"They're alive."
Aria's words had barely left their mouths when the first figure emerged from the darkness of the tunnel.
A veteran.
Then another.
And yet another.
They all looked like they had been through a war.
Which, technically, was true.
Blood.
Soot.
Wounds.
Empty stares.
Exhaustion etched into every movement.
Cherry appeared soon after, completely broken physically and emotionally, her hair plastered to her face by the mixture of rain and sweat.
Seeing the two waiting at the entrance, she immediately pointed behind her.
"Before anyone asks..."
She took a deep breath.
"It was worse than it looks."
Aria observed her state.
Then she looked at the ruined mansion in the distance.
Then she looked back at Cherry.
"That doesn't reduce the possibilities much."
"Fair enough."
More people began to appear. Veteran survivors.
Ingrivid.
Some wounded men being carried.
Duke Arven.
Morgana.
Elizabeth.
And then...
Ester finally saw Damon.
