𝗟𝗨𝗥𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 》𝙗𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙪𝙨 ✓ [𝟏]

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𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟰: 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵

-PROOFREAD-

The sun peered over the horizon, its golden rays slowly filtering through the blinds and casting long shadows across the room. Vera stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she adjusted to the new day. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, stretching languidly before padding barefoot into the main room. Her eyes swept the space, noting the unusual quiet. "Where's Roxie and Dave?" she asked, her voice still husky with sleep.

Ben, already awake and curled up on a couch, didn't look up from his task. His pencil moved in swift, sure strokes across the paper as he replied, "They left a note, they'll be gone for a couple of hours."

Curiosity piqued, Vera crossed the room and peered over Ben's shoulder. "Whatcha drawing?" she inquired, sinking into the cushions beside him.

Ben's face lit up with pride as he tilted the paper for her to see better. "Me and Bumpy," he announced, his voice filled with warmth.

Vera's smile faltered for a moment as memories of Wu's lab flooded back. She could almost hear the clinical detachment in Dr. Wu's voice as he spoke about the baby dinosaurs. Shaking her head to dispel the unsettling thoughts, she refocused on Ben's drawing just as the others began to stir.