Chapter 1263
Rose stirred from the other side of the room, her eyes fluttering open as if she’d been listening the entire time. She sat up slowly, her expression unreadable. Layla and Natalie followed, as if they were tethered to her breath. Susan and Grace sat up moments later. The only one still asleep was Stella, though even she began to stir now, face calm and dreamy.
"I told you," Rose said to no one in particular. "Walls won’t stop what already lives inside."
"Lucy," Jude said, voice low and even, "come here."
She looked at him for a long time. Her eyes flicked over his face like she was reading a language she almost remembered.
"I’m fine," she said.
"I know," he replied gently. "But come anyway."
Lucy didn’t resist. She walked over and sat beside him, folding her legs under herself like a child. Emma followed with hesitant steps and sat behind her. Jude reached out and took Lucy’s hand. It felt the same. Warm. Familiar. But there was no squeeze back. No twitch of recognition. It was like holding a glove with no one inside.
Sophie leaned over and whispered, "We can’t hold them here."
Zoey nodded. "Then we follow. Stay close. Observe everything. We’ll find the source."
The day passed like a dream. They left the treehouse under the guise of foraging, but the atmosphere had changed. There was no separation now. No pretending to keep the groups apart. They moved as one strange caravan through the forest, some whispering to each other, others completely silent.
Rose led. Always.