THIRD PERSON POV
Maxie's feet felt like they were made of cement by the time she reached the entrance of her apartment compound.
Her fingers were numb from calling Zion over and over again.
Her throat was tight from holding back tears.
Her mind refused to accept anything Diana said.
Dead?
How?
Why?
Where the hell was Aec?
She was shaking by the time she reached the third step.
Then a shadow moved.
A girl, no older than nineteen stepped directly into her path.
Pretty. Innocent-looking.
But her eyes… they were wrong.
Cold.
Empty.
Detached.
Maxie stopped instantly, her breath hitching.
"Can I help you?" she asked, voice sharp.
The girl didn't answer.
She held out a small brown parcel wrapped in thin twine
"For you," she said quietly.
Maxie frowned. "From who?"
The girl blinked, slow. Almost rehearsed.
"Sharon is dead."
The world dropped from under Maxie's feet.
"What… what did you just say?" she whispered.
The girl simply pushed the parcel into her hands.
