[Continuation—]
Bulb jolted upright, breath loud and desperate, sweat cold on his back like rain against dead stone. For a moment, he didn't know where he was. His pulse was running wild, sprinting faster than thought.
The dream still clung to him— warm, golden and intoxicating. The beach. Her laughter. Her lips. Her eyes pulling him in like gravity.
But all of that shattered the moment he heard her voice.
A slow, amused clap echoed behind him.
"O...My...Gosh..." Stephanie's voice dripped like venom. "Did I just hear right?"
Bulb turned sharply.
She stood at the entrance of his camp tent—arms folded, head tilted, a cruel smile slowly curving on her lips. Stone stood beside her, awkwardly quiet, watching with concern.
The sky outside was deep blue, night settling over Euphoria Camp like a heavy curtain. Most people were asleep. But not Bulb— he had just woken up into a nightmare.
Stephanie took a step forward, gaze sharp as a knife.
