The hospital corridor stretched endlessly behind them as Vessara stepped through the automatic doors. The night air hit her face, cool and damp.
She inhaled deeply, feeling the weight of the past hours settle into her bones.
Ares walked beside her, his presence solid and silent. She hadn't really spoken to him since they got to the hospital.
Vessara couldn't. Her voice felt like it belonged to someone else, buried somewhere beneath the exhaustion that pressed against her skull.
Then she saw them.
Apollo stood by the black Mercedes G-Wagon, arms crossed, his silhouette sharp against the amber glow of the streetlamp. Finn leaned against the passenger door, hands in his pockets, his usual easy posture replaced by a more rigid one. They'd been waiting.
Apollo pushed off from the car and walked toward her. Each step is measured. Controlled. When he reached her, his eyes swept over her face with a quick assessment.
