Alessia shuddered at the thought of what Francesco could be planning for them, especially after hearing his men talk about Project France.
Suddenly, there was a soft tap on the barred door. Alessia and Laura both looked up, alarmed. A guard entered, silent as a shadow, and dropped a small object on the floor before swiftly exiting the room. The door clicked shut behind him.
Alessia stood up, her heart racing. She approached the object cautiously, recognizing the tiny bird-shaped device—a *Phoenix*, the one-way communication tool that Thomas had mentioned months ago. Her heart thudded in her chest as she picked it up, her hands trembling.
"What is it?" Laura asked, her eyes narrowing as she walked over.
"It's from them," Alessia whispered, already feeling a spark of hope igniting inside her. She pressed a small button on the Phoenix, and the device glowed faintly before a soft, familiar voice filled the room.
