LILYA
The shock of seeing Lucas standing there, in the midst of this strange and perilous trial, sent a jolt through me. It was as if the past and present collided in a tumultuous whirlwind of emotions.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice sharp with disbelief. "You're supposed to be far away from all this."
Lucas's expression was a mixture of surprise and concern, his eyes searching mine for answers. "Lilya, I heard about this place and... I couldn't just stay away. I needed to make sure you were DEAD, maybe safe."
Safe? The irony of his words hung heavy in the air. He was the last person who could offer me safety, after all he had done.
I couldn't help but feel a surge of anger, the memories of his betrayals flooding back. "Safe? You left me for dead, Lucas. You betrayed
