Chapter EightAria’s POVMy world tore apart.A flash of pain exploded in my shoulder, a searing red bloom. The world inverted, lights, darkness, metallic taste, then everything stilled like a camera on pause. I fell to my knees, breath snagging, as the guard collapsed beside me. No sound but a reverberating heartbeat.Julian’s voice cut through the haze: “Aria!” His gloved hands slid under my arms, lifting me as if I weighed nothing. My head lolled, but his grip tightened, fingers pressing into my ribs.“We’re getting out.” His words were calm, urgent, bone-deep authority.I tried to speak, but my throat burned. My fingertips slid along his suit, tracing the stiff lines that define him, my anchor in chaos.We, staggering together, drifted through the pitch‑black corridor. Panic clawed through me. I couldn’t see the exit. Couldn’t feel the floor. Just Julian, unwavering, unwavering.A faint red glow pulsed ahead, exit signs on the way out. But between us and safety, footsteps rushed b
Last Updated : 2025-07-12 Read more