The next morning, despite her anxiety about answering the Elders' summons, Alina joined Marcus for school. She couldn't ignore her studies any longer, though the looming meeting weighed heavily on her mind. Marcus noticed her discomfort, squeezing her hand as they walked in silence toward the building.
Once inside, the familiar environment of school life felt like a temporary escape from the chaos that had unfolded the previous night.
Alina stuck close to Lizzy, who tried her best to distract her with idle chatter about homework and weekend plans. Meanwhile, Marcus, Joe, and Zack gathered at their usual spot under the old oak tree, discussing the previous night's events.
Zack was the first to notice Kendra approaching, her footsteps slow and uncertain. The sight of her caused a stir. She hadn't been at school the previous day, and, worse, she hadn't shown up for Kenny's burial despite her family attending.
