Selly opened the door, my heart burst with joy. Finally, farmiliar faces. I'd been so worried about everyone. As I stepped inside, their conversations died down, all eyes turning to me.
I smiled hesitantly, relief washing over me at the sight of my friends. Derek, Sarah, Jake, Maria, Vex, Brenna, Fionna, Li - they were all here, safe and sound. "Hey," I said, my voice still rough from disuse. "I'm so glad to see you're okay."
But something was off. The room felt colder somehow, and not just because of the fancy palace air conditioning. The faces that greeted me weren't warm or welcoming. They were hard, closed off, some even twisted with disgust.
Derek was the first to speak. "Well, well. Look who finally decided to grace us with her presence." His voice dripped with sarcasm, nothing li
