Chapter 134. The Chambers

The car ride was agonizingly silent, save for the soft hum of the engine. My stomach twisted into tighter knots with every mile we traveled. The gravity of what was waiting for me at the chambers loomed larger with every passing second. 

Elder Robert seemed perfectly at ease, if anything, he seemed happy. His hands were relaxed on the wheel as he hummed a tune to himself. It was infuriating how unaffected he seemed. This was just another task for him, another box to check on his agenda. 

For me, it was walking into the lion’s den. 

“You might want to prepare a little speech,” He said casually, breaking the silence. “The crowd loves a good emotional appeal. Something that shows you’re strong but also humble. They’ll eat that up.” He chuckled to himself. 

I stared out the window, watching the trees blur into a mass of green and brown. My throat was dry, and no words came to mine. How was I supposed to appeal to people when I could barely keep mysel