The ringing wouldn’t relent as Alyssalee struggled to maintain consciousness. Her vision was as clear as her hearing. The bright red blood against all the gray contrasted sharply in her blurred vision. Had Sophie killed all of them? She tried to regain her feet but fell backward against a large chunk of the crumbled wall.
She heard a voice in the distance. Immediate recognition of her teacher’s Italian intonation provided relief from her panic. Attempting again, she raised to a slump, supporting herself with her hands on her knees. She squinted, trying to discern if Sophie was still present in the cell block. She vaguely made out the white and gray swirls of her essence lingering above the entrance. As her vision slowly returned, she also made out several figures at the entrance—weapons t
