The Silent City

Chapter 27

Confessions Over Coffee

The soft hum of morning activity filled Isabelle’s house as the sun filtered through the large windows of the living room, casting a warm, golden light across the wooden floors. The room was spacious, modern, with plush couches, a wide coffee table strewn with magazines, and a fireplace that gave the space a cozy feel. The walls were decorated with family photos and framed art, adding a personal touch to the otherwise sleek decor.

Julia sat comfortably on the couch, her usual resting-bitch-face expression softened as she scrolled through her phone. She wore a casual oversized hoodie, her legs curled beneath her as she sipped from a steaming mug of coffee. Max lay at her feet, his golden fur shining in the sunlight, the loyal dog always staying close to Isabelle after the unsettling events of the past week.

Isabelle emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray of breakfast croissants and fruit, setting it down on the coffee table before plopping down beside Julia with a sigh. "So, you won’t believe what happened at the café yesterday,” she began, nibbling on a piece of fruit, her eyes still clouded with the confusion she felt from the encounter with John.

Julia raised an eyebrow, her fingers still tapping on her phone. "Oh no. Don’t tell me you got yourself into another weird situation," she teased, her dry tone making Isabelle smile slightly.

“Not exactly... well, maybe?” Isabelle leaned back against the couch, her fingers running absently through her hair. “John texted me out of the blue, saying he wanted to meet, so I took Max and went to the café to see him.”

Julia set her phone down, now giving Isabelle her full attention. “John? That’s kinda random, isn’t it? You two don’t hang out one-on-one much.”

“Exactly,” Isabelle agreed, picking at her croissant. “But that’s not even the weird part. When Max saw him, he just... freaked out. I’ve never seen him act like that. He growled the entire time and wouldn’t settle down. Max loves everyone.”

Julia frowned, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “Max? Growling at John? That’s strange. He usually only growls when he senses danger.”

“I know! And I kept trying to calm him down, but he just wouldn’t. And the whole time, John was kind of... off. Like, distant. It felt weird being around him.”

Julia took a sip of her coffee, clearly deep in thought. “What do you mean by ‘off’? Was he acting weird or something?”

Isabelle nodded slowly, trying to find the right words to describe the strange tension she had felt. “I don’t know... it was like he wasn’t really there. His mind was somewhere else, and when we talked, he wasn’t really engaging like he usually does. I tried to brush it off, but Max’s behavior kept bothering me. Like he was sensing something I couldn’t.”

Julia leaned back, crossing her arms. “Well, animals are good at sensing vibes, and Max is definitely one of the smarter ones.” She glanced down at Max, who lay calmly at their feet now, his ears twitching as if he was still alert. “Maybe John’s just going through something, though? I mean, we all have our days.”

Isabelle bit her lip, unsure. “Maybe. But it was more than that. Max kept growling until we left, and I swear, I felt... off too. Like something wasn’t right.”

Julia gave her a sideways look, her lips quirking into a slight smirk. “So, what you’re telling me is, your cute, fluffy golden retriever is now an expert in human psychology?”

Isabelle laughed, throwing a small cushion at Julia. “Shut up! You know what I mean.”

Julia caught the cushion, chuckling. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. Seriously though, do you think John is in some kind of trouble?”

“I don’t know,” Isabelle admitted. “But I just can’t shake this feeling that something’s wrong. I mean, Max’s instincts have never been wrong before.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the only sound in the room the gentle ticking of the clock on the wall and the faint noises of the world outside—a car passing by, birds chirping in the distance. The warmth of the room contrasted with the unease swirling in Isabelle’s chest.

Julia broke the silence with a thoughtful hum. “Maybe you should keep an eye on John for a bit. See if anything else seems off. If Max reacts like that again, there might really be something to it.”

Isabelle nodded, though the idea of keeping tabs on John felt strange. They were friends, after all. But after everything that had happened in the city recently—the murders, the attack in the alleyway—her trust in things being normal was shaken.

Max shifted from his spot at Julia’s feet, his ears perking up as he nuzzled against Isabelle’s leg. She reached down to pet him, the feel of his soft fur calming her slightly. “I just hope it’s nothing. I mean, with everything going on... I don’t need more reasons to freak out.”

Julia smirked, giving her a nudge with her elbow. “Hey, you’ve got me. And you’ve got Ethan too, which I’m guessing you haven’t told me the full story about yet.” She wiggled her eyebrows playfully, causing Isabelle to blush.

“Okay, fine,” Isabelle said, rolling her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips. “Ethan and I... we’re dating now. We didn’t want to make a big deal of it, but... yeah, we’re together.”

Julia’s eyes lit up with amusement. “Well, it’s about damn time! I was wondering how long it would take for you two to finally admit you’re into each other.”

Isabelle giggled, her cheeks turning a bit pink. “It wasn’t like that! We just... it kind of happened, okay?”

“Uh-huh,” Julia teased, leaning forward with a mischievous grin. “So, how’s it been? He treating you well? You guys all lovey-dovey yet?”

“Stop!” Isabelle laughed, hiding her face in her hands. “It’s only been a couple of weeks! But yeah... he’s been really sweet.”

Julia leaned back, crossing her arms with a satisfied look. “Good. You deserve someone who’s going to treat you right, and Ethan’s a good guy. But you better tell me everything, or I’ll just have to corner him myself.”

Isabelle grinned, shaking her head. “You’re terrible, you know that?”

Julia shrugged with a playful smirk. “That’s why you love me.”

The two of them shared a laugh, the heavy mood from earlier lifting slightly as they returned to their usual banter. The sunlight streamed through the windows, casting soft shadows on the walls as they chatted about everything from their classes to their friends, the conversation flowing naturally between them.

For a moment, Isabelle felt at ease. She didn’t know what was going on with John, and the fear from the alleyway still lurked at the back of her mind, but here, with Julia and Max by her side, things felt a little more normal. And after everything she’d been through, she would take any sense of normalcy she could get.

As they sat there, surrounded by the warmth of the home and the comfort of their friendship, Isabelle hoped that whatever lay ahead, she wouldn’t have to face it alone.