The rooftop above Elara's apartment building stood drowned beneath silver midnight fog afterward while cold ocean wind curled endlessly around rusted railings and quiet concrete beneath a moon hidden behind restless clouds, and despite the city lights glowing faintly below San Diego itself felt strangely distant tonight.
Too quiet.
Too watchful.
Like the entire city waited breathlessly for something terrible finally arriving.
Elara stood alone near the rooftop edge afterward while both trembling hands rested tightly against the freezing railing now beneath drifting fog and pale moonlight bleeding weakly through heavy clouds overhead.
She looked exhausted.
Not ordinary exhaustion.
Soul-deep exhaustion dragging visibly through every movement and every breath leaving her pale lips tonight.
The glowing veins vanished already.
The fear inside Olivia's eyes had not.
