Chapter 10 · They Knew She'd Fall

Mira drops the map on the table between them.

Nora stares at it. At the red circle drawn around her exact landing coordinates. At the timestamp in the corner: three days before she ever fell through.

"Someone knew," Mira says. Her voice is flat. "They marked the spot. They waited."

Kael doesn't move. He's standing across the table, arms crossed, eyes locked on Nora. "Explain."

"I can't." Nora's pulse is hammering in her ears. "I don't know who drew that."

"But you knew where the ambush was." His voice drops. "You knew which supply route. You knew about the fire in the east wing before it started."

"Because I've lived this before."

"Convenient."

She slams her palm on the table. "You think I want this? You think I want to watch people die over and over and know I can't save them all?"

Mira steps between them. "Kael. Look at the handwriting."

He doesn't look. He's still watching Nora like she's a bomb about to go off.

Nora forces herself to breathe. To think. The map is old, the ink faded. The handwriting is tight, controlled. Military.

"This was made before I got here," she says.