Chapter 8 I'm Gonna Be Okay I Think

• With Daryl there, a businessman from River, a close friend of her House, and most importantly, a man with connections and influence in both River and Rivermirror, Emily's journey home was no longer impossible. He had gladly cut his business meeting short to escort her back.
• In no time, Emily was cleaned up—her hair no longer stained with blood, her clothes no longer soiled, her body no longer stinking. Yet, the bruises and cuts from her ordeal in the underdeveloped city remained as painful reminders.
• Outside the carriage were twenty seasoned, professionally trained guards. Inside, silence hung heavy, broken only by the occasional jolt from uneven roads. Daryl and Emily exchanged brief glances, tension simmering between them.