[Ace's POV]
The sight of Ann and Ray standing together in the crowd sent a wave of momentary, desperate relief crashing over me. They were unharmed, anchors in the swirling chaos. But the relief was instantly swallowed by the raw, panicked pounding of my own heart, a frantic drumbeat against my ribs that threatened to crack them. The void where Ovelia should have been was a physical ache, a cold hollow in my chest that no amount of deep breaths could fill.
I closed the distance to them in a few long strides, the festive music and laughter now a grotesque, mocking soundtrack to my terror. "Ann, Ray," I blurted out before they could even greet me, my voice ragged. "Have you seen Ovelia?" The question was a plea, a fragile hope thrown into the air.
