Chapter 69: The Aftermath
The silence after the battle was heavy.
Maya stood in the middle of the bar, her hands shaking, her heart pounding. The chaos had ended, but the wreckage remained. Broken glass glittered on the floor like deadly diamonds. Overturned furniture lay scattered like fallen soldiers. Blood stained the wood—dark, wet, still fresh. The smell of smoke and sweat and fear hung heavy in the air. It was a scene of devastation, a reminder of everything they'd nearly lost. And yet, they were still standing. They were still alive. They had survived. She could hear the ragged sound of her own breathing, the pounding of her own heart, the whispered voices of her family as they checked on each other. She could see the faces of the people she loved—bruised, battered, but alive. She
