"elles?"
        elysia blinked, sun shining into her eyes, putting an immediate smile on her face by habit. when she rolls around against━━
        sand. 
        "what are you doing?" 
        it was ray. 
        she blinked against, sitting up as her head pounded in pain. she must've fallen asleep. how long had it been? 
        "sleeping."
        "no shit, really?" ray scoffed. "we were all worried as hell, but when vargas came back, he said commander bright took you. what's that about?"
        she sighed. "there's twenty-four hours in a day but i can not find the time to explain my family problems to you, ray."
        "ouch." ray gave her a look. "who took your light from you?"
        "everything!" she groaned, head still pounding. she didn't feel like herself, like she's out of her body, watching a broken girl crying and singing on the beach. she was grumpy but she turned to him. "what are you doing here?"
        "to warn commander bright," he voiced strictly, brows furrowing. "there's too much hugging at the camp and nova's not sticking with her word to steal all the bloodfruit."
         oh no. elysia's eyes widened. "what were you planning to do? tell my dad? because if you do, you know how that's gonna end."
        he shrugged. "us getting the bloodfruit and surviving."
        "no! ray, this means we're killing them. i thought you agreed we could all get along to share the harvest," she fought, voice remaining soft so she wouldn't raise it at her friend.
        "there's no sharing when it comes to both our sides," he spat. "us or them."
        elysia shook her head, pressing her palm to her temple as if she could physically push the ache away. her chest felt extremely tight. "you sound just like my dad." 
        he smiled like it was a compliment, but the angry shake of her head shot him down real quick. "that's not something to be proud of. yes, i love my dad to pieces. but when he's in command, he only cares about ruling. he's manipulated our minds into thinking the vampires are people they're not. we have proof that we can work together, so why can't you see that? you don't have to keep listening to him if it means peace. if it means no bloodshed over this fruit━━"
        "well, there will be bloodshed either way. i'm making sure we get our fair share, for the daywalkers," he hissed. "there were people counting on you and nova. you're just letting him down."