VALERIE
Everything was happening too fast. My mind struggled to keep up with the chaos, the smoke thick in the air, making it hard to breathe, hard to think. My body ached, every muscle weak and trembling as I stared at Hunter, barely hanging on, blood dripping steadily onto the cold floor beneath him. Aiden stood over us, a sick grin plastered on his face, like he was savoring every second of our suffering.
And Caleb—Caleb was trapped, caught between the impossible choice that Aiden had thrown at him like a twisted game. Save Hunter or save me. He looked at us, eyes wild, panicked, desperate. He couldn’t decide. He shouldn’t have to. But I knew what I had to do.
“Caleb,” I whispered, barely able to lift my head. My voice was weak, but I forced the words out, my throat raw from the smok
