The black smoke billowed like a storm cloud, consuming the stage and the surrounding area in seconds. My heart raced in my chest as I forced my way forward, cutting through the chaos, my thoughts scrambled like the shouts and screams around me. The square was plunged into a thick, choking fog, blurring everything in sight.
"Everyone, get down!" I shouted over the rising panic. I didn't know if they could hear me, but I couldn't afford to be uncertain. Mara's hand shot out, pulling Aria back behind her protective barrier as she created a shimmering wall of energy, shielding us from the worst of the smoke.
Riven was grinning in the midst of it all, utterly unfazed by the chaos. "I thought this would be a bit more fun," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, though I could see his hands crackling with energy, ready for anything.
But I wasn't focused on him. I wasn't focused on any of them, not right now.
