Chapter 92 : pulled apart

"But," he continued, his voice steady, "we cannot afford to let doubt consume us. The puppeteers thrive on our division. They want us to turn against each other."

Tavian spoke up, his voice tinged with frustration. "How do we know you're not playing into their hands? How do we know you're not leading us into a trap?"

Xavier met Tavian's gaze, unflinching. "You don't. All I can offer is my commitment to our cause, to defeating the puppeteers and freeing our world from their grasp. If you no longer believe in me, then believe in that."

A heavy silence hung in the air, the weight of their choices pressing down on them all. Doubt still lingered, but Maya could sense a shift in the atmosphere. The resistance members exchanged glances, grappling with their own uncertainties.

Finally, Sophia stood up, her eyes determined. "We can't let doubt tear us apart. Xavier has risked everything for us, and I believe he still stands with us."