Chapter 44
The moment the door closed, everything disappeared.
Ariana could no longer see the mountain behind her. The cold wind that had followed her across the path vanished as if it had never existed. Even the sound of her own footsteps faded until there was nothing left.
There was only silence.
It was not the kind of silence she was used to. This silence felt heavy, like it had weight. It pressed against her skin and settled deep in her chest, making it harder to breathe.
Ariana stood still.
Her heart was beating fast, but she forced herself to stay calm. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a slow breath.
"I am still here," she whispered.
Her voice echoed.
But something about it felt wrong.
It sounded distant, like it did not fully belong to her. It came back to her ears slightly delayed, as if the space around her was bending sound itself.
Ariana opened her eyes slowly.
A faint light appeared in front of her.
Soft.
Golden.
