Seeing them gather with such determination, Lory felt a pang of doubt. She didn't want to be the bearer of bad news, especially now, when they had just found a glimmer of hope within themselves. Yet she had to crush it in front of them, and in doing so, she felt like a cruel villain.
But she couldn't stay silent, because she worried they would act on impulse, and cause them to die for nothing.
Lory sighed softly. "...Um, sorry to interrupt, but I think I need to remind you of a few things," she said finally, raising her hand slightly—an almost casual gesture, like an awkward student asking permission to speak.
The shift was immediate.
The Voices faltered, and conversations broke off mid-sentence. Soon, one by one, heads turned toward Lory, drawn not by her words but by the calm certainty in her tone. Lory sat leaning against the cold steel wall, one knee slightly drawn up, her posture relaxed, too relaxed for someone in this situation.
