Ivy sat outside Cornelia's office, her gaze fixed on the closed door as unease crept deeper with every passing second. The secretary had already returned to work, acting normal, but the silence inside felt wrong. Was Remedy able to convince her? The thought looped, tightening the tension in her chest.
The air in the waiting room suddenly warped, rippling like disturbed water, and Cornelia appeared without warning. She hadn't used the door. That alone spoke volumes. In her arms, Remedy hung limply, her skin drained of color, her body frighteningly still except for faint, fragile breaths.
Ivy shot to her feet instantly, all hesitation gone, and rushed toward them. "What happened to her?" she demanded, her voice sharp with urgency. Cornelia didn't react to the tone. She had seen enough already to know Ivy wasn't a stranger to this situation.
