The moment Liora returned to the base, she didn't stop to greet anyone. Not Zhou Yinuo, not Mei, not even Chen Wei, who usually hovered near the house with a report in hand.
Her feet were heavy. Her thoughts, even heavier.
She kept her head down, quietly walked across the base like a ghost, and didn't say a single word to anyone. There were only a few residents that were outside, and most of them had gone to their respective dorms.
The few who were outside looked her way, expecting something, maybe an explanation but she gave them nothing. She simply vanished into the building and went straight to her room.
Once inside, she locked the door, shut the lights, and leaned back against the cold metal frame of her door.
Her knees gave out soon after.
She sank slowly to the ground, breathing shallowly, her heartbeat loud in her ears. The world outside continued on as normal, but her own world… it had completely shifted.
