Amelia stood frozen for a heartbeat, her breath caught in her throat as Alice disappeared into the corridor.
Her first instinct was to run after her—to call her back, to drag her away from danger. But her legs refused to move.
Sweat slid down her temple as she pressed her hand against her chest, trying to calm the frantic pounding beneath her ribs.
'Why… why is she always like this?'
Alice, charging ahead, fearless, unshakable… like some knight carved out of the stories Amelia had adored as a child.
A sharp ache twisted in her chest, one she couldn't quite name.
Jealousy? Admiration? Fear?
All tangled together until she couldn't separate them anymore.
Her lips trembled as she bit back the words she wanted to scream—Stay with me, don't leave me behind. But Alice wasn't the type to listen. Not when it came to protecting others.
Amelia exhaled shakily and forced her thoughts into order. This wasn't the time to drown in feelings.
