Because no autopsy had been performed, natural gases had built up within Amara’s body, creating pressure that caused the abdomen to shift and contract. It was not resurrection. Not mystery. Only science.

The realization crushed Ethan’s fleeting hope. The spark that had briefly lit his darkness was extinguished by cold reality. Around him, the terrified staff began to calm, whispering explanations and apologies.

Yet for Ethan, there was no solace. The image of Amara’s lifeless body appearing to move—his momentary belief that life might return—would haunt him forever. It was a glimpse of a miracle that never was… and the cruelest goodbye imaginable.