El?

This time I heard my own voice, ridden with uncertainty and a little hope.

El? I tried again, not minding that I was now the object of attention.

Distantly, I was aware of Diana moving closer to me—as if, in doing so, she would be able to hear El speak when the latter finally decided it was time to put me out of this misery.

Was it just a figment of my own mind? Was I just hearing my inner self admonishing me to choose to let go rather than letting guilt fill me up?

I turned to Makeh. She was beside the injured Quafar, hand on his forehead—the...