The group remained frozen in the alley bathing in a pale, silver light from the distant streetlamp. It was as if the entire world had paused, leaving only the cold silence of the night biting against their skin.
Gabriel stood apart from the others, his hands clenched at his sides. He stared at the spot where Eratz had disappeared, his expression troubled, a deep crease forming between his brows.
He looked toward Crystal, standing a few steps away. She hadn't moved since Eratz's final words, her face pale. Her eyes were wide, void, staring blankly into the empty space.
Finally, the silence was broken by a soft sigh. One of the younger teachers spoke up.
"Well," the woman said quietly, her breath visible in the cold air, "at least now it's settled."
The words fell flat, met with a collective unease. There was no sense of resolution, only a heavy emptiness that hung between them.
