A sudden eruption of emotion seized Gabriela, prompting her to vocalize her incredulity with a vehement, "WHAT!?" The intensity of her reaction manifested physically as she instinctively clenched her fingers around Clarrence's collar, the force of her grasp revealing the depth of her surprise and the urgency of her need for answers. The atmosphere crackled with the palpable tension of the moment, as if the very air around them mirrored the abruptness and gravity of Gabriela's reaction.
"Get off of me!" he declared vehemently, forcefully brushing away her hands. The frustration etched across his face underscored the sincerity of his protest. "This isn't my fault. I already knew from the start, sending him to the island is a bad decision. If it weren't for the elder's request, I wouldn't have allowed him in Cevan"
