"No! No, no!"
Aria suddenly screamed, drawing everyone's attention.
She collapsed onto the ground, scrambling backward in terror, her hands raised to cover her face, as if that alone could protect her.
It was as though some monster loomed before her, frightening her to the extreme—yet clearly, nothing was there.
Damian rushed forward almost immediately to support her, quickly calling out: "Aria, what's wrong? Aria!"
Startled by Damian's shaking, Aria's eyes snapped open. She stared blankly at him, tears streaking her face, her breathing ragged.
She clutched his arm, her grip so tight her nails drew bloody scratches on his skin. Panicked, she cried out: "There's a monster—it wants to eat me! Save me, please, save me!"
Her face was a mask of terror, unable to distinguish reality from hallucination.
Damian frowned, raising his voice: "Aria, snap out of it! There's nothing here!"
Aria flinched at his shout, as though jolted awake from a nightmare. Her eyes darted around.
