Christian’s Pov

Julia stumbled in, her face pale, drenched in sweat, her eyes wide with panic. Her breathing was ragged, almost desperate, as she struggled to form words. My heart lurched in my chest, a cold dread seizing me in its icy grip. Something was terribly wrong.

"Too late!" Julia gasped, her voice trembling, and it felt like the floor beneath me had just given way. "She's gone!"

The room erupted into chaos. Chairs scraped against the floor as everyone shot up from their seats, but the sounds around me faded into a distant roar as Julia’s words echoed in my mind. *Gone.* My heart stopped, my mind blanking out...