The darkness lingered like a living thing. Dust floated in the air, catching faint streaks of light from the broken windows. Ariana’s lungs burned, her chest tight, but she forced herself to inhale. Every sound was amplified: groans of the injured, the distant crash of debris, the quiet hum of the building settling after the chaos.
Adrian’s hand was still gripping hers, iron-tight, as if letting go could mean instant death. His eyes were wide, scanning the shadows, calculating, assessing. Every muscle in his body was coiled, alert, ready to strike.
“Are you okay?” he asked, voice low, almost hoarse.
Ariana swallowed. “I… I think so. But… What happened? Where are they?”
Adrian shook his head slowly. “Gone. For now. But they’ll be back. And they won’t come alone.”
Her stomach knotted. “
