Chapter 119

With a nod, Elodie agreed, ‘Okay, let’s go.’ As they walked towards the lift, Ari’s question hung in the air. ‘Have you been here before?’ Visions of Mgomba’s rugged peaks flashed in Elodie’s mind, along with the haunting memory of her parents’ car accident. The echo of their dying screams threatened to overwhelm her, but she pushed it aside. ‘Yes, once. But I didn’t spend long here,’ Elodie responded, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. Ari seemed to sense her discomfort but chose to divert the conversation. ‘Then I’ve got to show you the Mgombian Iris. It only blooms here, against the backdrop of the mountains.’ They reached the lift, and Ari pressed the call button. As the lift doors slid open, Elodie’s steps faltered, her breath catching at the sight of Dashiell’s all-too-familiar face. His presence in Mgomba was as unexpected as a monsoon in winter. She hadn’t seen it coming. ‘Elodie, Ari,’ Dashiell greeted them, his voice smooth as silk, betraying none of the surprise th