The Tension Mounts

  Arin’s heart pounded as he stood face-to-face with his parents. His mother’s sharp gaze softened slightly, but his father’s remained piercing, his arms crossed in skepticism. Kian leaned casually against the wall, watching the drama unfold with an amused grin.

  “Well?” his father pressed, his deep voice cutting through the silence. “Who was that girl, Arin? And what exactly is going on in here?”

  Arin scrambled for an explanation, his mind racing. “She’s… uh… a friend from college,” he stammered.

  His mother tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. “A friend? Leaving your room so early in the morning? And she didn’t even say hello to us?”

  Kian snickered under his breath. “Yeah, Arin. Such a polite friend.”

  Arin shot him a glare before turning back to his parents. “She’s… working on a project with me. It’s for a class. We were up late brainstorming, and she crashed here for the night. That’s all.”

  ---

  Divided Opinions

  Arin’s mother exchanged a glance with his father, her expression softening. “That sounds reasonable,” she said with a small smile. “College projects can be exhausting. I remember when your dad and I—”

  “Exhausting?!” his father interrupted, his voice tinged with disbelief. “Nina, this isn’t about a college project. This is about our son having a girl sneak out of his room at sunrise.”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “Calm down, Ray,” Nina replied, waving her hand dismissively. “They’re adults. It’s not like he’s a teenager sneaking around anymore.”

  Ray’s frown deepened. “Nina, you’re too trusting. Something’s off here, and I want to know the truth.”

  Arin’s palms grew sweaty as his father’s eyes bore into him. He knew Ray wouldn’t let this go easily.

  ---

  A Sarcastic Interruption

  Kian, never one to miss an opportunity, stepped forward with a dramatic bow. “Ladies and gentlemen, if I may, allow me to clear up this scandalous situation. The girl in question is—brace yourselves—a mythical figure aiding us in a magical quest involving a feather and a deadly game. True story.”

  Arin’s mother laughed, shaking her head. “Oh, Kian, you’ve always had such an imagination. You should write novels!”

  Ray, however, was not amused. “This isn’t a joke, Kian.”

  “Neither is the feather game, Ray,” Kian retorted with a sly grin. “But hey, if you’re curious, I’m sure Arin would love to show you.”

  ---

  A Quick Exit

  Arin stepped in, desperate to end the conversation. “Okay, okay. Look, I get it. You’re worried. But seriously, there’s nothing going on. Lyra—uh, my friend—just needed a place to stay while we worked. That’s all. Can we drop this now?”

  Nina nodded, placing a hand on her husband’s arm. “Ray, let it go. He’s telling the truth.”

  Ray sighed, his frown softening slightly. “Fine. But I’m keeping my eye on you, Arin.”

  With that, his parents left the room, though Ray shot him one last suspicious glance before closing the door.

  ---

  The Aftermath

  The moment the door shut, Arin collapsed onto his bed, letting out a long sigh of relief.

  “Well, that went smoothly,” Kian said, grinning as he flopped onto a chair. “Your dad looked like he was about to interrogate you under a spotlight.”

  “Not helping, Kian,” Arin muttered.

  Kian shrugged. “Hey, you’re the one who dragged me into this feather mess. I’m just here for the ride.”

  Arin groaned, rubbing his temples. The situation with his parents was bad enough, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Lyra’s presence—and whatever was happening in the game—was going to complicate things even more.

  ---

  To Be Continued...