625: DON'T BE SHY

ARIEL'S POV As I sped away from that forsaken place, my mind churned with a whirlwind of emotions. Anger, rage, confusion - they all jostled for dominance, each one threatening to overwhelm me completely. The steady hum of the engine was the only thing keeping me grounded, the only thing reminding me that I was still tethered to reality, even as it seemed to slip further and further away with each passing moment. But just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, just when I felt like I was teetering on the edge of madness, something strange caught my eye up ahead. A group of people, their bodies adorned with vibrant paint, swayed and danced in the middle of the road, their movements fluid and graceful as they moved to the rhythm of some unseen beat. I furrowed my brow, confusion washing over me as I slowed the car to a halt. Who were these people? And what in the world were they doing out here in the middle of nowhere? As if sensing my curiosity, a man broke away from the group a