Round 240

Hera’s fingers trembled as they made contact with Jeane’s feverish skin. The heat radiating through the fabric of her clothes was unnatural—unnatural and terrifying. Every instinct screamed at her to pull away, but she forced herself to maintain the touch. This wasn’t just about helping a friend anymore; this was about survival. The building’s groans had escalated into ominous creaks that spoke of imminent structural failure. Dust trickled from the ceiling in increasing volume, and the air itself seemed to pulse with sexual energy that made her skin crawl.

“Listen to me,” Hera said, voice strained but steady. “I know you’re fighting something terrible right now, but we can’t give up. Halie’s working on a solution—she needs more time.” She glanced over at Silra, who stood glaring at the scene with her hand on her sword hilt. “And I don’t care what your problem is with Jeane—we need everyone functional and focused if we’re going to get out of this alive.”

She turned back to Jeane, ignoring the way her friend’s eyes had gone a disturbing shade of crimson. “I’m not going anywhere,” she promised, even as a part of her screamed that this was a lie. She couldn’t promise that—none of them could—but right now, it was what Jeane needed to hear. The alternative was unthinkable.