Chapter 1151

Outside, the others were beginning to stir.

Sophie was already up, stretching her arms over her head, then walking barefoot toward the river with Emma. Lucy and Stella lay in the grass nearby, whispering to each other, trading soft laughter and sleepy kisses. Zoey was sitting cross-legged at the edge of the camp, watching the trees with a cautious eye, but not tense, just thoughtful.

There was no sign of black roots. No sign of mist. No twisted smiles. The ones who'd been taken, Susan, Grace, Natalie, Scarlet, Layla, were different now. Quieter. As if part of them still remembered what it was like to be puppets, and they weren't sure how to move freely yet. But they were trying.

And together, they were whole again.