The community center basement smells like fear and betrayal.
Arden walks down the stairs. Kael behind her. Notebook in her jacket. Evidence. Truth. Ammunition.
The circle of chairs is full. Fifteen people. More than last time. Word spread. Emergency meeting. Traitor among us.
Margaret stands at the center. Leader. Judge. Executioner.
She smiles when Arden enters. Sharp smile. Knowing.
"You came," Margaret says. "I wasn't sure you would."
"I came to tell the truth." Arden moves to the center. Faces the circle. "About Dr. Cross. About the Entity. About you."
Murmurs. Shifting. Uncomfortable.
"This should be interesting," Margaret says. Steps aside. "By all means. Tell them."
Arden looks at the faces. Jin-Hwa. Callum. Dmitri. Olli. Marcus sits in the corner. Eyes red. Shaking. The Empty girl beside him. Still vacant. Still gone.
And new faces. Survivors she doesn't recognize. Games she doesn't know.
