Chapter 44
The moment the door closed behind Ariana, everything around her disappeared. The mountain, the wind, and even the faint sense of the outside world vanished as if they had never existed. The cold that had followed her along the path was gone, replaced by something heavier, thicker, like the air itself had weight. The silence that filled the space wasn't calm or empty; it pressed against her chest and made every breath feel slower and harder.
For a moment, Ariana didn't move. Her heart was racing, but she forced herself to stay still, closing her eyes as she steadied her breathing. "I'm still here," she whispered, grounding herself in the only thing she could control. Her voice echoed back, but something about it felt wrong. It returned slightly delayed, stretched just enough to feel unfamiliar, like the space itself was bending the sound before giving it back.
