Breakfast continued in a heavy, stifling silence.
The only sound in the room was the steady clinking of spoons against plates. No words passed between the two women sitting across from each other. Lyra forced herself to swallow her food, her expression hard and cold, while Elara watched her with a look of pure amusement.
"Stubborn Lyra finally decided not to starve her friend," Elara teased lightly, her voice airy as she watched Lyra finish the last of her meal. "I'm almost sad your friend gets to live. I was looking forward to seeing how long you'd hold out."
Lyra reached for her water, drinking slowly to push down the urge to be sick. She felt hollow. There was no fight left in her, no energy to snap back at Elara's cruel jokes.
As long as she was alive, there seemed to be no way away from this madwoman. In fact, looking at the obsession in Elara's eyes, Lyra wasn't even sure if death would be enough to set her free.
