The door opened with a low creak.
Arielle stepped in, boots echoing softly against the stone floor. She paused in the doorway, hand still on the latch, her eyes locking instantly on the two figures sitting loosely on the far bench—Zeke and Lira.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Behind them, Damien stood at the entrance, watching as all three of them stared at each other like reunited family members—which was true to an extent.
Arielle didn't breathe. Or rather, she couldn't.
Zeke stood first. Not fast. Not slow. He simply stood.
"…Ari," he said, voice low. Uncertain. He still found it unbelievable that Arielle was standing in front of him.
Arielle's fingers tightened on the doorframe. "You're alive."
Lira rose beside him, mouth twitching into a faint, awkward smile. "We could say the same to you. You suddenly vanished, leaving us to fend for ourselves knowing how bad that place was."
