The moment they stepped onto solid ground, believing they had finally escaped that nightmarish infernal vortex, relief barely had the chance to settle before it was ripped away by Noir's frantic voice.
Jade was missing.
Claude's breath hitched. His body twisted sharply as his gaze swept over the team, recounting, finding that nonchalant, ordinary face, but no matter how many times his eyes scanned their faces, Jade wasn't there.
Something heavy slammed inside his chest. It couldn't be—
"No! Fuck! The vortex's disappearing!" Noir's panicked voice came again.
Allen looked up, confusion twisting his expression. He turned, scanned the group just as quickly. When he failed to see Jade's resting bored face, his stomach dropped.
Claude was already moving. He bolted forward, sprinting back toward where the vortex had been. Mist curled violently around his hands as if he could force the vortex open again by sheer will alone.
