Ethan woke up as the first rays of the morning sun cut through the curtains. He felt refreshed, his energy core humming with a steady, quiet power. He dressed quickly and headed downstairs, expecting the usual morning bustle of the inn.
Instead, he found the lobby eerily quiet. The shelves were bare, the decorative trinkets gone, and the furniture covered in white sheets. Helen was standing by the front desk, looking smaller than usual amidst the emptiness.
"What happened here? Everything is... gone," said Ethan.
"I'm ready, Etienne. I closed the deal last night. I sold everything—the furniture, the stock, the goodwill. I only asked the buyer to let me keep the rooms for us until this morning. Whenever you're ready to leave, I'm ready," said Helen.
