... to go to sleep... no need to jump... tootired to jump... it’s nice to be carried gently... to float along in space... tender arms aroundme... tender arms like Mother’s... now I must go to sleep... I crossed to oblivion, and thecurtain of life fell.i) Choose the best option with reference to the two statements given below:Statement 1: The author tried his best to jump out of the water.Statement 2: After a while, the author was not anxious in the water.A. If statement 1 is the cause, statement 2 is the effect.B. If statement 1 is the effect, statement 2 is the cause.C. Both statements are the effects of a common cause.D. Both statements are the effects of independent causes.ii)The ‘curtain (of life) fell’ corresponds to an aspect ofA. geometryB. historyC. sportsD. dramaiii) The purpose of using ‘...’ (ellipsis) in the above passage is toA. show omissionB. indicate pauseC. shorten a dialogueD. replace an ideaiv) Which of the following options indicate that the poet lost consciousness?A. ‘It was quiet and peaceful’B. ‘Tender arms like Mother’s’.C. ‘I crossed to oblivion.’D. ‘It wiped out fear’v) Why do you think Douglas stopped attempting to come to the pool?vi) Do you think Douglas accepted his death by drowning

I snuggled into the blanket. The added weight around my torso and legs made me feel secure, like it was grounding me as much as the guys did. Or maybe it was the alcohol that was doing it. I took another sip just in case."Sweetheart," Callan broke the silence with a soft voice. "I don't know what's been going on with you, but I need to ask you, are you okay? Truly okay?" It sounded like it had been a tough question to ask, like maybe he was afraid of the answer.My mouth opened, ready to tell him I was fine and that he didn't need to worry, but...I was sick and tired of all the lies; there had been too much lying between us since I met them, though now, it was two-sided. So instead of continuing lying, I let out a breath I'd been holding in for weeks, and then, I shook my head and gave them the answer I had wanted to say to anyone and everyone for a long time. "I don't...These weeks have been a lot and, I'm...I'm just so tired."16It was almost like Callan looked relieved, as if he'd expected dishonesty. Clearly, I wasn't fine, and they could see that, but it was another thing for me to finally admit to it.Callan put his arm around me and gathered me against his side, still mindful about the handholding with Mateo. This was...this felt nice. Warmth massed inside my chest, and it flared until my entire body glowed with it.This. The peace...the quiet...the safety. I'd missed this.Of course, just as I was reveling in this feeling and began to relax, the door flew open, and an angry looking Gideon stormed inside. It almost made me flinch, but I was too exhausted to move.Gideon took note of our cozy position, and for just a split second, the anger washed away and was replaced by something I couldn't quite grasp before his jaw tightened once more. It couldn't have been fondness, could it?"Do you want to tell us what the hell this is?" Gideon demanded, slamming a piece of paper on the table in front of us. My stomach twisted as the words from him stared back at me.6Keep your promise my dear, and I'll keep mine. I am always watching. 52

from The Somnambulistby George MacDonaldOne night I was sitting in my room, devouring an old romance which I had brought from the library. It was late. The fire blazed bright; but the candles were nearly burnt out, and I grew sleepy.Suddenly I found myself on my feet, listening with agony. Whether I had heard anything I could not tell; but I felt as if I had. Yes; I was sure of it. Far away, I heard a faint cry. Driven by some secret impulse, I flew, without a moment’s reflection, to the door, and stood in the great echoing hall, amid the touches, light and ghostly, of the cobwebs set afloat in the eddies occasioned by my sudden entrance.A faded moonbeam fell on the floor, and filled the place with an ancient dream-light, which wrought strangely on my brain, and filled it, as if it, too, were but a deserted, sleepy house, haunted by old dreams and memories. Recollecting myself, I went back for a light; but the candles were both flickering in the sockets, and I was compelled to trust to the moon. I ascended the staircase. Old as it was, not a board creaked, not a banister shook—the whole felt solid as rock. Finding, at length, no more stair to ascend, I groped my way on; for here there was no direct light from the moon—only the light of the moonlit air. I was in some trepidation, I confess; for how should I find my way back? At length, after wandering into several rooms and out again, my hand fell on a latched door. I opened it, and entered a long corridor, with many windows on one side. Broad strips of moonlight lay slantingly across the narrow floor, divided by regular intervals of shade.I started, and my heart swelled; for I saw a movement somewhere—I could neither tell where, nor of what: I was only aware of motion. I stood in the first shadow, and gazed, but saw nothing. I sped across the light to the next shadow, and stood again, looking with fearful fixedness of gaze towards the far end of the corridor. Suddenly a white form glimmered and vanished. I crossed to the next shadow. Again a glimmer and vanishing, but nearer. Nerving myself to the utmost, I ceased the stealthiness of my movements, and went forward, slowly and steadily. A tall form, apparently of a woman, dressed in a long white robe, appeared in one of the streams of light, threw its arms over its head, gave a wild cry—which, notwithstanding its wildness and force, had a muffled sound, as if many folds, either of matter or of space, intervened—and fell at full length along the moonlight. Amidst the thrill of agony which shook me at the cry, I rushed forward, and, kneeling beside the prostrate figure, discovered that, unearthly as was the scream which had preceded her fall, it was the Lady Alice. I saw the fact in a moment: the Lady Alice was a somnambulist.* . . .*a sleep-walker5Select ALL the correct answers.In which two ways does the author best create suspense in the story? by setting the scene late at night in a large, dark house without lights through the descriptive elements of moonlight, shadow, movement, and form through the interplay of thoughts, dreams, and memories of the narrator by suggesting the unfamiliarity of the narrator with his surroundings by focusing on the rooms of the house through which the story progresses