CHAPTER SEVEN – A NEW HOUSEMATE

The clinking of silverware and the warm hum of conversation came to a halt as Kayla's phone buzzed on the table. A quick glance at the screen sent a jolt through her. It was Lance. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a sudden premonition of something unpleasant settling in her stomach. With a forced smile, she excused herself and stepped out to the porch to answer the call. "Kayla," Lance's voice crackled through the receiver, his tone clipped and curt. "Get back to the apartment. Now." Before she could even ask a question, the call ended abruptly, leaving her with a gnawing sense of unease. Her mother's concerned voice broke through the fog. "Everything alright, honey?" Susan asked, stepping out onto the porch. Kayla forced a laugh, the sound brittle and strained. "Everything's fine, Mom," she lied. "Just Lance, he wants to surprise me with something for dinner. Apparently, he forgot to tell me." Susan's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. "That sounds