The air in the hallway was heavy, still buzzing with the echoes of what had just happened. Trafalgar and Barth stood outside the door, backs leaning against the wall, neither of them speaking.
From inside, a low growl broke the silence, followed by the sharp scrape of claws. Then came Lucien's voice—shrieking, raw with pain.
Barth clamped his hands over his ears, his face pale. "I-I don't want to hear this…"
Trafalgar's jaw tightened, but he didn't move. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the sound wash over him. 'I'll never get used to this… no matter how many times I see it or hear it. This world doesn't forgive weakness. Lucien took Ronan's arm… and now Garrika is paying it back in her own way.'
Another cry echoed, followed by Garrika's voice, calm but dripping with venom. "This is for Ronan."
