Little did Layana know that reassurance would come the next night.

Loud bangs echoed outside the cell. Piercing sirens came from somewhere far above them, shaking the ceiling as dust crumbled from it.

"Stay there," she said, holding up one finger to stop the others. It surprised Layana how Andriette did not protest, her back still pressed against the cold, cement wall.

Sneaking slowly to the steel door, she heard the muffled echoes of metal clanking against metal, loud footsteps and indistinguishable shouts reverberated through the dark dungeon halls.

With each step Layana took, an unsettling feeling brewed in the depths of her gut, possibly fear, likely curiosity. All she knew was that she needed to peek outside. She had to know what's happening, who knows? This may likely be the answer to all their unanswered questions.

Exhaling slowly, Layana curled her shaking fingers between the gap of the small peep window of the door, her cold, pallid fingers brushing against the metal lid for the first time. The redhead guard had accidentally left it open, an open opportunity to peek out at the chaos outside the walls.

The gangling of locks woke Layana from her momentary trance. Heavy, harsh breathing can be heard just a few doors down. She peered over the small, peep window.

A woman with long brown limbs was shuffling with the doors, trying desperately to open one. Her hair was a wild nest of black curls framing her round face, her black clothes were splotched with red stains and in one hand, a glinting steel with a sharp point dazzled her eyes.

Layana's jaw dropped in shock.

"What is it? Yana tell us," Mason whispered, anxiously shifting from one foot to another.

"There's," she pressed her face closer against the peephole, trying to make sure her eyes weren't tricking her before exclaiming in awe. "A person!"

Murmurs erupted among them. "No, you're not serious, are you?" Sally said in pleasant surprise. Their murmurs dissipated down as Layana held up a hand, and pressed her face against the cold metal once more, having lost track of the woman.

Her heart started dancing in excitement and curiosity as the woman shuffled anxiously to their steel door, the loud shouts from upstairs are getting closer and closer now. And before Layana could even comprehend it, a muffled voice came from behind the steel door.

"Maribeth?" The woman's face suddenly popped up in her vision. Taken aback, she fell backwards before quickly regaining composure and meeting the woman through the peephole, 

"Who--who are?" Layana couldn't make a proper sentence before the woman fished a piece of folded parchment from her jacket and slid it under the steel door.

Her heart started beating faster, her eyes twinkled with curiosity and excitement. The woman looked up at her with intense, silver eyes. She spoke in a low, leathery voice through the peephole.

"Time's up, child. The truth has set you free."