Zania's heartbeat pounded in her ears as she watched Liana slowly put the key into the lock.
Click.
Her body froze.
This was a joke, right?
A trick?
She whipped her head toward the guards, desperation flaring in her eyes.
"P-please!!" she shouted. "Stop her!"
But—
The guards?
They weren't even looking.
One casually flipped a page in his book.
Another took a leisurely sip of his coffee.
Not a single one of them moved.
Not one even acknowledged what was happening—
Like it was normal.
Like this was just another quiet evening in Armand.
Zania's blood ran cold.
She turned back just in time to see—
Liana.
Still smiling.
Still watching her.
And to Zania—
That smile was the scariest thing she had ever seen.
The cell door creaked open—slowly, deliberately.
Liana's fingers lingered on the handle, drawing out the moment as if savoring Zania's fear.
Then, with the same gentle, almost motherly smile, she stepped inside and locked the door behind her.
