Chapter 1133

Jude felt his knees weaken. His body responded.

Sophie gripped his hand tighter. "Stay with me."

"I'm here," he whispered.

Lucy's voice shook. "This is how she wins. She doesn't scare us. She seduces us."

"She is us," Layla said, voice flat again.

"No," Rose snapped. "She's what's left when we lose ourselves."

Suddenly, from the pit, a figure began to rise.

Not climbing.

Floating.

She had no face. No skin. Just form, shaped from darkness, eyes glowing with pale blue light. Her body changed as she rose, curves shifting, hair lengthening, face blending through each of theirs.

She looked like all of them.

And she smiled.

Everyone froze.

Then she spoke.

Her voice was all of theirs.

"Welcome home."