Helga closed her eyes, bracing for the impact. The sound of Beom's growl filled her ears, the air heavy with the weight of impending doom. Her heart trembled, but it wasn't fear of death that gripped her—it was regret.
She had failed Esme. Her dear friend lay unconscious, trapped in a struggle Helga couldn't pull her from. She had fought so hard, yet it wasn't enough. The thought tore through her, bitter and cold. Helga wasn't afraid of dying, but the fact that she couldn't help Esme wake from this torment and couldn't bring her back from the darkness—it broke her heart.
"I'm sorry, Esme..." she whispered into the deafening roar of the tiger.
The seconds stretched endlessly, and Helga waited for the crushing blow. But instead, she felt a shift—a sudden and powerful change in the air.
The ferocity of Beom's roar faded, replaced by a strange stillness. Helga dared to open her eyes.
