After what felt like an eternity of waiting—or rather, being forced to wait, because time in this place always seemed to move backward—my ears were finally graced with the sound of hurried footsteps. Rushing, as if chased by a debt collector, or perhaps, yes, a real monster. Who else could it be but them? It didn't take a genius to figure it out.
A moment later, the door hissed open, revealing the figures I had already anticipated. How 'surprised' I was. Without preamble or unnecessary theatrics, I immediately averted my gaze—attempting to feign indifference, though a slight, strange flutter stirred in my mind.
Seriously, is this for real?
