When I heard the cook's voice behind me, I spun around quickly to find him standing at the entrance. I tried to merge with the room's shadows to escape, but he raised his hand and a massive ball of yellow fire appeared in his palm, flooding the room with light and erasing every shadow I could use to escape. I hadn't expected him to possess any extraordinary abilities either. For all these past months, he'd never shown anything special. I should have anticipated it; the man running a group like this must have a few tricks up his sleeve.
I looked around the room, searching for any exit or any shadow I could use to escape, but the cook's broad body blocked the way. I knew my scrawny frame wouldn't be able to push past him or dodge. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the end. In my final moments, the only regret I felt was that I wouldn't be able to see Diana's face again.
But instead of burning me, I heard a long sigh escape him before he spoke in a low, tired voice:
