Chapter 266: LOOP.

Darkness lingered like a thick, suffocating fog, clinging to David's consciousness. His body trembled faintly, as though caught between worlds. A faint voice pierced the void, growing louder with every passing second. It was soft yet frantic, laden with an emotion he couldn't place.

"Winter! Talk to me, are you okay?"

The voice anchored him, dragging him back from the abyss. Slowly, the haze lifted, and his eyes fluttered open to the sight of Brendah's face hovering above his. Her chestnut hair framed her pale, tear-streaked face, and her trembling hands gripped his shoulders tightly.

David blinked, his surroundings sharpening as the dim light of the room returned. His heart skipped a beat, memories flooding back—the brutal confrontation, Brendah's screams, and the torment she had endured. The ache of failure hit him like a tidal wave.