33. The Only Hope

While on the other side, Rose was suffering. Each night was a torment, her attempts to sleep dissolving into endless hours of staring at the ceiling. And if she managed to drift off, it wasn’t peace that met her but the horrifying image of her brother’s lifeless body, pricking into her mind, jolting her awake with a start. That morning, after another restless night, she did something she never thought she’d do. She swallowed her pride and sought out Jayden. She waited for him outside the school gates, her fingers trembling, her thoughts racing. When he finally appeared, she stepped into his path. “Can you at least be a friend to me?” she blurted out, skipping greetings, ignoring formalities. Her voice cracked with desperation. Jayden blinked in surprise, his brow furrowing. “Um… Hi? Rose, what’s going on? Are you okay?” He wasn’t sure why she was talking to him now, especially after everything—especially after those pictures. Something in her eyes told him this wasn’t just a casual ple