The room is quieter now.
Too quiet.
Like everyone is waiting for something they don't understand yet.
⸻
Thorian shifts slightly on the bed.
Still weak.
But his eyes are clearer now.
Focused.
⸻
He's staring at Aurora.
Not casually.
Intentionally.
⸻
"Aurora."
Her name lands differently this time.
Not light.
Not teasing.
⸻
Everyone looks between them.
Aurora raises a brow slightly. "Yeah?"
⸻
Thorian doesn't look away.
"Who are you?"
⸻
Silence.
Immediate.
Heavy.
⸻
Kaida frowns. "What kind of question is that?"
⸻
But Thorian doesn't respond to her.
Still looking at Aurora.
⸻
"I saw her," he says quietly.
That shifts everything.
⸻
Lyrelle's voice drops. "…Saph?"
⸻
Thorian nods slightly.
"She said something didn't add up."
A pause.
Then—
"She said we're missing something."
⸻
Aurora exhales softly.
Not nervous.
Just… deciding.
⸻
Zyren notices. "Aurora."
A warning.
Or an invitation.
⸻
Aurora looks around at all of them.
Then back at Thorian.
⸻
"You're smarter than you look," she says lightly.
Trying to deflect.
⸻
Ryan frowns. "Just answer the question."
⸻
Aurora tilts her head.
Like she's considering how much to say.
⸻
"…does it matter?" she asks.
⸻
"Yes," Thorian says.
No hesitation.
⸻
Silence again.
Longer this time.
⸻
Aurora's smile fades.
Just a little.
⸻
"…fine."
⸻
She crosses her arms slightly.
Not defensive.
Just grounding herself.
⸻
"I'm Saph's cousin."
⸻
The room goes still.
⸻
Kyra blinks. "What?"
⸻
Summer straightens. "That's not funny."
⸻
"I'm not joking," Aurora replies calmly.
⸻
Lyrelle's brows pull together. "Saph never mentioned you."
⸻
Aurora gives a small shrug.
"She didn't like me."
That lands awkwardly.
⸻
Ryan mutters, "Yeah… that sounds like her."
⸻
Aurora continues.
"I came to stay with her and my aunt. Same time all this started."
⸻
Jake frowns. "Then how did we not—"
⸻
"The sleepover," Aurora cuts in.
All eyes snap to her.
⸻
"At Lyrelle's house," she says.
"I was there."
⸻
Lyrelle's eyes widen slightly. "No, you weren't—"
⸻
"I was," Aurora says simply.
"You just didn't notice."
⸻
Silence.
Uncomfortable.
⸻
Zyren's expression sharpens now. "You were watching."
⸻
Aurora meets his gaze.
"Yes."
⸻
Kaida steps back slightly. "That's… weird."
⸻
Aurora doesn't argue.
"I followed her sometimes," she adds.
"Saph."
⸻
Kyra's voice shakes. "Why would you do that?"
⸻
Aurora pauses.
This is the part she doesn't rush.
⸻
"Because after she died…" she says slowly,
"…my aunt thought it wasn't just an accident."
⸻
The air shifts.
⸻
Ryan exhales. "Of course she did."
⸻
Aurora nods once.
"She didn't want the police involved anymore."
⸻
Jake frowns. "Wait—what?"
⸻
"She stopped it," Aurora says.
"She said she wanted the truth… her own way."
⸻
Lyrelle whispers, "So she sent you?"
⸻
Aurora looks at her.
"Not forced."
A pause.
"I agreed."
⸻
"Why?" Kaida asks.
⸻
Aurora hesitates for the first time.
Just slightly.
⸻
"…at first?" she says.
"For her."
⸻
Then quieter:
"But after a while…"
Her eyes flick across them.
"…I realized you weren't what I expected."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Ryan looks at her carefully.
Then says:
"Wow."
A small shake of his head.
⸻
"You actually look a lot like Saph."
⸻
That line hangs there.
Different now.
Heavier.
⸻
Aurora gives a faint smile.
Not proud.
Not sad.
Just… accepting.
⸻
"I know."
⸻
Thorian watches her closely.
"So you stayed."
⸻
Aurora nods.
"Yes."
⸻
Zyren's voice is low.
"And the Game?"
⸻
Aurora's expression sharpens slightly.
"I didn't create it."
Clear.
Firm.
⸻
"But you understand it," he says.
⸻
She holds his gaze.
"…better than most of you did at first."
⸻
Lyrelle exhales slowly.
Everything is connecting now.
⸻
"You were waiting," she says.
⸻
Aurora doesn't deny it.
⸻
"I wanted the truth," she replies.
⸻
A pause.
Then softer:
"…and maybe to be part of something."