I didn't spare Kai or the black man another glance. Their fates were their own—irrelevant to me. I turned on my heel, Angela and Lisa falling into step beside me, their smirks matching mine.
We moved through the forest with ease, the trees parting for us like they knew we belonged here.
The clearing was alive with tension, the air thick with the scent of sweat and desperation. Mira, Nicole, Hailey, Paul, and Bill stood in a tight cluster, their faces a mix of relief and exhaustion.
Bill was conscious, his skin no longer pale, his breath steady—alive, against all odds. His eyes flickered open, weak but aware, as if he couldn't believe he had made it.
I stepped into the clearing, my presence cutting through the murmurs like a knife. Mira and the others noticed me immediately, their expressions twisting into disgust.
Mira crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing as she glared at me. "Look who's back," she spat, her voice dripping with contempt. "The great Dexter. Savior of no one."
