CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-THREE I'LL PROTECT YOU FROM THE GHOSTS

DAPHNE'S POV As I slipped out of the prison, I felt a strange mix of emotions bubbling up inside me—relief, anxiety, but most of all, this ridiculous, fluttery feeling that I hadn’t felt in ages. It was like a warm glow spreading through my chest, leaving me almost giddy despite everything going on. The prison walls were cold and damp, but as I left Javion behind, I couldn't help but let my mind wander back to all the wonderful, sometimes absurd memories we had shared. The moonlight filtered through the trees as I made my way back to the small room Xander had given me. The night was quiet, the kind of stillness that made every little sound stand out—the rustle of leaves, the distant call of an owl, the soft crunch of gravel under my feet. But my mind was far away, lost in the past. I chuckled softly to myself, remembering the time Javion had tried to impress me by cooking dinner. He had this grand idea of making lasagna, even though he could barely boil water without settin