Riley woke to a pounding headache, her eyes fluttering open as the sunlight poured through the window. For a moment, she forgot where she was, her disoriented mind trying to piece everything together. The memories flooded back quickly—the chase, the sanctuary, and Zayden.
She bolted upright in bed, her heart racing. Had Zayden made it to safety too? Was he still out there fighting?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door. She stood, her legs shaky, and crossed the room to answer it.
A woman stood in the doorway, her features gentle but weathered by years of experience. She wore a simple but elegant gown, and her dark eyes held a quiet strength.
"Riley Morgan?" the woman asked, her voice soft yet commanding.
Riley nodded. "Yes, that's me. Who are you?"
"My name is Lara. I'm here to help you," the woman said with a small smile. "You're safe now. The sanctuary is protected."
Riley felt a small wave of relief, but it didn't last long. "Zayden… he's out there. He's still in danger. You have to help him."
Lara's expression shifted, and Riley could see the concern in her eyes. "We've been monitoring the situation. There are others who are tracking him. But right now, you need to rest. You can't help him if you're not strong."
Riley clenched her fists, the helplessness threatening to swallow her whole. She couldn't just sit here and wait.
"I can't just do nothing," she said, her voice tight. "I need to find him."
Lara's gaze softened, and she stepped closer to Riley. "You're strong, Riley. But you need to let us help you. Zayden is fighting his own battle right now. You can't save him by putting yourself in more danger."
The words hit Riley like a slap to the face. She knew Lara was right. But how could she just sit here when Zayden was out there, possibly fighting for his life?
"We'll help him," Lara said, as if reading her mind. "But right now, you need to take care of yourself. Let us guide you through this. Rest. You'll need it for what's to come."
Riley's chest tightened, and for a moment, she just stood there, unsure of what to do. She didn't want to rest, didn't want to be safe while Zayden was out there risking everything. But she knew, deep down, that she had to listen.
She nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Okay," she whispered. "But I won't stop looking for him."
Lara gave her a reassuring smile. "And you won't have to. We'll get you both through this."
With that, Riley sat back down on the bed, her mind still spinning, but a glimmer of hope finally started to flicker in her heart.