**Chapter 20: A Soul Awakened**

Mira gasped as her eyes shot open. She wasn’t in the dim ritual chamber anymore, nor was she surrounded by her friends. Instead, she found herself lying on a patch of grass in the university garden, the soft rustle of leaves carried on a cold breeze. She sat up quickly, looking around in confusion. The air felt dense, heavy with something unexplainable. Before she could make sense of her surroundings, she saw a figure standing in front of her—Sonia.

“Sonia?” Mira whispered, blinking in disbelief. The girl before her looked as she always had—ethereal, sad, and distant. Yet, there was a sharpness in her gaze, an intensity Mira hadn’t noticed before.

“You’re awake,” Sonia said softly, her voice tinged with regret. “But not in the way you think.”

Mira scrambled to her feet. “Where am I? What’s happening? Why am I still here? Am I... am I dreaming?” She spun in place, searching for clues, but the garden felt surreal, as if it were caught between reality and a nightmare.

Sonia sighed, stepping closer. “You’re not dreaming. Not entirely. I brought you here, away from them, before they could take you.”

“Them? Who?” Mira’s voice cracked.

“The others,” Sonia said, her voice trembling with emotion. “Nora, Ryan, and the others like them. They’ve been playing their twisted game for centuries. I didn’t want you to be a part of it. I thought I could save you.”

Mira stared at her, her heart pounding. “Save me? What are you talking about? They’re my friends—they saved me from you when you left me in the dark.”

Sonia’s lips twisted into a sad smile. “I wish it were that simple. You think I tried to hurt you? Mira, I was trying to show you the...