Within the cold chamber, Alden was sleeping peacefully.
His body had mostly healed with blood from the battle still clinging to his body.
Then—
A poke.
Light. Playful. And without hostility.
Another one.
He stirred, his brow twitching.
A third poke, this time to his cheek.
His eyes snapped open.
For a moment, his vision was blurred.
Then focus returned with clarity.
"What the fuck?"
He sat up fast, cursing as he saw a little girl crouched beside him. Her black hair was messy. Her soft brown eyes were filled with innocence and curiosity.
She blinked at him like he was something interesting.
If Alden had seen her for the first time, he might have thought—what's a little child like her doing in such a dangerous place?
But he knew better.
The child wasn't the victim. She was the danger of this place—The one who controlled all those people.
But Alden was surprised by something else entirely…
How the hell did I not notice her?
