Ava's breath came in short, sharp bursts, her pulse pounding as the stranger's words hung in the air like a dark cloud. His revelation, a sliver of hope in the midst of their despair, had ignited something deep within her—an ember of determination, a spark that refused to be snuffed out by fear. Yet, the weight of the information he had shared was almost too much to bear. It wasn't just about survival anymore; it was about trust, a trust she was reluctant to give but knew she couldn't afford to withhold.
"Are you sure about this?" Ava's voice was tight, her gaze locked onto the stranger's. His eyes, always so unreadable, were shadowed with something she couldn't quite place—was it doubt, or perhaps something darker?
