Chapter 61

Emily’s POV

The city lights blurred past the car window as I rode home, my reflection faintly superimposed over them.

My makeup was smudged, my hair falling loose from the bun I had tied it into this morning, and the exhaustion in my eyes was almost comical.

Alex’s words still rang in my ears—Tomorrow, we burn the world.

He said it like it was that simple, like I wasn’t crumbling under the pressure, like whispers didn’t slice at me every time I walked into the office.

He believed in me, I guess, but belief wasn’t armor. It wasn’t enough to stop the suffocating stares or the doubt curling in my chest like smoke.

When the cab pulled up in front of my apartment, I found myself hesitating at the door, my hand on the handle. I didn’t want to step into the empty living room, not tonight. Loneliness would press in too easily. What I wanted or needed was someone who’d actually listen.

So instead of heading upstairs, I pulled out my phone and