Chapter 54

Chapter 54

As Calliope followed the nun through the halls of the orphanage, her steps felt lighter with each turn. The sound of children's laughter echoed in the air which was a completely diffrent feeling to the silence and despair she had once known in these very halls. The walls that are now painted in bright colors with cheerful murals, made it feel like an entirely different world—a place where innocence thrived rather than withered away.

A group of children ran past, playing a game of tag. They barely noticed Calliope as she passed, but she couldn't help smiling at their carefree energy. For a moment, she let herself breathe deeply, taking in the new life that had been breathed into this place. Clarke walked beside her, observing quietly but with a gentle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he noticed the tension beginning to ease from Calliope’s frame.

The nun guided them to the courtyard, where more children played beneath the shade of large, leafy trees. It was seren