Navigating this part of the institute was becoming second nature to Rita. She'd traveled from her assigned room to the main hall several times, both during the day and night. It would be nice to think that this would be the last time, but Rita wasn't quite so optimistic anymore.

Escaping was a priority, as always, but Rita was beginning to understand that she also needed to be prepared for long-term survival, in case it came down to that. She didn't want to think about what would happen back on Terca Lumireis if she didn't return in time, but even worse than that was the hypothetical scenario of not returning at all. That was completely unacceptable.

Besides, she couldn't lose hope. Estelle and the others wouldn't let their world die, and they wouldn't let humankind be sacrificed. Even without Rita there... there still had to be a way.

Though her thoughts weighed heavily in her mind, Rita remained light on her feet as she stepped quietly into the next hall.