Chapter Nineteen: Into the Unknown
Maria stood frozen in place, her heart thudding wildly in her chest. Dust still lingered in the air like a dense fog, clouding the vision of the elders who coughed and stumbled about in confusion. Yet strangely, she could see everything clearly.
Her eyes darted around as she clutched the staff of office tightly against her chest. Panic clawed at her throat, but she remembered Mr. Frederick's words: Stay calm, no matter what happens.
Cries rang out from the elders, pleading for help, their voices desperate and frantic. Then, like shadows slipping through the mist, a group of men emerged. They wore plain black suits and masks that concealed their faces, revealing only their eyes—sharp, steady, and unreadable.
The leader among them, a tall man with broad shoulders and commanding presence, stepped forward. "Maria, please come with us," he said, his voice oddly polite.
