The heavy steel door of the basement training area slammed shut behind the last of the survivors, sealing them off from the chaos above. The sudden silence was almost as deafening as the explosions had been. Marcus stood with his hand on the door, his forehead resting against the cool metal, trying to gather his thoughts.
Behind him, the frightened murmurs of the coven members and human staff filled the air. The basement was spacious, designed to accommodate large training sessions, but now it felt claustrophobic with so many bodies crammed inside. The scent of fear hung thick in the air, mingling with the smell of smoke and blood that clung to their clothes.
Marcus turned to face the group, his eyes scanning the faces of those who had managed to escape. So many were missing. So many had been lost.
And Samantha...
He pushed the thought away, unable to bear it. There would be time for grief later. Right now, he had to focus on keeping the survivors safe.
