Khalid POV

In my haste, I raced back home, the echo of Mark's defeat fading behind me. Fear gripped my heart, a cold wave that quickened my pulse.

My steps were swift as I made my way toward the secluded spot where Megan had been hidden. An undercurrent of worry and urgency fueled my every move.

Arriving at the hidden refuge, a hollow sensation settled in my chest , Megan's absence was a heavy truth that seemed to press against me.

Panic tightened its grip, a vise-like hold on my senses, as it mingled with a smoldering ember of anger that glowed just beneath the surface.

The pieces were falling...