Luke's right eye raised as he cast a curious glance in Beatrix's direction. Ignoring his unvoiced curiosity, Paul's attention remained fixed on Luke as he spoke. "You may as well bring anything from the house that looks useful."

"Include furniture with that," I interjected, my mind immediately latching onto the idea, and I hobbled over with my new crutches, seizing the opportunity. Startling the three of them, I added, "I could really do with a good couch to rest my leg."

Luke's brow furrowed as he asked, "Has it still not healed fully yet?"

I couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration in my voice as I replied, "No. I don't seem to be as privileged as Joel."

Luke pressed for more information, his curiosity evident. "Any news on that front?"

I shook my head, my concern etched on my face, visible even in the fading daylight.

Paul chimed in, his contribution doing little to ease the tension. "We've not seen anything of Joel, Jamie, or Glenda."

Luke's response wavered, uncertainty creeping into his voice. "Give them a couple more days."

"And then what?" Beatrix's impatience seeped into her question, her tone tinged with frustration.

Luke shrugged, seemingly lacking a definitive answer.

Paul let out a sigh, sensing the escalating tension. Realising that the situation was getting out of hand, I couldn't hold back my frustration any longer. "You've really got no idea what you're doing, do you, Luke?"

"It's not that easy," Beatrix snapped back, defending Luke, her words sharp.

"You don't have to tell me that," I retorted, leaning heavily on my crutches, my weight abruptly shifting.

Before the tension could escalate further, Paul intervened loudly, effectively diffusing the growing animosity. I felt a wave of relief wash over me as his words cut through the air. Sensing the shifting mood, I let out a sigh, realising that the argument was getting us nowhere. I conceded inwardly that I needed to trust their judgment more and avoid letting my frustrations cloud my judgment.

"And while I think of it, my car is still parked at the Adelaide airport car park. Can you collect it for me and bring it here?" Paul's request redirected the conversation, bringing a momentary respite from the tension.

Beatrix gave me a final one-eyed glare before reluctantly agreeing to Paul's request. Her response was muttered and hesitant, but she acquiesced. "Sure."

Luke's countenance suddenly lit up, his eyes widening with excitement as a new idea struck him. "I am flying from Hobart to Adelaide first thing in the morning. I won't have time to collect Paul's car, but I can register a Portal location to make it easier for you, Beatrix."

"Thanks, but there's no need to fly, I've already registered several locations in Adelaide," Beatrix replied.

"Oh," responded Luke, his face drooping in thoughtful concentration.

Luke's head rose as he finally spoke. "I've already got my flight booked. I may as well use it. Besides, I might find something useful at the airport. In any event, it'll give you a much closer point of entry for collecting Paul's car."

"All right," Beatrix agreed with a gentle shrug, realising there was no point in arguing further.

"What are you actually going to Adelaide for, Luke?" Paul asked his brother, a hint of concern in his voice.

Luke hesitated for a moment, contemplating his answer. "I'm thinking I might bring our parents and siblings to Clivilius," he said confidently, his voice brimming with determination.

Beatrix gasped audibly, her concern evident. "Is that a good idea?"

Paul, speaking on Luke's behalf, surprised everyone with his response. "It'll be a lot more mouths to feed, but I think you're right. I think they could really help us here."

Beatrix's curiosity got the better of her, and she couldn't help but ask, "How many?"

Paul turned to Luke, seeking clarification. "Only Adelaide?"

Luke clarified his position, providing more details. "I think so, for now. Eli is still visiting Lisa in the United States."

I was struggling to keep up with the family dynamics of the conversation, and thankfully so was Beatrix. "Girlfriend?" she inquired.

Luke and Paul simultaneously responded, "Sister."

The complexity of Luke's family dynamics fascinated me. "Oh, you've got a big family," Beatrix remarked, while my mind still battled to piece together the puzzle.

Luke and Paul exchanged knowing glances, acknowledging the truth of the statement. "Yep," they agreed in unison.

Paul redirected the conversation, shifting the focus back to Luke's plan of action. "Are you going to bring them to Bixbus tomorrow?"

Luke's response was casual, his uncertainty evident. "I'm not sure yet. I still haven't worked out the best way to approach them. Any ideas?" he asked, seeking input from Paul.

Paul shrugged, initially unsure. But then, a sudden realisation sparked in his eyes. "I suspect that all you need to do is find a way to convince Dad, and the rest will easily follow."

Luke mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, considering Paul's words. "Hmm, I think you're onto something there."

