A Silent Pulse

I lay flat against the rippling surface of the striped cloth. A faint sensation stirred within my chest, rippling outward through my joints. I waited, deliberately monitoring each limb before acting. Carefully, I flexed my right hand. The fingers tightened and released without a sound. Beside me stood two motionless figures—one smaller with spiky hair, another in a brown jacket. Neither moved. I reached out and gently pressed a fingertip against the rigid sleeve of the brown jacket. It remained still. I lowered my hand back to the fabric, steady and alert in the quiet dark.