"I know you told me not to apologize again, Nox," Lilith began, her voice trembling as she stared at the floor. "But I need to say it. I'm sorry. Crimson and I have something important to tell all of you, and if it weren't for that, I wouldn't even be here." She lifted her head, her expression full of regret.
Lilith's hand was still placed, on Nox's shoulder. "I just… I just hope we can go back to the way things used to be."
Nox's eyes flicked to Lilith's hand, then to her face. A deep frown tugged at her lips as she shrugged Lilith's hand away. Her voice was cold, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of pain. "We might have reconnected, but let me tell you something, Lilith Lightwood." She paused, her voice dropping lower. "When you break a jar and try to mend it, it might hold its shape, but the water will always leak out. That's my answer."
Lilith opened her mouth to reply, but Nox raised a hand to silence her. Turning away, Nox added sharply, "Now, Crimson—whatever you want to say, just say it. Don't act like it's how things used to be, Now is just Sebastian and I." Her voice cracked slightly, and before Lilith could stop her, she wiped at her eyes and walked away, leaving Lilith behind to reflect on her words.
The tension around the round table was palpable, despite the spread of delicious meals in front of them. Gale leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs lazily and moving to prop them up on the table, but Lilith jabbed him sharply with her elbow.
"Cut it out," she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Grumbling, Gale sat properly but shot her a withering glance. Meanwhile, Crimson was too busy wolfing down food to notice.
Lilith leaned toward him, her voice low. "Crimson, I told Nox we needed to tell them about it."
Crimson paused mid-bite, swallowing hastily. "We already said sorry," he muttered back, his tone dismissive.
Lilith shook her head, her expression firm. "Not that. Miles."
Crimson's eyes widened slightly, and he choked on his drink, drawing everyone's attention. Gale raised an eyebrow and let out an exaggerated scoff. "Really, Crimson? And you want to talk about my manners?"
Sebastian chuckled lightly, the corners of his lips curling into a nostalgic smile. "This really does feel like old times," he remarked.
Nox, however, wasn't amused. She pushed her chair back with a sharp screech, standing abruptly. "I don't have time for this," she said coolly, turning to leave.
"Nox, wait," Crimson said, standing quickly. His voice carried a weight that made her pause, though her back remained turned to him. "Please, sit. We have something important to tell all of you, and we need your help."
Nox hesitated, her hand resting on the back of her chair. The room fell silent, the tension thick as everyone watched her. Slowly, she turned her head, her piercing gaze meeting Crimson's.
"This better be worth it," she said flatly, before sitting back down, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
Crimson exhaled, stealing a glance at Lilith before facing the group. "Trust me—it is."
Miles blinked, his vision swimming as his eyes adjusted to the blinding brightness above him. A smooth, white ceiling came into focus, sterile and unfamiliar. The faint hum of something mechanical buzzed in the air, setting his nerves on edge.
With a start, he jolted upright, his heart pounding as the realization hit—he was no longer in the forest.
With a start, he jolted upright, his heart pounding as the realization hit—he was no longer in the forest.
His eyes darted around the room, scanning his surroundings. The walls were pristine and white, almost unnervingly so, giving the space a clinical feel. To his right, a large landscape-shaped glass panel stretched across the wall, its surface faintly reflective but offering no hint of what lay beyond. To his left, a plain metal door stood closed, unmarked and foreboding.
The only other object in the room was the bed he sat on—narrow, with stiff sheets and a cold, steel frame. Miles' breath quickened as he swung his legs over the side, his bare feet touching the cool, smooth floor.
Where am I? he thought, his pulse racing as his mind scrambled for answers. His last memory of the forest and Vondak's shadowy chaos felt like a distant nightmare, but the faint burns on his back told him otherwise.
Miles clenched his fists, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Whatever's going on, I need to stay sharp, he thought, forcing the rising unease back down.
He rose from the bed, and approached the door cautiously. Sliding it open, he found himself face-to-face with a woman dressed in pristine white. Her expression was calm, almost clinical, but there was a flicker of surprise in her eyes as she spoke.
"Oh, you're awake," she said, her tone polite but firm. "If I were you, I'd return to your bed." Without waiting for a response, she gently ushered him back toward the narrow cot.
Miles hesitated but complied, sitting down on the edge of the bed as she turned to leave. "Wait," he called out, his voice cutting through the sterile silence. "Where am I?"
The woman paused and turned back, offering him a small, professional smile. "Welcome to Alpha Dawn Terrace Hospital," she said smoothly. "The doctor will be with you shortly."
Miles watched as she exited the room, the door sliding shut behind her with a faint hiss. For a moment, the name lingered in his mind: Alpha Dawn.
Lying back against the stiff mattress, he stared at the white ceiling, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Don't worry, Laurel," he murmured to himself. "Wherever you are… I'll find you."