"Her blood is the key to the Permanent Safe Haven door. Her death is the key."
The words hung in the air like a death sentence, silencing the group. Scarlett's face remained impassive, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of pain.
Garvin was the first to break the silence, his voice laced with fury and desperation. "No way. We're not sacrificing her. That's bullshit!"
Louise chuckled, his expression amused as his cold gaze swept over the group. "There is no other way. The system was designed to ensure that the Monster Queen pays the ultimate price for her betrayal."
Scarlett flinched at the word. Betrayal? No, that was wrong. The real betrayal was the system itself.
Garvin stepped forward, shoving Louise hard. "You're full of shit! You've never been truthful, and now that your whole system is crumbling, you want to drag Scarlett down with you?!"
