Havenfell

Chapter 16: Some Steps Forward

Felicity's mind raced as they sat in the dimly lit room, the weight of Poppy's death hanging heavy in the air. The group had gathered, their faces etched with a mix of grief, anger, and fear. The revelation that Alex had pushed Poppy in front of the demon, sacrificing her in a desperate attempt to save themselves, had shattered the fragile trust that had held them together.

Callum paced the room, his jaw clenched tight. "We can't just sit here and wait for the demons to pick us off one by one," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "We need a plan."

Nathan, usually the level-headed one, seemed lost in thought, his eyes distant. "But what can we do?" he asked, his tone laced with despair. "We're just a bunch of kids, up against something we don't even understand."

Bree, her eyes red-rimmed from crying, spoke up. "We have to stick together," she said, her voice trembling. "We can't let what happened to Poppy divide us. That's exactly what the demons want."

Felicity's gaze drifted to Juno, who sat in the corner, their knees pulled up to their chest. The pain in their eyes was palpable, a reflection of the guilt and sorrow that consumed Felicity's own heart. They wanted nothing more than to go to Juno, to offer comfort and reassurance, but the words stuck in their throat.

Elliot, ever the pragmatist, broke the silence. "We need to fortify this place," he said, his voice steady despite the fear that lurked beneath the surface. "We can't just rely on hiding and hoping for the best. We need to make it harder for the demons to get to us."

Pete nodded in agreement. "We can start by boarding up the windows and reinforcing the doors. Maybe set up some traps, anything to give us an edge."

Rin, who had been quiet until now, spoke up, their voice barely above a whisper. "What about Alex?" they asked, their gaze fixed on the floor. "What do we do about him?"

The room fell silent, the question hanging heavy in the air. Felicity's heart ached at the thought of Alex, the person they had once considered a friend, now a source of pain and betrayal.

"We can't trust him," Callum said, his voice hard. "Not after what he did to Poppy. We have to keep him isolated, under watch."

Bree shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "But he's still one of us," she argued, her voice cracking. "We can't just turn our backs on him."

Felicity felt torn, the conflicting emotions warring within them. They understood Bree's perspective, the desire to cling to the hope that Alex could be redeemed. But the cold, hard truth was that Alex had made a choice, a choice that had cost Poppy her life.

As the group continued to debate, Felicity's mind drifted to the demons that lurked outside, the constant threat that loomed over them. They knew that no matter what they did, no matter how many precautions they took, the danger would always be there, waiting to strike.

But in that moment, surrounded by the people they had come to care for, Felicity felt a flicker of hope. They knew that they couldn't give up, that they had to keep fighting, not just for themselves, but for each other.

As the discussions continued late into the night, plans were made, and roles assigned. They would fortify the house, set up watches, and do everything in their power to survive. And through it all, Felicity clung to the hope that somehow, someway, they would find a way to make it through this nightmare, together.