An Extra’s POV

Gratiana gritted her teeth as she walked behind Rey Skylar.

She had her head somewhat lowered, as it hung shamefully on her shoulders while she contemplated everything that just happened.

"Haa… haaa…"

Steamy breaths escaped her lips with every step she took, and every second or two, she would lift her gaze to look at the man who walked a couple of inches from her. She desperately wanted to close the gap and access what she was denied, but—

'No! What am I thinking? Why am I… what would the girls think?!'

Gratiana tried her best to hide the immense guilt that was bubbling up within her, but it was getting too much to bear. A few moments ago, when Rey told her about the return of the Young Ones, she was disappointed.

It was only for a split second, but she certainly thought:

'Why did they have to return now?!'

As an Elder, she should have been elated by their safe return. Yet, she selfishly indulged in a bet that put so much on the line. Instead of rushing to rescue them, she instead conversed with the perpetrator of all these evils.

Gratiana felt awful beyond measure.

'They're my responsibility… yet I abandoned them.' Her thoughts trailed as she watched Rey exit the Fortress. She felt reluctant to do the same.

'How can I even face them?'

She simply wanted to stay back and hide herself in the shadows; at least, until she had worked up the courage to face her little sisters.

Unfortunately—

~VWUSH~

no choice in

placed his arm around her as he

Gratiana so much that it was difficult for her to render a single word or action in reaction to it all. She could only take everything in with a gasp

She heard Rey whisper to her, and instantly her body

at the incoming girls

were stained with blood, and they were dripping with

way they tightly clung to their lethal weapons as they approached with a battle-hardened glare proved just how ready they

look

felt it within her—but

staring at the group that now reached the forefront of the

even if it is right in front of

"I… I can't…"

smile as he turned back to look at her.His glowing red eye made her body react accordingly—almost as if it completely knew what to do with just a single

here and now." Gratiana didn't know what he meant by that, but he simply stood still, allowing the girls to approach even further. They walked through the barrier like it was nothing, approaching him and

are you planning? Girls! My sisters! Are you

single word. They didn't even glance at her—or Rey for that matter—but kept

It puzzled Gratiana instantly.

want you to interfere with what you're about to witness with your own eyes." He narrowed his

spectating; observing as her little sisters stopped short of the Fortress and then stretched out their expensive-looking

a moment,

know every little thing that went on in the minds of her Youngs, but this time

"What are they doi—?"

~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!~

light, or sheer explosions—charged from the weapons of these girls as they fired their attacks

utter obliteration

first thoughts be to save you through non-lethal means?" Rey spoke in a low tone as Gratiana covered

at the horror