The tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to suffocate. Jack's thoughts spiraled as the weight of their situation pressed down on him like an iron vice. His years—precious, fleeting years—had been cut short. And by a lot.
'It's like everything is being fast-forwarded. How did it all come to this in so little time?' Jack's fists clenched, his nails biting into his palms. Cold sweat dripped down his face, tracing the sharp lines of his jaw. 'Could just a few tweaks in time change this much? If I don't grow stronger—quickly—what chance do I have against the likes of Haraus? If I can't even stand against Alogra now, then Haraus… no, that thing isn't an angel. He's a demon. The book made it clear enough.'
Jack swallowed hard, his mouth dry as bone. The memory of Asriel's final words floated back to him, unbidden.
