Cole
I looked at the clock on the wall, the seconds ticking away like a countdown to something I couldn't fully comprehend. The room felt stifling, the air thick with tension. Ivory sat across from me, her face calm, but her eyes filled with a determination that both reassured and terrified me. She always had that effect on me, able to ground me while simultaneously pushing me to the edge of my limits.
"Cole, we need to talk," Ivory said, her voice steady.
"I know," I replied, rubbing my temples. "But I'm not sure I can do this, Ivory. The idea of you going out there... even if it's just for show, it feels wrong. It feels dangerous."
Ivory reached across the table, placing her hand over mine. "I understand your fears, Cole. I really do. But the situation in Hollow Grove is spiralling o