As the conversation continued, my mind began to wander again, reflecting on the complexities of my own family dynamics. The Jeffries were a large family, with eight of us living at Jeffries Manor. Each member was unique in their own way, yet fiercely loyal to each other. Thoughts of Brianne and our unborn child crossed my mind, reminding me of the life I left behind. I couldn't help but feel a mix of longing and determination.

"Come on, Beatrix," Luke interrupted my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. "Let's get you these keys."

As Luke and Beatrix departed the campfire and made their way towards the Portal, a wave of emotions washed over me. The contrast between Luke and Paul's large, tightly-knit family and their developing plans to bring them all to Clivilius, weighed heavily on my heart. Jeffries Manor, the place I called home, was once a lively hub filled with laughter and the constant bickering of siblings who beneath the surface, loved each other very much. But now the memories were already fading quickly, a stark reminder of the pain and torment that was ripping me apart from the world I once called home.

Brianne, the woman I loved, and our unborn child consumed my mind. They represented my hope, my future, but also my deepest source of agony. The pain of losing them, the void left behind, was a constant torment that gnawed at my soul. The image of a future where our child would grow up surrounded by the warmth of a large family, like Luke and Paul's, felt like a cruel mirage, an unattainable dream slipping through my fingers.

As I stood there, my leg still throbbing with pain, the physical ache mirrored the turmoil within me. The wounds of Clivilius, both seen and unseen, had scarred my spirit. Within a mere few days, the battles fought in the darkness had left me shattered, my very essence fractured by the horrors I had both witnessed and experienced. I longed for the stability and support that Brianne could provide, a respite from the relentless torment that seemed to define this wretched land.

In that moment, a profound realisation washed over me, like a bitter gust of wind cutting through my thoughts. Family, as I had once known it, was becoming a distant memory—a shattered illusion. The bonds that had once held us together were crumbling, leaving behind a void that nothing could fill. The settlers here were becoming my unchosen family, but even they couldn't heal the wounds of my past or quell the storm of emotions raging inside me.

A surge of conflicting emotions pulsed through me. The weight of family and the power it held in our lives felt suffocating, almost oppressive. It reminded me of the darkness that permeated Clivilius—the malevolent force that had brought me here, taunted me, and demanded my sacrifice. And in the midst of this torment, the voice of Clive echoed in my mind, a haunting reminder of all that I had already endured.

Clive's voice, once demanding and manipulative, now offered a glimmer of hope—a faint ray of light in the abyss. Light the fire. Share the light. The words lingered, dripping with both the promise of salvation and the sharp sting of uncertainty. I questioned its intentions, unsure if this was a genuine path to redemption or another twist in the web of torment that Clive had woven around me.

Yet, despite my doubts, the mirage persisted, a vivid vision of a thriving settlement where Brianne and our unborn child were safe and happy, a sanctuary in the deserts of Clivilius. It tugged at my heartstrings, pulling me towards the allure of a future I so desperately desired.

The voice of Clive resonated within me, pulling me deeper into the conflicting currents of my emotions. Clivilius, with its horrors and revelations, had become a twisted crucible, testing the limits of my courage and resilience. The darkness that threatened to consume me held a strange allure, a sick fascination that made the struggle between light and dark all the more harrowing.

My gaze leaving Paul, I cast my eyes around the group of settlers at the campfire —the faces of my chosen family—and a mixture of hope and doubt swirled within me. Could we truly find solace in each other's arms? Or are we mere pawns in Clive's twisted game, destined to suffer the consequences of unforgivable choices? I felt as though the weight of destiny rested upon my shoulders, and it felt like an unbearable burden, threatening to crush me beneath its unrelenting pressure.

With a hesitant resolve, I whispered, "Let's do this," my voice tinged with a sense of vulnerability. The path ahead was shrouded in uncertainty, and the darkness within me mirrored the darkness that surrounded us. The crutches creaked beneath my weight and each step I took was a painful reminder of the horrors I had endured, the sacrifices I had made, and the torment that lingered within my soul.

I couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped in a web of conflicting emotions. The voice of Clive had whispered in the recesses of my mind, its words both seductive and treacherous. It was a call that stirred both hope and fear within me, a glimmer of possibility in a world steeped in darkness.

The mirage of the thriving settlement, where my loved ones were safe and content, burned brightly in my mind, offering solace in the midst of chaos. But I knew the cost, the price demanded by Clive for such a dream to become reality. If I bring Brianne here, I would be stripping her of everything and everyone she currently knows.

Surely, it is worth the price, the soft voice spoke to my mind.

With a newfound determination, I turned to look back at Paul. The fire of defiance burned in my eyes as I spoke, my voice filled with a raw determination. "Light the fire. Share the light," I said, my words a battle cry against the forces that sought to break us.