°•♡Chapter 76~ After the Silence

The hallway stretched in front of me like an endless tunnel. My sword stayed raised, pointed at the figure in the dark.

“Who’s there?” I asked again, sharper this time.

Footsteps.

Then a voice.

“It’s me,” she said, breathless. “It’s just me.”

Ansel stepped into the dim light, hands raised.

She looked like hell. Hair wild, clothes wrinkled and stained, a rip at her shoulder like someone had grabbed her. Dirt smudged her cheek.

She stopped a few steps away. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

My grip on the sword loosened. Just a little.

“What happened to you?"

“I—I left the twins for a second. Just a second, I swear. I went to use the restroom, and I heard something, a noise. I followed it…”

She hesitated, looking away.

“There was an intruder. He must’ve heard me following him. He jumped me. Locked me in one of the old storage rooms. The door jammed shut. I just got out.”

Her voice shook on the last part.

I took a step closer, scanning her face. Bruises. Fear.

“Are you hurt?” I asked.

“No