Chapter 1253
Jude froze in place, his hand inches from Susan’s arm, his chest rising and falling with quiet urgency. The smile on her lips trembled for a moment, as if even she didn’t realize it was there. Her eyes darted around at the others - Zoey, Emma, Sophie, Lucy - who had all taken a slow step back. The air in the shrine thickened, like the bowl had exhaled something none of them could see.
"Susan," Jude said softly, his voice steady but low. "You’re still here. You’re still with us."
Her eyes locked on his, wide, shining with tears, but her body didn’t move. She looked like she was listening to something far away.
"I don’t want to be alone," she whispered.
"You’re not," Lucy said gently, stepping forward. "We’re here. We’ve always been here."
Susan’s lips parted, her breath trembling. "But they’re here too. Inside my dreams. Inside my skin. And sometimes... I can’t tell which is real."
Zoey edged toward the Offering Bowl, watching Susan carefully. "We destroy it. That’s the only way."
Emma frowned. "Do we even know if we can?"
"We don’t have to destroy it yet," Sophie said quickly. "If Susan’s still fighting, it means it hasn’t taken her completely. That means there’s still time."
"But what if that smile was the start?" Jude asked. "What if she’s already half gone and just doesn’t realize it?"
Susan turned to face him again. "I don’t want to hurt you."