The silence that followed Atlas's disappearance was oddly loud.
Liora stood still, staring at the empty space where he had just been. A part of her kept expecting him to pop back in, crack another joke, roll his eyes like nothing had happened. But the moment stretched on, and reality sank in.
He was really gone.
She didn't know what to do with the sudden heaviness in her chest. It sat there like a lump, dull and quiet, making her feel... hollow.
Why did she care anyway?
She scowled at the floor.
She didn't even like him. He was annoying, smug, always acting like he knew everything. He threw her through windows. Literally. Who does that?
Still… her heart felt strangely empty.
Before she could spiral deeper into her thoughts, a small hand tugged at her sleeve.
She looked down.
Eli stood beside her, his big eyes blinking up at her with quiet reassurance. His little hand didn't let go of her sleeve.
