Chapter 22 The Surface

• Hannah's Point of View
• The fire had burned down to embers, casting the room in a warm, amber glow that softened the sharp lines of Sylvia's face. I should have excused myself hours ago, should have retreated to the quiet safety of my room like I always did. But something kept me rooted to that armchair, something in Sylvia's steady gaze that made me want to stay.
• "You carry yourself like someone who's never been allowed to rest," Sylvia said, breaking the comfortable silence. She wasn't looking at me anymore, her eyes fixed on the dying flames. "Even now, you're waiting for something to go wrong."