Chapter 14

Chapter 10: The Price of Survival

The harsh light outside the door blinded them momentarily,and as they stepped into the daylight, the oppressive weight of the Infernolifted. But the relief was short-lived.

Sharon’s sacrifice hung heavy in the air. The world beyondthe dark halls was eerily quiet, like the calm after a storm, but the echoes oftheir journey — of trust, betrayal, and survival — stayed with them.

Kriya’s breath hitched as she looked at Rey, her heart atangled mess. The warmth of his hand in hers was the only comfort she had, buteven that felt different now. They’d come out of the nightmare together, butthey were forever changed.

“I can’t believe she’s gone,” Kriya whispered, voicestrained. “We were so close... and now... she’s just gone.”

Rey didn’t know what to say. They’d all made it through thegame, but at what cost? Sharon’s bravery — her choice to step into the unknown— haunted him. He squeezed Kriya’s hand, his voice soft. “We’ll carry hermemory with us. She wasn’t just part of the game, Kriya. She was part of us.”

Swayam stood at a distance, his face unreadable. The pastwas behind them, but the present felt heavier than ever. Sharon had made herchoice. And now, the burden of that decision rested on his shoulders as much asanyone’s. He knew he would never forget her.

“She was right,” he said, turning toward them. “We made itout. But Sharon... she made sure we did.”

The wind stirred, and they all stood together in silence fora moment, each of them processing the weight of the sacrifice they hadn’texpected, the bond that had been severed.

“I think...” Kriya began, breaking the quiet, her voicefragile but determined, “We can’t undo what happened. But we can move forward.Together. For her.”

Rey nodded, his gaze fixed ahead. “We keep going. ForSharon. And for each other.”

The four of them — now three — began walking, leaving behindthe shadows of the Inferno. The world was still there, waiting. It was a newbeginning, though the scars of the past would never fully heal.

But for now, they could move forward. Because in the end, itwasn’t just about survival. It was about the connections they had formed, thetruths they’d faced, and the love they carried with them.

And with every step, they knew they were no longer justdancers.

They were survivors.

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