"Move her body now."
The doctor's voice cut through the heavy silence.
No one moved.
Archer sat beside Haelyn's still form, his fingers laced tightly with hers. His grip was firm, refusing to let go. Around him, the others remained frozen, grief thick in the air.
Then…
A sharp gasp.
A sudden intake of breath.
The heart monitor, once flat, spiked.
Haelyn's chest rose violently as if something unseen had yanked her back into existence. Her fingers twitched. Her lips parted…
A strangled breath tore from her throat.
The room erupted into chaos.
Marlyil screamed, stumbling back. Cerius cursed, reaching for his sword out of instinct. Seraphis stood frozen, wide-eyed.
Archer jerked away, his eyes wild with disbelief.
"What the hell…"
Haelyn's eyes fluttered open.
She blinked. Once. Twice. Her gaze flickered across the room, taking in their faces…their shock, their fear.
"Why…" her voice was hoarse, weak. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Silence.
