Round 5 Transcript

Jeane slams the door behind her with enough force that dust falls from the ancient rafters. The sound echoes through the abandoned church, a stark reminder of how thin the walls are and how easy it would be for anyone nearby to have heard. Outside, footsteps retreat—then silence descends, heavy and unnatural after the stormy exit.

Halie turns immediately to Hera still pressed against the wall, her face etched with concern. "Are you alright? Did she hurt you?" Her hands move as if to check for injuries before stopping mid-reach, uncertain whether touch is welcome right now. Abby, frozen beside Hera, seems barely able to nod in response—her wide eyes still fixed on the door where Jeane disappeared.

Silra exhales hard and runs a hand through her hair, leaving it messier than before. "Fuck me sideways," she mutters for what feels like the hundredth time today. She moves to check the window, peering out through cracked boards at the street beyond. "Coast is clear—no neighbors running toward us yet anyway." The relief in her voice is palpable but tempered by lingering tension.

Then her gaze snaps back to Halie and Hera with new urgency. "Did either of you hear what Jeane said? 'Don't let them leave or contact anyone.' That means we're babysitting these two until sheHence, the consequences of your actions are now in play. The question is not whether you can escape—it's how much this mess costs you before it clears.*

Hera's heart pounds as Jeane finally leaves, her threats still echoing in the air. She slumps against the wall, feeling the chill of the stone through her thin shirt. The adrenaline is starting to fade, leaving her muscles shaky and weak. "Discipline?" Halie echoes weakly. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Her eyes dart between Hera and Silra, worry and confusion etched on her face. Silra just shakes her head, looking grim. "Nothing good," she mutters. "Look, I don't like this any more than you do. But we're in this mess together now."

Hera pushes herself off the wall, wincing as her bruised muscles protest. She takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Okay," she says slowly. "Okay. We need to figure out how to get out of this without anyone else getting hurt." She looks at Abby, still pressed against the wall and looking terrified. "Are you alright?"

I stride out into the cool evening air, my wings folding against my back as I move away from the church. The night is still, too quiet after the chaos inside. My mind races—we need more than just food now. We need a plan for Hera and Abby, before Jeane decides 'discipline' means something permanent. I check my pockets automatically: no keys or phone. Nothing personal on me since we left the house hours ago. My hands feel empty without a weapon, even a makeshift one. I glance back at the church looming behind me—the silhouette of someone moving past a window upstairs. Halie probably, checking on things. I head toward the city lights, trying to look less like someone fleeing a crime scene and more like... what? A woman out for a midnight stroll in her disheveled club clothes with visible arousal and exhaustion? This is bad. Real bad.

I move toward where Hera is standing, my steps hesitant but purposeful. My face shows both concern and frustration. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry about Jeane—she's... struggling." I glance at the door Jeane left through, then back to Hera and Abby. "We need to be careful what we say next. Anything we discuss could be used against us later."

I look around the room, assessing exits and potential dangers. My hand moves instinctively toward a holy symbol that isn't there—I haven't worn it since before we started this descent into... whatever this is. "We should talk about how to handle this situation," I say more firmly now, my voice low but clear. "But first—Abby, you look terrified. Can I get you some water? Or maybe sit you down somewhere comfortable?"

I move toward where Hera is standing, my steps hesitant but purposeful. My face shows both concern and frustration. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry about Jeane—she's... struggling." I glance at the door Jeane left through, then back to Hera and Abby. "We need to be careful what we say next. Anything we discuss could be used against us later."

I look around the room, assessing exits and potential dangers. My hand moves instinctively toward a holy symbol that isn't there—I haven't worn it since before we started this descent into... whatever this is. "We should talk about how to handle this situation," I say more firmly now, my voice low but clear. "But first—Abby, you look terrified. Can I get you some water? Or maybe sit you down somewhere comfortable?"