Chapter 86: The Calm Before the Storm

Ashley watched the sun rise from the front porch of the cabin, its warm, golden rays filtering through the dense trees. The soft chirping of birds was a stark contrast to the violence and chaos swirling in her mind. She felt a strange sense of calm, almost as if her body knew this was the quiet before everything fell apart. The peace of the forest was deceptive, a fragile illusion that she knew could be shattered at any moment.

Her thoughts drifted back to Amelia—her sister, her confidante, and the one person who had always stood by her side. The image of Amelia’s lifeless body haunted her relentlessly, pushing her deeper into her own anguish. How had everything gone so horribly wrong? She had come to this world of darkness and deceit to save her sister, only to lose her in the most tragic way possible.

But as painful as it was, Ashley knew she couldn’t afford to lose herself in grief. Amelia would have wanted her to keep fighting, to stay strong and see this through to the end. Adoni