You Deserve Better

⇒ CHAPTER FIFTY- FOUR [FINAL CHAPTER]

𝙴𝙳𝙴𝙽

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2 Corinthians 13:14

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The hallway is empty, save for the four of us. Zephaniah walks quietly behind Ace and me, looking out of place in the otherwise pristine university setting. The campus is bustling, but this part of the building is tucked away, a section we've purposely chosen because it's rarely used. The doors are propped open just enough for us to slip through unnoticed.

Serenity is a few steps ahead, checking the hall one last time before turning to us. She's tense, her hand hovering over the door as if waiting for a signal. "This is it," she says quietly, glancing at me, then at Ace. "Let's hope no one catches us."

Ace checks the hall one more time, his expression still calm, but there's a flicker of something-concern or maybe a little doubt-beneath the surface. He turns to Serenity with a reassuring smile. "No one will. We're good."

Serenity looks over at me, catching my eye. "You sure about this?" Her voice is calm, but I can see the uncertainty in her expression. I know she's worried about the consequences if anyone finds out what we're doing, but it's too late to turn back now.

I nod, though my heart is racing. "Let's do it."

Ace gives Serenity a quick, confident look, then glances back at Zephaniah. "You know what to do."

Zephaniah meets Ace's eyes and nods. "I do."

Serenity pushes the door open, and we slip inside. The room is small, sparsely furnished with just a few chairs along the walls. Daniel, the student with the injured leg, is sitting in one of them, his hands resting nervously on his lap as he waits. He looks at us, a mix of hope and skepticism on his face.

Ace moves forward first, walking toward Zephaniah as if he's already seen the miracle unfold. Serenity follows behind us, her eyes darting between the others in the room as if expecting someone to walk in any moment.

Before we know it, the door bursts open, and a flood of students pour into the room, just as I'm trying to steady my breathing. The sound of their footsteps echoes in the small space, each one more overwhelming than the last. They came-just like we asked them to-but I didn't expect so many.

If this was going to be done, I guess we might as well go all the way. But my heart skips in my chest. I'm suddenly not so sure this was a good idea.

I look up at Ace, my fingers tightening around his hand. He glances down at me with a reassuring smile, his grip on me firm, but I know it's more for my benefit than his. My eyes are wide, and I can feel the weight of the unexpected audience pressing on me. It's not just the five or six people we thought would show up-it's thirty. Thirty students, all crowding into the room, eyes curious, skeptical, some even a little mocking.

I count the heads with my eyes: 10, 20, 30... and I feel the ground shift beneath me, my breath catching.

"Jesus, help me," I whisper under my breath. My hands are clammy, my chest tight.

Ace's voice cuts through the panic swirling in my head. "We're here for a reason, Eden. God's got this." His words are steady, as he makes his way towards my back wrapping his hands around me like a warm blanket before his lips press against my forehead.

I nod, trying to calm myself, but it's hard. I feel faint, the tension in the air pressing down on me like a weight. Serenity steps in front of me, her face filled with concern, but I'm not sure if it's for me or for the chaos unfolding in front of us.