Artemio woke to the sound of commotion coming from the nearby house in the General's Quarters.
Still groggy, he pushed himself out of bed and walked toward the window. His bedroom was on the third floor, giving him a clear view of the road below.
He pulled the curtain aside just enough to peer through the gap.
A sleek electric vehicle had stopped in front of the neighboring house.
It was one of the newest models permitted on Isla—a compact four-seater SUV powered entirely by electricity. Its silent motor made barely a sound as it came to a stop, a sharp contrast to the voices and footsteps now stirring the quiet morning.
Then the passenger door opened.
A woman stepped out.
Artemio froze.
Madeline.
She stepped out of the car in a pale yellow dress, the color almost luminous beneath the soft morning sun. Her hair was twisted into a careless bun, with a few loose strands brushing her cheeks as the breeze moved around her.
Artemio's breath caught.
It was ridiculous.
