Chapter Twenty-four

Restless and lonely, Ariana found herself sitting in her room, gazing out of the window into the vast expanse of the Packhouse. The weight of the growing distance between her and Ethan still lingered in her mind, and she yearned for a way to prove herself and perhaps connect with him once again.

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, a flutter of wings caught her attention. Her eyes followed the sound until they landed on a small, colorful sparrow perched on her windowsill. Its presence seemed almost magical, and her curiosity was piqued as she noticed a note tied to its leg.

Intrigued, She got up and approached the feathered visitor with cautious curiosity. With trembling hands, she carefully untied and unfolded the note. The paper, weathered and delicate, bore the urgency of a message. As her eyes traced the words written by her dear friend Lila, a knot of foreboding tightened in her stomach. It read:

Ariana,