429: LURKING THREAT

ARIEL'S POV The next morning, I woke up to the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains, bringing about an awesome golden glow in the room. As I stirred, I realized that Luke was still sleeping peacefully beside me, his breathing steady and even. I gently extricated myself from his embrace, careful not to wake him as I tiptoed out of bed. My mind was still foggy with sleep as I made my way to the bathroom, hoping that a splash of cold water on my face would help clear my thoughts. Turning on the faucet, I leaned over the sink and cupped my hands under the water, splashing it onto my face. The cool liquid felt refreshing against my skin, washing away the remnants of sleep and leaving me feeling more awake. As I reached for the towel to dry my face, I caught a glimpse of movement in the mirror behind me. My heart skipped a beat as I turned around, expecting to see Luke standing there. But to my horror, there was someone else in the reflection. Behind me, a figure in a