ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀꜱ : ᴛʜᴇ ᴜᴘʀɪꜱɪɴɢ

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• ＲＡＩＤＥＮ •

The camp's atmosphere was thick with a mix of anticipation and wariness as we were led deeper into its heart. The wooden buildings and tents seemed to blend into the landscape, camouflaged against the forest that encircled them. People moved about with purpose, their eyes flicking toward us with a mix of curiosity and caution. We were newcomers, outsiders in a world that had long since learned to protect itself.

After the tense exchange at the entrance, the guards finally relaxed and the woman who had taken charge led us to a cluster of low, wooden structures. "These will be your quarters," she said, motioning for us to follow. Her voice was firm but not unkind, and there was a subtle undercurrent of relief that we had passed whatever initial test they had for us. But the tension in my shoulders didn't ease as we walked toward the building.

As we entered the dimly lit corridor, the woman pointed to the left. "Girls' dormitory is down that hall, boys' to the right," she instructed. "There are showers at the end of each hallway. You'll find fresh clothes on your beds. They might not match, but they're clean and warm." She paused, her gaze lingering on Willow for a moment before turning back to the rest of us. "Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, you'll be introduced to the camp and everything you need to know."

We exchanged glances, the weight of everything unsaid hanging in the air. Aria, who had been silent since the encounter outside, finally spoke up. "What about my brother?" she asked, her voice taut with worry.

The woman's expression softened. "We'll take him to the infirmary right away. You can visit him once he's settled in. Don't worry, he's in good hands, our healer will take good care of him."

Aria nodded, though the lines of tension remained on her face. Adrian squeezed her hand, snatching her a small smile. We all watched as the guards carefully transferred her brother from the van to a stretcher and wheeled him down a different corridor. Aria hesitated, her eyes following them, but then she looked back at us and seemed to steel herself.

"This way," she said, motioning to the girls to follow her down the hall.

Willow turned to me, her face a mixture of exhaustion and apprehension. "I'll see you in the morning?"

"Of course," I said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "We'll figure this out together."

She nodded, her grip lingering on mine for a moment longer before she let go and followed Maya and the others down the hallway. Avani came to her in a reassuring gesture, wrapping her shoulders with her arm. I watched her until she disappeared around the corner, the last flicker of her now black hair vanishing into the shadows.

"I'll take good care of her, don't worry." Aria rolled her eyes at me, but I smiled at her, grateful.

The boys' dormitory was a simple but sturdy structure, with rows of bunk beds lining the walls. The beds were already made, each with a small stack of clothes at the foot—shirts, pants, and sturdy boots in a range of colors. I noticed, though, that none of us had been given the same color. At the time, it seemed like a strange quirk, but I pushed the thought aside, too tired to dwell on it.

Ramiel flopped down onto the nearest bed, letting out a low whistle. "Well, this is... cozy," he remarked, looking around at the utilitarian setup. "At least it's not a cage."

"No, but it's still a prison," Luke muttered, sitting down heavily on his bed. He pulled off his boots with a sigh, the weariness evident in his movements.

Ethan, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke. "We'll need our strength tomorrow. Get some rest," he advised, though there was an edge to his voice that told me he was just as unsettled as the rest of us.