Penelope wasn't sure how long she had been passed out, but when she finally woke up, the sun was already setting. That meant it must have been most of the day. As she slowly sat up, she realized she was in an unfamiliar living room. A soft blanket was draped over her legs, and a half-empty glass of water sat on the coffee table nearby.
"Ugh, my head,"
she muttered, pressing her fingers to her temples.
The moment she closed her eyes, it all came rushing back—meeting Ari, the Ari, and promptly collapsing in front of her.
"So embarrassing,"
she groaned, dragging the blanket up over her face for a second before tossing it aside.
She blinked up at the ceiling, her mind racing with the image of Ari's wings. Not some cheap cosplay accessory or digital trick. Real, feathered, moving wings. The kind you don't just explain away.
"I wonder if I should get that game,"
she murmured, still half-dazed.
From the hallway, a familiar voice called out.
