Valerie flinched, but she did not resist. Her face was pale, her eyes empty, like someone far too exhausted to defend anything anymore.
Ivanka stood not far away. She saw everything the fury in Demian's gaze, the way he pulled Valerie along without once looking back at her. For the first time that morning, Ivanka tried to approach.
"Demian," she called, carefully softening her voice. "Don't you want to,"
Demian did not turn.
Did not answer.
Did not even acknowledge her presence.
He walked straight ahead, his stride long and urgent, as if Ivanka were nothing more than a meaningless shadow. That dismissal cut sharper than any shout could have.
Ivanka froze where she stood, her fingers slowly curling into fists.
"Are you not listening to me?" she called again, a hint of panic slipping into her tone.
Still no reaction.
Demian focused solely on taking Valerie away, away from the cave, away from Kaiser, away from everything that made him feel he was losing control.
