The moon hung high above the lake, gleaming like a silver coin tossed into the heavens. The air was still, except for the faint hum of crickets and the occasional rustle of the trees surrounding the clearing.
Midnight had settled over the land.
Back at the warehouse, hundreds of women slept soundly, sprawled across makeshift hay beds that had been quickly thrown together after the exhausting ordeal.
The once loud place was now a scene of strange serenity—soft breathing, the occasional sleepy giggle, and quiet murmurs of dreams that still carried Cassius's name.
A few women whispered in hushed tones to each other, reminiscing with flushed cheeks and starry eyes about the night's events, how incredible it had been, how unbelievable Cassius was.
"Honestly, I don't even care about the payment anymore." One said, sighing dreamily as she hugged her blanket. "If he asked me to pay him, I'd do it."
