After settling into the cramped bedroom, as always paid for by Avidia, the others quickly drift off to sleep. Cipher, however, can't get his mind to shut down. His eyes remain open, staring blankly at the ceiling above him, while his thoughts race with plans and urgency.
He's ready to begin—training, preparation, whatever it takes to get out of this cursed village and finally start the journey that awaits him. But there are two things he needs from this place before he can move on, and he isn't about to leave without them.
Shifting his position on the narrow bed, Cipher carefully moves Ricka's legs off him, sitting up quietly. Sleep isn't an option tonight. Something else gnaws at him, keeping him wide awake. Maybe it's the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Or maybe it's the fact that his hands still haven't stopped shaking after killing yet another person.
