The silence was deafening. Logan and Ryan rushed to Mia’s side, their breaths ragged.
“Mia?” Ryan asked softly, shaking her shoulder.
Her eyes fluttered open, the crimson glow gone. She looked up at them, confusion and exhaustion in her gaze. “What… what happened?”
Anna dropped the book, tears streaming down her face. “You’re back. You’re really back.”
Mia’s expression crumpled, and she pulled Anna into a tight embrace. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to…”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Logan said firmly. “What matters is that you’re here now.”
As they helped Mia to her feet, Anna picked up the book, its glow now faint. “We’re not done yet,” she said, her voice steady. “We still have to return the anchors.”
The group exchanged determined glances. The path ahead was uncertain, but they knew one thing for sure: they would face it together.
The Anchors
The underworld seemed to ripple with unease as the group trudged forward, their steps heavy but resolute. The air was colder now, an
