After holding each other until their emotions had been spent, they reluctantly let go, each wearing a smile that carried both sadness and joy. Xander was the first to break the silence, his voice still unsteady as he attempted to ask the question that had been gnawing at his insides for days.
"What... what happened to everyone? Were they all saved?"
He already knew the answer, deep down. It hung over him like a dark cloud, but he needed to hear it out loud. He needed closure. Sirius's expression darkened as his cousin spoke, a storm gathering behind his eyes. Ava noticed this and quickly placed a comforting hand on Sirius's shoulder. She offered to tell Xander the news herself, hoping to spare Sirius the burden of reliving the pain.
Sirius gave her a grateful but weary smile and shook his head. "I'll do it," he whispered, his voice hoarse. He turned to Xander, the smile vanishing from his face as he steeled himself for what he had to say.
