121. Acceptance?

Layla walked slowly down the stairs, keeping her ears open to hear what was happening.

She still felt something pulling her back to Jackson but forced herself to continue. Admitting what she had done would need a little fortification first.

The house was quieter than she had expected. Instead of wails like last time, there were only soft, whispered words. Instead of the pain and grief, there was a sense of calm and peace.

That meant no one had died. She hadn’t caused any more deaths.

Hope flared up inside her but she squashed it down. She didn’t want to tempt fate. Maybe they hadn’t been on the brink of death as she had suspected. Even Jackson had woken up after a day and not weeks like the last time.

Still, relief and hope mixed inside her as she stopped at the last step.

There was a lot of activity outside. She’d heard them setting up the tents again, but their mood was more relaxed this time.

The front door opened, and a few women walked in carrying empty trays and baskets. On