After offering to disappear to the White Ash City for the following two days in pursuit of answers, the Council waste no time and accept my compromise to grant the City its much-needed reprieve – giving the mortal faction gifted time to rebuild their defences in my absence without the risk of the Nightcrawlers returning. Despite slowly beginning to sway behind the idea that they may not have been there solely for me last night, I stand behind my decision while listening to the others argue back and forth amongst themselves in a flurry of outspoken opinions on my already settled plan. Growing tired of the repetitive bickering rupturing throughout the hostile room, I rise from my seat and silently excuse myself from the meeting before turning to look back at the confused gazes of those in attendance as they quieten down at the sight of my movement - informing them that my plan still stands while I’ll aim to leave around mid-day tomorrow. Despite Elijah’s persistent attempt in

In a contemptuous manner, the aged woman ushers us out of the chamber furnished with hidden treasures while tutting derisively beneath her breath. Sensing the Oracle’s displeasure in our unauthorised venture, I decide to hold back on any questions arising within my mind concerning the enclosed crown sat waitingly behind the latched door in the departed distance, settling to save them for Marie and Blair whenever I see them next. With my head bent down, I remain silent as she marches me towards my shared room before taking Ash to his, leaving behind Dakota and myself to slump down onto our beds in bewilderment. “What happened back there?” Dakota leans over and begins unfastening her boots, peering up with curiosity as she undoes the knotted laces. “I-“ I pause while flopping backwards onto the dusty mattress wrapped in stiffened, unused sheets, “I genuinely don’t know,” I splutter loudly, waving the cloud of dust from in front of my face, “-I guess it kind of felt lik

As Sam takes a confident stride towards me, a vile smirk plays on his cut lips while he sneers wildly in my direction. I find myself stumbling back the further he ascends, a pained expression twisting across my face as I feel my chest slowly begin to cave in from the rapid panicked breaths fleeing it. Sam glares at me with a wrathful grimace while he wears a heavy frown; his head cocking to the side allowing his sunken features to come into view, the bulging scar brandishing his face tugging at his badly treated skin. I shudder while studying my former captor; swaying unsteadily as his sickening scent unwantedly drifts towards me in the gusting breeze causing my legs to waver from beneath me as they battle to withhold my weight – my voice muffled by the fear gripping me within its hold while all I can do is gawk back in horror. Sam’s cold eyes flicker around as he calculates his surroundings meticulously; observing my companions with a grim smile still cast upon his face as

I hold my breath with anticipation as the large room sits before me in impenetrable darkness that doesn’t seem to lift; my sight greatly limited while the vast space surrounding me finds itself exposed to the consuming shadows of the night outside, lit faintly by the gentle cast of the moon's broken glow barely entering through the thin arched windows stretching high at my sides. The soft light illuminates a small space before me as I step into its welcoming gaze, the sound of my reluctant footsteps echoing eerily around me while I tread delicately across the stone cobbled floor. The room remains still as I wrap my arms around myself; clutching them tightly against my chest in an attempt to prevent the continuation of my persistent trembling while I shuffle into the natural spotlight that awaits me, terrified of what to expect as I seem to be all alone despite the beckoning invitation I had received. Was the voice that I heard nothing but a trick? Is this another nightmare?

I manoeuvre effortlessly away from the attacking duo as the brainwashed soldiers battling in Sam’s aid scramble towards me in a blind, uncalculated rage. Stepping outside the imminent line of fire with less than a second to spare, I narrowly escape Blaine’s swinging claw as it hurtles down towards me while producing a sharp swooshing noise, disturbing the dusty air surrounding us even further than it already was. With my mind racing as it suddenly works overtime, I meticulously observe every detail unfolding around me while they take place and surface. Feeling my body slip into a state of flow, I give in to my instincts and begin to nimbly circle around my foes – far too quick for either of them to keep up. Becoming one with the desolate room and all the elements within it, I notice a new sensation sweep over me as an unexpected wave of tranquillity settles within—a strong serenity spreading throughout my being despite the looming danger making its way towards me, leaving me to feel