A sharp, high-pitched whistle tore through the apartment, cutting through the quiet hum of the television.
"Ben, I think it's burning!" Ashley's panicked voice followed immediately after, filled with both urgency and pure inexperience.
From the living room, Adam glanced toward the kitchen, a smirk creeping onto his face as he shook his head. He leaned back against the couch, watching the scene on the TV unfold like an episode of a sitcom.
The bedroom door swung open, and Benjamin emerged with his damp hair still clinging to his forehead. He had barely taken a step before Ashley's voice hit him again.
"Ben!"
His eyes darted toward the kitchen, and in an instant, he was moving, his feet padding quickly against the floor.
The moment he stepped in, he froze. Ashley stood in front of the stove, her hands hovering uselessly in the air, as if unsure whether to touch anything or just let the impending disaster happen.
