"M‑Michael?" someone gulped in disbelief, probably Ray.
The instant they saw him, they recognized him.
And with that recognition came the memory of what happened on the day of our arrival in this cursed valley.
The floodgates in our minds opened and every detail rushed back with vivid clarity — making us remember how that supposed God had pounced on us from the shroud of darkness while we were at our lowest ebb after Vaeghar… and then how he took Michael away.
It all clicked together in a single, dreadful realization.
Under normal circumstances, such a revelation would have led to confusion. And confusion ought to have demanded an immediate halt for answers.
There was an entire mountain of trauma to unpack here, after all.
But the universe wasn't in a mood for dialogue.
There was no time for us to process anything.
